Will This $120 "Stealth" Bivy Tent Leak? - Alps Mountaineering Stealth 1 Bivy Tent Rain Test

This is the Alps Mountaineering Stealth 1 Bivy Tent - the company claims that it is waterproof.....this will soon prove to be inaccurate.
This bivy/tent in virtually all ways is a failure.
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Stealth 1 Stats :
Materials :
75D 185T Polyester fly with 1500mm coating
150D Polyester Oxford floor with 2000mm coating
Two, innovative one-piece fiberglass poles allow for quick setup and breakdown
6 aluminum tri-stakes, 4 stake loops; 2 pre-tied guy points
According to AM this bivy tent offers the following:
Ample ventilation for less condensation and a more comfortable sleep
Large, step-in opening allows easy entry and exit without crawling
Durable, waterproof, and breathable fabric is fully seam-taped
Stats :
Color : Cranberry/Ash
Base Size : 6'10" L x 2'9" W
Center Height : 1'9"
Tent Area : 15.5 ft²
Minimum Weight : 1 lb. 12 oz.
Total Weight : 2.1 lbs. With the pouch,stakes and lines
Packed Size : 12” L x 11" W x 3" H
Pole Diameter : 2.5mm FG
Style : Step in Bivy
Price : Retail is $120 but I picked this up on Amazon for $100
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[@earndoggy]

I don't believe it should matter what "area" a bivvy is designed for, it should be water proof.

[@ReasontoLiveAdventures]

Totally agree.

[@a.ramosakadrumgrl6677]

Exactly!

[@forrestunderwood3174]

It sounds like an excuse to me. "Um, we made it for...um, dry places. Yeah, dry places. Didn't we say that?..."

[@jlee8348]

Meh. making something waterproof requires more expensive design considerations, materials, and manufacturing costs. If you really don't need it to be waterproof, then you may as well save on costs.

[@bettymarrow4461]

I agree 100%

[@sidneywilson6177]

You said it best Luke . If a 10cent garbage bag is waterproof , then there is no excuse for these companies who produce outdoor shelters to not ensure that their shelters are waterproof ! Whether it’s $20 or $200 !

[@innerlight7018]

Only for dry environments??? Are they kidding? In dry environments I don't need a bivy. 🤣

[@a.ramosakadrumgrl6677]

Yes, true! That is cowboy camping weather.

[@STB-jh7od]

Exactly.

[@88WhiteRhino]

Technically I don't want to keep a rattler or something warm so a Bivy might be welcome, but I don't think I should need one fer each environment.

[@hokudadog7637]

@@88WhiteRhinowould just an enclosed bug net work for snakes? With a tarp, it would work for dry camping

[@88WhiteRhino]

@@hokudadog7637 I guess but again, why buy twice. If my bivy was waterproof and I could just leave the fly off to recreate an enclosed bug net why would I want two different things. Multi use items are king when it comes to the outdoor equipment.

[@simoncribbes9141]

Hey Luke, just a thought... how about setting up a rain gauge next to the tents you are testing to give some idea of of the intensity of the rain.

[@scottmyers4802]

All tents should be weather proof. A little seepage is expected from a cheap tent. I always at least spray down a cheap tent with a camp dry type product. If I'm gunna use it in heavy weather rain I will Also seam seal it. Any tent of that size over 100 dollars should be water proof in my opinion.

[@johnlangevin708]

'Stealth Red' is one of my favorite colors.

[@berghofer7938]

Thought something similar, the name and colours dont really fit each other

[@FatalChaz33]

lol Exactly. Where does that color become stealthy? Mars?

[@Im_With_Stupid]

They made it that way so it'd be hard to spot in a landfill.

[@HeatGeek1]

I prefer aluminum foil shiny side out, so I can blend in at a sheet metal factory.

[@berghofer7938]

@@HeatGeek1 😂

[@tinbarnranch]

The deal breaker for me was your original vid on this bivy. Missing components right out of the bag is a good indicator of overall quality. Then they used the excuse of "for dry climate only". For me, any single product speaks for all products produced by a company. Nature Hike did this to me on a tent I bought. Missing several stakes. I requested them and was flatly refused. Tent immediately went back and I won't ever darken their door step again. Though they may make other outstanding products, I will never know. Screw me once shame on them, screw me twice shame on me.

[@sukiline]

Thanks for yet another honest review Luke. Your work is much appriciated.

[@danielkutcher5704]

I would prefer a good ultralight tarp and a bug bicycle for most of the year for a few more dollars. You can't get out of wet clothing inside of a bicycle without soaking everything inside. A tarp of reasonable size provides you with a changing room and a kitchen. ...Or just buy a tent... Personally, I prefer a hammock year-round wherever there are trees. Superior Gear and some other manufacturers offer hammocks with sewn- in bottom insulation. You just need trees or a guaranteed structure for hanging your hammock.

[@lindawoods6841]

always love your honest reviews and testings.. thank you Luke

[@RandomVelocity]

I wouldn’t sleep in that coffin anyways😂

[@misstine71]

I was going to comment it's very coffin like lol 😂

[@RandomVelocity]

@@misstine71 yeah way to small.

[@pacUndo90]

portable coffin😂

[@markthomas2436]

A coffin is an 8 sided box that a vampire sleeps in; that is a casket! haw.

[@fartman10284]

At least alps mountaineering recognized your credibility and reached out to you. This bivy should be used with a tarp in rainy weather

[@TheDarkestOne37]

So, if you fix the defect, then it won't leak? It seemed that was the only spot. I seal all of my tents when I buy them, regardless if they don't leak. I'm sure that bivy is just fine, especially if you have a tarp over it which you should be doing (like you said). The way bivies open, a tarp is a necessity.

[@MM-gw3vx]

Luke has a video where he demonstrates how to apply seam seal to a tent. Maybe he should have seam sealed the bivy.

[@jfowler7604]

Good video. I have some experience with AM tents as well. One leaked badly and one did not. The one that leaked was used maybe 5-6 times a year and in about 6 years of ownership I'd never had it in big rain. Then in central Or. I got hit with a day and a half of heavy (PNW) wind/rain and it leaked badly at the seams. I took pictures and first went to the retailer (who offers a lifetime "satisfaction guarantee"). They refused any action. Then I went online to Alps, sent them the pictures, and asked If I could pay an upgrade fee. Instead, they offered a much better tent at n/c. and had it to me in a week. That was great customer service and I'd carefully buy from them again just for that reason.

[@sharir1679]

I have had an Alps Mountaineering one person tent for about 8-9 years and have spent 5 days and nights in the Paysatan Wilderness with it and it did not leak! I have been really impressed with it. My brother also has one and my granddaughter as well and we all really like them.

[@danielkutcher5704]

Things change...

[@KuntryRD]

I have been camping when there was no rain in the forecast for days, and got a brief, torrential rain. Any and all tents, tarp, bivies should be waterproof. So glad my tent truly was waterproof.

[@user-vd7ej4cw9z]

Thank you, herbi

[@ILuvHalpert999]

Enjoyed the info Luke. Beans and Sausage

[@wontollamx]

THANKS A LOT

[@barker316]

that title was hilarious!😂

[@michaelbrunner6654]

I just bought a gazelle t4 overland edition. I've not had it in the rain yet

[@russellromig8969]

Unlike Luke, I think a portable pool is a great idea!! Hahaha, good review mate!

[@chadperry5985]

Have you ever reviewed or rain tested a core instant pop up tent ?

[@ucode1]

I would be surprised if it DOESN'T leak.

[@david.9633]

Good review

[@AmyStoneYT]

Honestly, bivvy’s give me claustrophobia. Props to anyone who camps in them! ❤

[@septicwhelk3654]

Err stealth ?

[@JimRodgers]

Alps Mountaineering making excuses... if the conditions are dry and arid, I don't need a shelter - cowboy camping is the option. Great review, thanks for putting this bivy through the works.

[@thebairdhaslanded]

Ive been a fan for a while. Just came across a channel where a guy is apparently getting camping stuff at Aldi. They never had that sort of stuff when I shopped there but just planted a seed for content ideas his channel is moonshine in marshmallows or something like that

[@perry92964]

i mean to be fair after 7 hours that wasnt a ton of water, i think you might have exaggerated the title just a little bit. and like you said most people would also set it up under a tarp

[@stuartaminion511]

i agree, but if that little bit of water was soaking onto your sleeping bag it would be a problem as you slept, waking up to and in a wet bag isn't what i'd want. tarp would help.

[@michaelvosbein7524]

Nice job. I wouldn't want to sit out a prolonged rain event in a bivy though, even if it is waterproof.

[@perry92964]

if your sleeping the whole time it would be ok

[@Hobbit55-xw5th]

Looks like to me that the seams around the tub floor have been sewn the wrong way around allowing water to collect at the top of the seam and seep through as you found on one of the other tent reviews you did.

[@SandraOrtmann1976]

Yes, I saw that as well. It is like laying roof tiles the wrong way. It basically becomes a water duct.

[@Im_With_Stupid]

That's not the ideal way to lap an exposed seam, but the problem is the tape, not the way it's lapped. There's several seams all coming together right there and they were poorly taped. You can see it at 6:40 at the top of the left side vertical floor seam. The horizontal tape coming across from the right is very crooked and there's maybe only 1/16" of it actually covering the seam. Then there's a little hook stitched in next to that pocket that can't be taped at all. Some seal sealer would probably fix it, but it should work out of the box.

[@garycase1790]

Luke you got to try One Wind one man bivy teno

[@HeatGeek1]

Could you ask them to add some flashing LED's along to the crest? That would bolster their "stealth" claim and show off their truth in advertising policy.

[@stealthyf.o.gcamper5935]

any chance you will do a review on the aquaquest bivy all i can fins is the introduction vid

[@apar1560]

👍👍👍 Thanks

[@PetitInvestisseur]

Hi could you try nemo hornet elite ?

[@JesusRuiz-xn1yt]

Where best states/place to go camping in rain. And what’s best months. Want to give it a try this year.

[@TrailToughTrailers]

Washington State, Olympic Mountains, always rains during early Fall thru late Spring!!! Pacific ocean side/west side, Hoh Rain Forest...12-13 FEET of rain annually, take a snorkel!!! It's is absolutely BEAUTIFUL there all year, except during Tourist season (summertime). The northeast side has a rain shadow effect so it gets a little less rain and more sun. Keep in mind, Olympic Nat. Park is over used anymore, and permits on the ocean hiking trails are required now... Ozette Lake to the ocean is always crowded too. If you go 5 miles in from most trail heads on the mountain sides things gets thinned out a bit... go 15 miles in and you'll have very few people staying the night, and if you do 20+ miles in... you are down to only a couple of people in a 3-day weekend. Robt. L. Wood's books on the OLY's are really informative, with Across the Olympics: the Press Expedition is my favorite!!! That particular trail is wonderful... A friend and I got caught in a nasty rainstorm that flooded most of the rivers making crossings nearly impossible!!! The weather can change REAL quickly on that set of mountains. I could go on and on.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Considering this Bivi, then compare to the Jack Wolfskin Gossamer Bivi that endured days of rain when you tested it.

[@bryanhoyt2203]

Unfortunate, but Alps does have some great tents. I’ve had the Tasmanian 2 for years with no leaking issues.

[@gentlecoder5167]

A camera inside the tent could be very helpful for this video.

[@kathleenshoup2394]

Luke we seen on our weather channel that there was bad weather by you did you get bad weather

[@foxconNI]

What do you do with all the tents you test.

[@BartonHNewell]

23Zero Swags are the only bivvy/swag I would ever recommend.

[@isramtin]

Can you please tell me how you charge your camera battery while traveling? And what camera and microphone do you use?

[@MM-gw3vx]

Here is yet another video to watch. Corporal Corners “quick deploy ridgeline.” Another is “quickrelease ridgeline tip.” Yet another is “Learn four emergency poncho shelters in 10 minutes or less. Corporals Corner has much better useable information. You will enjoy his content.

[@MarleyFett]

Stealth ...I don't think so. As a bike packer and tourists I have to stealth camp every now and then. I would not choose this bivy, if it leaked or not. 😅

[@bigstick5278]

Any Alps Mountaineering tent I've used has always been top notch.. Hope the don't do this again.

[@safromnc8616]

I have only ever noticed ALPS products @ REI - my kids had a tent back in the day that leaked and then the poles snapped & I think we have a sleeping bag somewhere...I would not recommend - you get what you pay for...

[@6yjjk]

6:40 Is the bottom of the outer sewn *in*side the floor? Seems like asking for trouble.

[@BigggRoss]

sounds like they were trying to cover their backside. If it was designed for that use it Would have been marketed for that use.

[@brooklynadams4685]

Red and white wouldn’t be my choice, mine would be Blue and Black.

[@stevelander5218]

just wondering, When you purchased this, did the 'Alps Mountaineering' site have a "California's Proposition 65" warning on it? And as an Englishman, I don't know much about the aforementioned , how serious is it?

[@MrBirdnose]

In theory a Prop 65 warning means that there are chemicals in the product that are on a list of chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer, at least in rodents. In practice, there's a penalty for failing to put the warning on, but no penalty for *falsely* putting it on. So you see it slapped on almost everything sold in California.

[@OutdoorsUnsupervised]

I have a few bivy's but Ddef dont want a white one, not too stealthy lol

[@vallinnat]

Could you show how to tie some of the knots you use at all ? You clearly camp in extreme weather conditions and things alway stay in place x🇬🇧

[@MM-gw3vx]

If I enter a KZbin link it will get rejected. Google Corporals Corner knots. He is a former Marine with a lot of great content. His name is Shawn Kelly. Website is Corporals Corner. Check out his channel and specifically his video on knots. Great content! Shawn actually goes out in the woods and builds shelters and spends the night in them. Give his channel a look.

[@MM-gw3vx]

Watch Corporals Corner. His name is Shawn Kelly and he is a Marine with lots of great content. Search for Corporals Corner knots. Another search should be quick deploy ridgeline and learn four emergency poncho shelters in 10 minutes or less. Shawn actually goes out in the woods, builds shelters, and sleeps overnight in them. Really informative. I think that you will enjoy his channel.

[@Agesilaus.88]

"Stealth bivi"... White and red design.

[@poppygoldensun]

So, really it's just a mosquito net?

[@PaulC001]

(before watching the video) without knowing anything about this thing, i'd say it's a $40 bivy you have to at least partly cover with a tarp to sleep in. i wouldn't trust it to keep me and my fairly expensive sleeping bag and gear dry. and i wouldn't expect it to last more than 1-2 camping trips. it looks like cheap junk someone might buy as a last resort. ok, turns i was right.

[@laurieann2714]

If they say it's waterproof but only designed for arid environments, that is totally counterintuitive.

[@John-qe1go]

He could use a cardboard sheet and place it onto the floor of said tent or bivy.

[@AboveAverageMan97]

Maybe you could make it into a hot tub?

[@donaldwortham2409]

Il stick with the snugpak ionosphere

[@craigmooney3744]

they claim it’s waterproof on the website😮

[@Im_With_Stupid]

"Waterproof" is a material classification based on hydrostatic head rating, of which only 800mm is required for something to be officially waterproof. Assembly quality is a whole different thing and the problem here is a very poor taping job. Too much is going on with the seams for tape, anyway, and they should've been sealed instead.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

I'm 2 minutes into the video and as you asked, I think it's going to leak a lot. OK then let's find out... Thought so.

[@DaGarbageDisposal]

White "Stealth bivy" a no for me already. Gr8 video man. Thanks for savin' me money not buyin' it

[@lindawoody8501]

And add the red accent color. Not very stealthy.

[@jerk_store]

What are you doing? Sleeping in the middle of the day? Nobody doing a stealth camp sets up during daylight hours anyway. Colors are inconsequential at night.

[@DaGarbageDisposal]

@@lindawoody8501 lol nope

[@kevinmoore8780]

Thanks for the video. If the bivy was made for the desert and that was stated on the website and the box then I might accept that it's not waterproof. In that case, that little bit of leaking you show after s much rain would not be a problem. As a desert shelter, I'd be looking for other qualities. But to not say that from the outset is another example of poor quality equal to your initial set up video without all the components. And of course from your other video, you know this shelter is NOT designed for deserts. The lack of mesh and having to seal yourself in completely if there are insects means a stifling shelter with major condensation. If truly designed for deserts then air flow and mesh would be essential. I specifically say "desert" as opposed to dry environments. Because if you are camping anywhere else, other than a desert, then even in the dry season, you can expect rain. (Ignoring the other issues which would be true for drier, non desert, conditions too.) I lived 30 years in the prairies and often went weeks without rain. At the same time, it was also common to have thunderstorms every afternoon. The worst, or best, thing was that the thunderstorm cell might completely miss you and you can watch it pass in the distance. Not uncommon to have one side of a small valley hit with rain and the other side be completely dry. But if it does hit you, especially if late in the day or at night means, if you were using this bivy, you would be sleeping wet. .

[@MrFredrictai]

I am sorry but it really looks like a fancy bodybag with pegs to me...

[@RichDoh64]

The color would be the deal breaker for me. I need earth tones that dont stand out.

[@as5who13]

I'm no scientist or rain expert, but when I saw the water wasn't running off the sides or pooling up in the dips I assumed it was leaking.

[@laurieann2714]

Can't be waterproof "as long as there's no rain"!! Lol

[@darrellhall6622]

leak? YES!!

[@seamusmcbride2832]

Suzy's Coleman tent did far better than this for about the same money. Speaking of, what happened to her planned Coleman/economy tent series?

[@user-cc8vh8oh7p]

It will

[@The_Riddler21]

✌️

[@IMDARKFIRE007]

NOT a bivy. Stakes and guy lines = minimalist tent. That SAID, for an item not designed for wet weather, I think some water in a single corner after THAT test is actually not bad. But seriously folks, if you want a bivy, get a real one.

[@MaryLDodd]

What does bivey mean?

[@MrBirdnose]

Bivouac. Basically a shelter you erect just to sleep in, often quickly or in an emergency.

[@MountainGirlwIPA]

I don't like the design but I don't think it will leak

[@shcmoly]

They call it a bath tub floor because it's supposed to fill up right... Not!

[@PokeEyeSlapSlap]

Stealth? A lovely bright Colour 🤣🤣🤣

[@moirabaines3848]

Yes it will leak

[@DrChazKL0T]

I am torn on this review. Part of me does NOT want an extremely waterproof bivi. I prefer to use these under a tarp and want high ventilation and bug repellent mesh. But part of me enjoys knowing I can dive into a secure tent in a high wind environment on a mountainside. I’m disappointed the advertising was inaccurate. If you add fabric, I feel you have to make the fabric waterproof. I still enjoy my Outdoor Research mesh bivi under low pitch tarp in the summer.

[@6millionLiesRememberHolodomor]

Don't even consider getting the Carinthia sniper tent he also reviewed, it is NOT waterproof in sense of condensation. It's fabled tripple gortex is a scam where you'll see droplets of condensation hit your face during night time.

[@earlshaner4441]

Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your equipment testing and sharing the facts and truth brother

[@PREPFORIT]

The Colour is nowhere close to Stealth. The company relies on being Vauge. How hard would it be to call it Alps Mountaineering Desert Stealth 1 Bivy Tent

[@BigDom61]

It’s going to leak like a sieve

[@mixitupkeeney5596]

All the gear you have for camping and you use a cell phone light to check for leaks in the tent lol wow

[@tecnotrog1]

That oversized sock will never make it in Eastern NC 🦉

[@steverogers7611]

I have the outdoor research made of goretex I still use a tarp and pitch on drained land

[@khamen723]

Avoid everything from that company

[@Jeffnismoser]

120$ for that ahahah, For this price you can buy an Eureka Solitaire AL who is a great bivy tent way better than this! You can still buy them in canada!

[@CGAZ66]

LOL you really hate this Tent. I have seen them other video's.

[@larryprice1081]

He is a drama queen , Exzaggerating on the water inside of the bivy. It did not look like a swimmimg pool to me

[@user-nu7sb3tp1w]

I predict .. it leaks, hope I'm wrong.

[@just4ivaylo92]

Disappointed. I have two Alps tents and they have been bomb proof.

[@lindawoody8501]

A sagging coffin like experience if I would guess from the photos in the video. Would not want to be in that for any long period of time and not at all in rain. Would not buy.

[@ericzeigler8669]

Anyone remember the tent brand, Bibler? They used a proprietary material similar to Goretex called Toddtex. Black Diamond acquired the company years ago. Bibler's bivy tents are legendary. I'm always on the lookout for a used, but well maintained Bibler tent. Since BD took over the quality just isn't the same.

[@Bram18222]

How is it raining there every week? Seems weird

[@tessminime3480]

Looks like an outsized body bag horrid

[@MoonbeameSmith]

Stealth??

[@mixmediaproductions]

The color is not stealthy

[@angel19642001]

I don’t like Bivy tents I would have a hard time getting in it

[@timwalker218]

Really like your honest reviews….BUT… do you always get sent dodgy gear….