we should always take an emergency shelter with us onto the hills. AFAIK there are 3 options, the orange bags, a storm shelter (bothy shelter?) (which you sit in) and those tin foil sheet things. do you only need to take one of them, or is there one you should always have regardless of what else you have? i'm only asking because i'm planning on getting a storm shelter, but i'm unsure if i should get any of the others.
thanks, and excuse my ignorance!!

no idea Marv, I've always carried an orange survival bag, they more robust than a tinfoil blanket and it's harder to wrap yoruslef in a blanket than get in a bag. The survival bags are handy for sitting on as well if the ground is damp and can be used for sledging.

If you're after a bothy bag type shelter have a look at the thread about Trail mag subscriptions there's a link to a website where you can subscribe to Trail and get a free Vango Storm Shelter 400.

When I get it I'll probably carry it in addition to a survival bag if out with a group but wouldn't bother with it if on my own.

I'm also planning to get a storm shelter. My opinion is that the storm shelter is functionally identical to the orange bags, but with space inside to serve tea from a flask. Take one or the other; I doubt you'd need both unless you feel better with some redundancy.

I don't really think that the silver blankets are worth their weight...

cheers, i was under the same impression brianetta. i was thinking of a bothy bag as it would be easier to fit 2 in too.
i'll have a look at the trail mag thing, cheers.

I used to take an orange bag everywhere ( it was permenantly resident in the rucksack), but since getting a bothy bag I take that instead. It does the same as the orange bag, plus all the advantages of extra room. I can't really see any scenario which is likely to need both.

I dont know what colour the bothy bags are, but remember that for "emerency" situations, where you need to be rescued rather than an enforced overnight "stop," if you are carrying an orange emergency bag, they are easily spotted from the air too !!

Tests performed by DCTA Farnborough showed that the aluminised mylar film (the tin foil sheets) lasted about five minutes in strong wind, before shredding. Small punctures became tear initiation sites. A simple polythene bag proved much more resilient, and provided protection for the duration of the test (two days, I recall...)

Blizzard bags probably behave better, as they use a box construction which I imagine will provide some tear resistance.

looks like it will be a bothy bag then. cheers.

IIRC the bothy bags tend to be red.

The Vango ones are Orange with a reflective cross on them I believe.

hi marv (yes its me from BM / Dalby ride) I have a bothy shelter you can get them from Blacks in a few colours i normaly take both a bag and a bothy as you can use the bag as a ground sheet to keep your ar$e dry if one rider carys a bag and one a bothy you will be sorted

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/terra/bothy.shtml

alright andy.
fair do's.

Mary www.outdoorgarage.com stock both Vango and Terra nova bothy bags.Terra nova bags lighter than Vango.If it is for two I would buy the four man as they are small for two.Prices are 2 man tn £22.49,4man tn £29.99.Vango 2 man £26.99,4 man £35.99.I have the Terra nova 4 man and find it really usefull for eating and a kip in inclement weather

Whats the latest on Emeergency Shelters? I want a 4 man jobbie, as small (pack size) and as light as possible that will only be used when it needs to be. What section in the reviews page would I find these shelters anyway?

I now carry a tarp and bivvy bag as my shelter combo. This is even if I am carrying a tent or a large tarp. The small tarp that I use as an emergency is only 6x4.5 feet and weighs less than 100g and can be used to supplement my large tarp for improved weather proofing

I only took my Vango 4 person bothy bag out on the hills once.  It took up too much room in my pack compared to any other solution.  It's not as bulky as a tent, but that's its only claim.

Hmm, so theyre not all that worth having really? I jsur want a very basic little one for me and a few mates/group jsut incase its a bit too 'orrible or if something goes wrong.

John I forgot all about that. Thanks for the reminder, I'll need to put something together for that.

Although the orange individual bag (or slightly more modern equivalents such as Blizzard bags etc.) is light and has the benefit of always being left inside their sac and forgotten please don't discount the group shelter if there are a number of you. I have used them 'for real' a couple of times and found them to be real lifesavers and vastly superior to the orange bag which may just keep an individual alive but is fairly limited in functionality. Bulky yes, but very light and well worth it in wintry conditions.