One of the benefits of having my own travel website is that I sometimes get a chance to test out new gear before it’s available to most people. Some of this gear is good, some isn’t, but every now and then something comes along that instantly becomes a must-have item for me when I’m traveling. After the last few weeks traveling around the Pacific Northwest and backpacking in Glacier National Park, the Zenbivy has become something I don’t think I can ever camp without.

The Zenbivy Bed sleeping system concept comes from designer Michael Glavin, who has been working in the outdoor industry for the last twenty years. His creation was born from a desire to answer a question that’s been on his mind for quite some time: “Why isn’t there a more comfortable solution for sleeping outdoors that’s still lightweight enough to pack into the backcountry?”

Let's start with the basics.

Traditional outdoor sleep systems generally consist of two things: something to sleep on and something to sleep in. The first part is basically an outdoor version of a mattress, and will sit between your sleeping bag and the ground to offer support for you and to provide insulation from the cold. This is usually achieved with a sleeping pad, air mattress, cot, or sometimes a hammock. For what you sleep in, this is generally either your traditional “mummy” sleeping bag, or an outdoor quilt.