A Half-Pound Shelter That Costs Less Than $50

$45 (35 percent off) at Backcountry

First off: Yes, if you’re a true ultralight sicko, you could use the SOL Escape Bivvy as your primary sleep system or shelter in temperate weather. I know because I tried it. For two weeks, I used the Escape in place of a sleeping bag while climbing around the western U.S. I can attest that, paired with my midlayers, it kept me warm enough to sleep, including while being snowed on in Mammoth Lakes, California. (I wouldn’t recommend it though: While the Escape may be slightly more breathable than the average emergency shelter, I still usually woke up damp.)

It’s as an emergency shelter, though, that the Escape really shines. At 8.5 ounces, it’s about four times heavier than an average space blanket. But it’s also a lot tougher: Over weeks of use, the spun olefin fabric never tore or suffered a puncture, and was significantly less noisy and crinkly than a plastic survival blanket, but still reflected back enough body heat to keep me warm. The zippered mummy bag-like shape is more secure than wrapping a flat blanket around yourself, and, unlike a space blanket, can pack away into its own stuff sack for reuse. At roughly the size of a baseball, it’s easy to find space for it even in the smallest daypack.