Newfangled Survival Bags Four Times Warmer...

Now that it's getting cooler out there, every walker and climber should give serious consideration to carrying an emergency survival bag in their pack. But while classic orange poly bag does the job and is water and windproof, it has no thermal insulation qualities.

A more effective alternative, says North Wales based company Blizzard Protection Systems, is their new range of emergency survival aids using a fabric they call Reflexcell. It's an metallic reflective material on the outside with expandable, elasticated, heat-trapping channels enclosed by the outer material to provide insulation.

According to the company, a report by the Royal Marines on a bag made from the fabric estimates that it's up to four times warmer than army standard survival bags. On top of that, the bags are fully reuseable and some climbers have, apparently started using them as a lightweight sleeping system rather than a pure emergency product says Blizzard's Derek Ryden.

Not Just An Old Bag...

The Blizzard range doesn't stop with survival bags however, also in the range is a large tube capable of being used by two or three people and the Blizzard Survival Jacket. The latter packs smaller than a video cassette and weighs 250 grammes yet unpacks into a sleeveless, hooded jacket that is claimed to be 'as warm as a down jacket and can be worn over ordinary clothes and still allow full movement'.

The Blizzard Survival Bag weighs slightly more at 350 grammes, has a drawcord closure so it can be made into a hooded bag and is rated at 8 TOGs making it equivalent to a medium warm sleeping bag.

The material sample we have here - a section of tube - certainly has decent insulation properties and we reckon the Blizzard stuff is well worth a look. You're getting weather protection plus insulation in one package. There's also a survival blanket in the range.

The jacket is priced at £19.99 and the bag at £24.99. More details and online buying at www.blizzardpack.com.