Bothy Bags

Skrapmetal

Skrapmetal

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Jul 13, 2009
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Any of you use these? I've heard a bit about them, but haven't been able to find any locally. Most of the shops I find online that carry them are based out of the UK... seems like they're not very popular in the States.

The concept seems great to me... packable emergency shelter that is small enough to fit into a kit even when you don't really think you'll need it.
 
The main benefit I see over a tarp and bivy is the independence and ease of use. You don't need a walking stick, a tree, or anything else to hang the tarp from... and there is no real setup. You pull it out and climb in.

That and the two-person size for my wife and I in an emergency is appealing to me. Good way to quickly get out of the elements and share body heat.
 
The bags were big heavy weight orange plastic bags.
They were a standard piece of emergency gear for walking in the British mountains if you were benighted.
They protect you against driving rain and cold wind, as found on in the British hills in the middle of the summer
Every kid on a day hike would carry one.

You put them over your self and you sit on your pack.
If you had a sleeping bag. you would get in it, and put your legs in your pack and put the bivi bag over you.
It would be an uncomfortable damp but dry night.

Bothy bags are the same thing but modern in nylon and bigger, and much more expensive
 
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Bothy bags are definitely not popular in America. I've seen them used by European and Kiwi climbers and by a few Japanese teams.

All the one's I've seen were made out of sil-nylon or something similar, so they don't breathe, but they're brightly colored for rescue purposes and they pack down small (even the one's that are supposed to hold 3 or 4 people are compact).

My understanding from other mountain guides is that they're designed as a last ditch shelter, not for regular use. You pull it over you to get out of a storm and they usually have tube-type vents for breathing.

There are some that do double duty and are tarps that have velcro on the edges to be sealed together as a bothy.
 
Can't say that I've ever seen any of these. I would say the adventure medical emergency bivy (2 person) would fulfill the same requirements and should be fairly easy to get a hold of.
 
I have a Lifeventure 2 Man Bothy Bag, the idea is that it is a very quick to deploy emergency shelter that you can set up around your companion and self. They're made in two to twelve person sizes!

Its possible to sit on your pack (ground insulation) and wind and waterproof material keeps the rain/sleet/snow/wind on the outside, whilst your combined body heat creates a snug environment in the small space. It works if you're solo, too.

A fitted window panel and adjustable vent make life easier and the brightly coloured fabric helps if someones looking for you. Hiking poles may be used, though they aren't necessary.

Bothy bags have proven themselves as lifesavers, and in some events are mandatory equipment. They also provide a dry place to eat your lunch!

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Can someone show this bag deployed and in use? Not sure how they work? How does one stay warm? Are they like a tarp and you can have a reflective fire to stay warm? Or is it more like a tent?

I'm trying to figure out the advantage this system has over a simple tarp and perhaps a ground cloth for emergencies especially when in a tarp one can utilize a reflective fire to warm oneself, cook their food and/or dry things out.
 
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Quirt said:
Can someone show this bag deployed and in use? Not sure how they work? How does one stay warm? Are they like a tarp and you can have a reflective fire to stay warm? Or is it more like a tent?

I'm trying to figure out the advantage this system has over a simple tarp and perhaps a ground cloth for emergencies especially when in a tarp one can utilize a reflective fire to warm oneself, cook their food and/or dry things out.
Click to expand...

You sit on your pack (or the ground/snow) and the bothy bag fits around you. The proofed fabric keeps the bad weather and wind on the outside, whilst the body heat of those sitting in the bothy bag causes a warmer environment, thus raising the inside temperature in relation to the outside temperature (no rain/sleet/snow and wind chill directly hitting you).

You can use a bothy bag in places a tarp cannot be set up and a bothy bag can be deployed quickly.

They are not meant to have stoves used inside (nor are tents!) though if I needed to I'd use my JetBoil with suitable ventilation.

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Two people setting the bothy bag around them prior to sitting down.

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It's not something I'm interested in for a planned shelter or campsite... but definitely something that would be nice to have in my emergency gear, especially in the winter.

Yeah, you can do a tarp/bivy/reflective fire... but all of that takes setup. In a pinch, these give you shelter at the snap of a finger. Something pretty valuable when you're trying to get under cover quickly and/or get warm fast.
 
so its really just a big bag you get in..hmmm thats kinda interesting.looks like it could be useful in a pinch.
 
Looks like two big wankers in a super large condom:D I can see the merit for certain mountaineering hikes as a last ditch shelter; not sure whey they haven't caught on here in the US...I guess we don't like to share condoms at the same time:D

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
Looks like two big wankers in a super large condom:D I can see the merit for certain mountaineering hikes as a last ditch shelter; not sure whey they haven't caught on here in the US...I guess we don't like to share condoms at the same time:D

ROCK6
Click to expand...

Trumps the "knackered pantomime horse" description. A+

Good kit though.
 
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