Snugpak Stratosphere Review

Price: £165

Pros: Compact, rugged

Cons: Weatherproofing, weight, cost

Overall:	48
​Weather Resistance:	3
Weight:	5
Comfort:	​5
Packed size:	6

Overall Verdict:

The Snugpak Stratosphere despite being relatively roomy is disappointing overall. In hot weather, there was too much condensation, and wet weather left you very soggy and wet. I have used bikepacking and hiking, however, I would not recommend this unless you are in a perfectly dry environment. However, the headspace above the poles is nice and spacious, however, your shoulders and waist seem strapped down to the bivvy.

Weather Resistance:

As you can see it was cold! When used in the heat it produced a lot of condensation, however, it was nice just to have some protection from the wind. In the cold - it's very cold, condensation from a lack of ventilation means it all freezes on the inside and then just makes your sleeping bag wet - there is no winning. In the wet, it is very poor! The fabric is direct to you/your sleeping bag and just soaks straight through. I have experimented with how best to use this in all weather conditions and never come up with the answer. The only time it would be brilliant is in high wind conditions to give you some warmth and shelter.

Weight:

It depends on what you are using it for... If you want this as a bivvi it is very heavy at a little over 1kg, however, it is very rugged as I mentioned. If you are using it as a cheap 1 man tent the weight is very competitive. Obviously, there are 1 and 2-man tents which are sub 0.5kg, but they will set you back 5x as much. I have a 2-man North Face Triach 2 which is the same weight but far better, but much more expensive.

Comfort:

For a bivvi the headspace is very roomy. The head has plenty of room for a bivvi, but as a cheap 1 man tent, it is very cramped. The added comfort to protect you from the wind it is stable and effective, but comfort in the rain is questionable.

Packed size:

The packed size isn't too bad, for the weight and ruggedness of the Stratosphere it packs down well. As you can see it's pretty compact and if weight isn't an issue it is a good size. It could definitely be packed down further if I removed it from the bag. The poles are surprisingly small and light.

Value:

For the price there is better, I'd want it to be far more waterproof or resistant anyway. It did have plenty of room by the head and if it is a cheap 1 man tent type design you want it isn't too bad at all, but it is expensive for a windbreak.

Conclusion:

If you are going to use it in dry conditions only or under a dense canopy whilst it's raining it is an okay option. As a bivvi there are plenty of better, cheaper, and lighter. Despite the spacious room it just didn't perform well enough to justify the price. Even for bike packing, if I am racing I'd rather take my orange survival bag, and if I am bike packing for pleasure, I'll take the North Face Triach 2 tent. I was impressed with how rugged the material is, but it just doesn't perform in warm or rainy conditions.