 Hi Frum yes well I have several tarps, my "usual" one is the golite lair1. This has a closed off rear but completely open front (basically a single skin tent without doors!) becasue I always carry a very very light small tarp for rest breaks, emergency shelter etc , i also find that it can be used as a "door" (or an extended awning/vestibule) for the golite lair. Simply set up the main tarp as normal then attach the smaller tarp to the leading edges of the main tarp (either guy it out or attach the attacment loops together) with either a full side of the smaller tarp or a point falling to the floor. when you want to close it off, peg/guy the last point down. Its not perfect but it does give more weather protection see attached picture from the website I pinched the idea off because cuben fibre is so light its not much of a weight penalty and it gives me many more options when tarping or generally walking http://www.granitegear.com/products/tarps/dodger/dodger.html
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 You say you pinched the idea from Granite Gear ,Dave. Well I'm probably going to pinch it from you. Very nice idea. Thanks.
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 Smeg, I'd say you probably do want a Vango 4 person bothy, or similar - I have a 2-man version, and whilst it doesn't pack down to the size of a packet of crisps, I don't find that an issue since I lash it on to the top (outside) of my pack rather than the inside, which means it's quick and easy to grab. It's really useful in non-emergency situations when you just want a break from honzontal wind and rain. Means you can get out of the weather to eat, rest, study the map carefully, put an extra layer on, etc. All of which also means that it's not dead weight unless/until that emergency situation comes up. Oh, and I just stuff mine into a medium-sized Alpkit stuffsack - light and simple, and it's not as though you need to keep the thing dry.
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 Having seen the packed size of a Vango 2, I'd happily trade my 4 for a 2.
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no problem Frum I also use my small tarp as an awning for my tents as well!
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 Is a 2 man shelter actually large enough for 2 people to be relatively comfy? Same goes for a 4 man for 4? I was hoping these thigns would certainly be no larger then 1L in volume. I mean it's just a thin bag made of flysheet material isnt it?
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They are built for surviving not comfort, wouldn't want to spend days in one but if its a question of sitting out really bad conditions, or awaiting rescue then fine. I used one in a alpine storm, when the rain and wind just got ridiculous, it seemed the better option to sit it out, were we comfortable no, did it provide shelter yes 
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Smeg: The Vango is made of cagoule material, much heavier than a fly. The 4 person one that I have packs down to well over a litre.
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 I've got the terra nova two man one which is pretty thin material, probably similar to fly weight. Its just big enough for two, and backs down to under a litre in size. I wouldn't say its comfortable, but it does its job. I think the deluxe outdoor designs ones are the lightest available.
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 I've got the TN 4-man, about 10 years old now and going strong. I bought the 4-man to have plenty of room, including for large packs, even though I only expect to use it for 2 most of the time. Recently I compared it to a friend's TN 2-man version, and at 430g mine was only about 50g heavier.
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 Dynddinas, I've got one of those. Not had to use it yet though.
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 I have the force ten 1. Not tried it yet but there is plenty of room to sit in comfort and have abrew, look at maps etc. The pack size is about the same as a medium mellon!
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I prefer to carry an emergency melon - I can hollow it out for shelter and get a tasty, refreshing snack into the bargain! 
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BTW those tinfoily blankety, blow-awayeee things are rubish unless you need to use them inside your tent in which case they are actually quite good for keeping you alive. Oh and try sucking on those melons.
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Smeg I have enjoyed a very comfy lunch inside a 2man bothy with two other friends on a VERY blustery hilltop; it made a great shelter. I normally carry an orange sack thing myself but was grateful to my friend for offering shelter that day. My wish list contains a bothy as both a survival aid and a comfort stop. 
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 Hi Matt. The last time i had an 'emergency' melon was at a night beach party on the island of Ios many years ago. A very visual night. 
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 Melons are ok, but a huge giant banana skin with a cental storm covered zip would surely be much better, as the water just runs off bananas in the wet! Seriously though, I think mine I have here somewhere is a Vango one. I have not tested it out yet, as I have only ever had to use a friend's one before, and that is the Terra Nova 2 man use one! They are very good gear! Still all of those things seem a little flimsy to me overall. I like the look of the new "American Adventure Medical Kits" or AMK make ones though, and that one is the next kit purchase of this type that I will be making! They seem to be made of a good light rip-stop material that seems most impressive to me indeed! They sell them at the store with the original link that Parky kindly gave me on the Sierra Cup thread. Before that I had not found successfully a UK stockist for that item on my gigantic outdoors wants-list!
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| Edited: 01/01/08 03:02 |
Speaking as someone above has, of the very basic silvered survival blankets, has anyone-other than Chris Townsend, who showed it in one of his most excellent articles on backcountry travel in the States-ever used their silvered blanket or "All-weather Blanket"-the toughened heavier version of the product idea-under their bivi-bag/sleeping bag combo for high country useage? The interesting pictures I saw from CT's old article were taken at snow-line level, as there was some snow around in evidence at the edges of the picture; and the silvered-surface of the survival-blanket sheet was being used presumeably, on a groundsheet; just under the bag to, one assumes, reflect the heat of the morning sun/body back up to the sleepers rest position. On the AMK item mentioned above, I would be remiss I feel, should I not here and now mention, that this particular item in their ever increasing emergency outdoors blanket range is styled as a bivi-bag type, more than the standard old style "bothy bags" style emergency shelters already mentioned! Sorry for not including that essential information in my brief product description given above.
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| Edited: 01/01/08 03:21 |
