Is the ZenBivy Sleep System Overrated?

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks for tuning in! If you want to support this channel, check out these posters made by me & my wife of various hiking and thru-hiking trails (10% off with discount code: oscarhikes) ➜ trailgoals.com/

[@Kcignatius]

Which size pillow did you get? Not sure if I want the regular or large.

[@TennesseeSlim]

They really got their money worth sending all these KZbinrs a free quilt system

[@buschinpolen]

Most of the outdoor community on KZbin are just disguised sellsman.

[@haydenwalton2766]

and the best thing for us mugs is - it doesn't affect their opinion of the product !

[@buschinpolen]

@@haydenwalton2766 Just buy more overpriced and overproduced plastic stuff to spend time outdoors because you love nature so much.

[@susanmcdonald-timms3202]

Tjis has SOLD me. Thank you. Om older (60s) and suffer a lifetime’s arthritis and injuries. I will be getting Zenbivy for myself and older friends. We dint walk so far. The comfort and adjustable warmth sound absolutely wonderful. Also - i hate early sunlight so the thing falling over your eyes is perfect-i actually put a piece of cloth over my eyes so that the morning sun doesn’t hit them lol . Thanks for this very thorough review.

[@joakimolsson1024]

It's very easy to set up imo. You can also leave everything attached and just put on the sheet (which takes 10sec) - done. I have a really hard time getting good sleep in a cramped sleeping bag so for me the added weight (of about +200g) is well worth it! I agree it is very expensive. However you don't need to use their pad and pillow (i don't). It is definately the best system for people /like me) who does not sleep well in traditional sleeping bags. Good sleep is more important than carrying slightly lighter imo.

[@martinextejt3453]

I used my ZenBivy for 9 nights recently on a self-supported 500-mile bike tour. Yes, I'll agree with the too expensive and a bit of a pain to set up. I'll also agree with the "I actually slept" part. The valve did ease up after a few days and set-up did get easier with practice. My ZenBivy brand pillow must be a bit different. The inflation bag seemed fine to me, but that is perhaps because I don't know better. The actual sleeping part trumps the negatives in my never-to-be-humble opinion.

[@michelstronguin6974]

Great review! The full sheet is way better, try to get it instead of the half sheet. Solves all the problems you mentioned in the video in relation to the sheet. The valve, I just hold the lower plastic every time I go to open it, so that I don't pull on the fabric, works great! And about the pump sack, its a huge innovation, because it weighs just 1 ounce, which is half as much as any other pump sack, and all you have to do is pump a few more times, plus it serves as an additional dry bag for your system, worth it imo.

[@МаксимЕремин-я6т]

I have 25° zenbivy light bed and what I noticed is that when the temperatures go down to 33-34° I then wake up cold. So to all those people who are planning to use this system in those temperatures I recommend getting 10° quilt as their temp ratings are a bit off since 34 degree should fall into "comfort temperature rating".

[@kmichaelp4508]

All are! No matter what company,

[@aydenmcfly1362]

Yeah the degree is indicative of survivability not comfortability

[@colebrockmoller9272]

Idk, I’ve got the 10 degree. I recently used it down to the mid 30s and was hot, wearing only my underwear. Obviously being a quilt, it was easy to hang a leg out to cool off. I think it’s going to depend on the person.

[@kmichaelp4508]

@@colebrockmoller9272 , so true. Each has their own body temperature and doesn’t equate to another

[@donniebel]

I have both 25 and 10 deg quilts, am not a cold sleeper. I consider the 25 deg comfortable to freezing. Imagine the 10 deg comfort to about 20deg or so?

[@dag_larsson]

Thank you for this. I have just recently been thinking about whether the double systems would be worth it for me and my partner. I have been attracted by the idea of quilts since I have rarely had a truly good sleep in sleeping bags myself, and my partner doesn't have any hiking experience. It could be a good fit for us as a system for weekends where a bit more weight is acceptable, but it's just so expensive. It was nice to hear your thoughts!

[@Sunsetspanish]

A little late but it's absolutely worth the money

[@donniebel]

Yes the ultra light series is pricy, but they have had 30% off sales recently and that makes it competitive price to other premium brands. For a few ounces more one can save significant $$ with the light versions. Agree with the stated negatives such as the pump sack is too small volume to be practical so I don’t use the provided stuff sack opting instead for a HMG pod for the pad and sheet and pillow. I either use my Nemo pump sack or a flextail inflator. Yes, the pad valve fits very tight- a little spit helps I find. On the plus side, I sleep fantastic with this system and am happy with the ultra light upgrade. The pad it very comfortable and I find the pillow to also be fantastic

[@ArisingAdventures]

Thanks for the integrity and honesty!

[@nicksam5518]

I have a 2020 light 25* bed, and a 2021 apex. I also have the light mattress, and the new zero insulation 2.3 oz sheet for 2024. Can’t recommend enough. I’m 6’1, 230. I slept warm, and have tested this in my back yard down to 20* np. I really love to mix & match my Nemo tensor or my ugq 40 bag. It really does work as a great system u can manipulate to your needs. The crazy attach points make quilt sleeping .. perfect. Deals abound! I got 25% off on all my buys / summer special.

[@matthewsinger]

I've been all but ready to pull the plug on an EE Revelation, but I have some hesitations. Ever since ZenBivy first came out, I liked their premise, but it was always too heavy. The Ultralight is still heavier than I'd like, but I'd sacrifice some weight and packability for a good comfortable sleep. But the price is way out of my budget. I'd just buy a Wester Mountaineering bag at that point. But I just had another look at the Light and it's only a few ounces heavier than the ultralight and at a price point within my budget. So maybe I will give it a try. I don't need a new sleeping pad (yet) and I'm not sold on their pillow system.

[@bentaylor4570]

Well done putting the price up front. I could use a new hiking sleep system. There is no way i would spend that much.

[@streiklauzis87]

Nice vid! I am thinking to add an extra zipp to my RockFront 350 pro sleep system so it would be a 2 in 1 double-quilt sleep system, easily minus 12 degrees celsius, 1100 grams with a mat sheet and a hood.

[@38201270298]

I'm also in Europe and have ZenBivy light bed & BigAgnes lost ranger UL3in1. The prices for those systems are ridiculous, but they are quite comfy. I'm struggling deciding which one the best. They both have they pros and cons.

[@briandoolittle3422]

I'm curious if you have a good idea how much the difference in comfort is due to the pad/pillow vs the quilt system. After doing a bunch of research, I ended up buying the pad and pillow, and I think they have substantially upgraded the comfort of my system. I'm skeptical about whether the quilt and sheet setup is meaningfully better than my Enlightened equipment quilt.

[@OscarHikes]

Hmm, that's a really good point and I hadn't even thought about both of them separately that way. I'll try swapping the light bed with my quilt and see the difference, but based on my previous experiences, I'd say that the pad accounts for maybe 25% of the comfort, the pillow another 25%, and the quilt + sheet 50%. It's all very subjective though. But the main advantage of the sheet + quilt is that you can literally rotate 360 degrees (as I did in the video in one shot), and it won't turn with you. I usually turn A LOT during the night, and with my quilt or sleeping bag, I sometimes wake up with them completely twisted or with large gaps (with the quilt). This doesn't happen with the ZenBivy system. There are also WAY fewer drafts coming through. But yeah, as I said in the video, this is a nice benefit, but not 100% necessary for me. If you already have an Enlightened Equipment quilt and you're sleeping well, IMO it isn't worth it to drop another 520 EUR just to sleep a bit better. It's only worth it for 1) people who are really struggling to have good sleep, or 2) if you have a high budget and you're looking to upgrade anyway and don't care about weight that much.

[@briandoolittle3422]

@@OscarHikes Yeah that all makes sense. I move a lot while I'm in bed, but I think in quite a different way than most people. I have complex sleep apnea, so I fully wake up 3-5 times a night, regardless of how good my sleep system is. I turn from one side to the other during this. So although I move frequently in bed, its during a waking moment that is going to happen anyway. I don't really move while I'm actually asleep. Also, because of this, my turning is probably more deliberate and controlled, since I'm actually awake. So I don't have issues with my quilt causing drafts and waking me up, or anything like that. I don't think I'm going to have much of a different sleep experience in a Zenbivy quilt vs. my EE quilt. But the pillow is pretty luxury.

[@sumitkulhari...3376]

Yes it is pricey but it's a masterpiece ❤ I just loved it

[@mlisaj1111]

Sometimes that is worth it. It is better and cheaper to pay $700 for a quality vacuum that works great and lasts 15 years, than to keep buying $150 vacuums that never work well and break every 2 years.

[@christophrehse]

May I ask why you opted for the long version? I myself am only 6 feet (1,82m) tall but - as a stomach sleeper continously extend beyond the 190cm mark. I am intrigued to know what your reason was? Comfort? Body height? Both?

[@wackerman7259]

Man I haven’t thought about it not fitting the pad I have 😵‍💫

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

Thanks for making this.

[@OscarHikes]

Glad you liked it!

[@hybridprepper]

Could you make a video showing your alternative home made sleep system instead of zenbivy?

[@mattoutdoorua]

I like your channel because it's quite different from the other popular backpacking KZbin channels. Are you doing it for a full time?

[@OscarHikes]

Thank you for the feedback! :) Yes, I started doing it full time maybe 3 months ago. Haven't been doing really a good job at that so far, but I'm finally freing up some personal time to start putting more effort into this in the next few months.

[@mattoutdoorua]

@@OscarHikes it's great to see more channels from Europe on this surface. Also come and visit Ukraine after the war

[@glueckschpilz]

Going to sew my own sleep system like that, costs are 150-170 Euros total

[@Itsme-qo2le]

Qick lil question: I'm actually very convinced by their quilts from what I saw, but wouldn't want the sheet. Would I be able to macGyver myself something that works instead? Looks like I would just need to fixate the torso part clips with some straps, right? Should be simple enough, but I cant spend money like that lightly. Spend way to much time researching that now and found nothing, so an answer would be so so appreciated:))

[@Simon-gx1wf]

During memorial day here in the US, the light 10f was around 300 usd, wich is about 100-150$ cheaper than a quilt by EE and Katabatic, using this quilt+ sheet on a 25” xlite whilst it is around 200-250g heavier than the equivalent quilt, I still have a sub 6kg base weight and confortable sleep system, I really need comfy sleep for hike up to about 2 weeks , I havent done any longer but plan on doing the colorado trail next year, for wich I might buy a lighter system, so It can feel ovehyped, but depending on you system and how you hike, IT REALLY IS DAMN COMFY Also for those broke traveler like me, this is great as you will often sleep outside when hitchiking, so it can be great for that too!

[@NathanHassall]

Questions like this are impossible to answer. Everybody has different requirements, and budgets. No two people are are looking at something like this the same way. For a guy like me whos bleeding out financially and used to sleeping in the cold its not worth it.

[@JS-nf1sn]

It looks like the setup is that you take all the stuff and make a sleeping bag out of it? Am I wrong?

[@juansalasjr]

Well those who say it’s overpriced and overhyped have clearly never struggled with sizing. I’m 6’ 8” 280 lbs so i cannot get into just any sleeping bag, so quilts are for me. My 25 degree zenbivy is xtra long and is perfect for me. Outdoor companies need to take in mind of a larger range of sized people 😂

[@void_presence]

1. there are cheaper versions; they sent you the ultralight options and for the coldest temps; the core bed quilt is significantly cheaper; there are also cheaper versions of the sheet, and the pad. I went with the core bed, the light sheet, and the 25"-wide pad, and paid less than 1/2 of the price shown for this setup. (also didn't get the pillow, as well, they were sold out of them at the time of order, so I had to go with a different brand) 2. 'setting it up in the dark may be difficutl'...no one should be waiting until dark to setup--that's almost like a Rule #1 for camping

[@paulk9532]

Noone should, but often one does.

[@Obi-Wan_Pierogi]

Looks like a great system, but that price... damn

[@hooptroopers]

You lost me at the 3-minute mark and only cons. That weight doesn't go for me as a UL guy but hey, it's a Saturday night. I'll go pack my backpack just to have a blast.

[@mtadams2009]

I think this system was designed for the weekend warrior. It’s way to heavy for any long distance backpacker and for me just to much crap. There is no way I am carrying all that heavy crap. I am sure it’s great for someone who hikes a few miles a couple times a year.

[@antrahagure5372]

I would be scared that the top end will suffocate me😅

[@Garrettthief]

You can save another 200gramm of weight by buying their ultralight system. Thats even more expensive though.

[@OscarHikes]

WAY more expensive! If it'd be 50% of the price, it would be a really nice option IMO.

[@nathancragg6202]

I prefer the hood over the eyes 😎

[@PitchnYaw]

It's a sleeping bag with no insulation in the bottom and leaky sides. Just use a sleeping bag!

[@celes7ial]

7:49 waited for "The Ugly"

[@Truth-Seeker75]

If you hold the bag up to the light, it’s obviously poorly filled even if you make an attempt to redistribute the down. The little hooks seem like a great idea until it’s the middle of the night and you need to get out quickly to pee or need to hook them up with cold hands. The hood….needs to be redesigned. Pass.

[@gregoryoutdoors]

Lol, ultralight my ass Zenonsense - thats a heavy system with too much faff to set up, way overpriced and over-hyped 100%! You can way lighter, cheaper and less bulky set up with with the traditional Thermarest Xlite Large + amazon HikeNture comfy pillow + any other good quality quilt you preffer. Those 'KZbinrs' got them for free and spread way to much nonsense and crap especially for begginer hikers to spend money on those whatever things...

[@user-nu8uc8wq8v]

Agreed.

Yeah, nope but thanks for the vid

[@OscarHikes]

I think the problem with this is that a few other KZbinrs promote this as a good system for UL hikers. It's a good setup for people who do weekend hikes, mountaineering, winter hiking, etc, but not thru-hiking (due to weight). So my opinion is that yes, it's overhyped. Also, people need to understand that it's a LUXURY system (due to price). It's like a range rover or something, but it's being promoted as an everyday ford for beginner hikers. :D If you'd sleep in it yourself, you'd understand why someone would carry the extra weight and pay so much for it. I wasn't lying saying that it's the most comfortable system that I've slept in. But it's not for everyone - only for people who don't care about the weight that much, who have a high budget, and value comfort over everyhting else. And lastly, I also wanted to mention that there are quite a few people who have sleep problems, who are really struggling to have good sleep outdoors. For them, this system is a really good option, despite the weight and the cost.

[@gregoryoutdoors]

@@OscarHikes Thats a big reply, thanks for that. I like how you compared that to a very expensive car that only small % of people or millioners can buy but its advertised as something that anybody can buy instead haha its so true! I am the one that also struggle to sleep even at home I need a perfect quiet, dark room and use earplugs but I still I will never buy or consider this Zen, its just too much and yes overhyped etc, I preffer my easier sleeping system that works in Scotland just fine after hiking 1000 km±. Cheers pal you make great videos btw.

[@matthewkenny2344]

Yes. Yes it is overrated.

[@Adventures_with_Sog]

Yes and definitely overpriced!

[@TennesseeSlim]

Overpriced nonsense. They only recently started offering a goose down option. Also the ratings aren't iso certified and are off a good bit. The owner said this himself in Dan Becker's interview.

[@camouflage962]

"sleep system..".... ? .... -> mat and sleeping bag... that's it....

[@OscarHikes]

Yeah, but it's easier to refer to it as a sleep system, rather than saying "sleeping mat, quilt, sheet, and a pillow" every time I want to refer to it. The video would be at least 1 minute longer if I'd do that. :D

[@Breadman-k6d]

Literally everyone in the community defines a sleep system as a quilt/bag and a sleeping pad.... ? .... -> what makes you so confused... ???

[@AaronVets]

🤡

[@jakeva9802]

Just get a mummy bag. That hood has some major gaps on each side of your head.

[@PaulSchortemeyer]

Nailed it.

[@AaronVets]

While I agree, it’s designed like that so you can fit a pillow inside the hood.

[@camouflage962]

what a BS product