Saddam's Bivvy Secrets Revealed!!!!

Now for the good news, OUTDOORSmagic has interviewed recently captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain about his advanced bivvy techniques perfected while hiding from US forces over the past months.

Despite his vast wealth, Saddam told us that he favoured the use of hard currency as a sleeping pad rather than decadent western sleeping mats or Therm-A-Rests. When captured Saddam was using some $750,000 to provide insulation against cold ground, however he confided in OM that as little as $250,000 in small denomination notes would be sufficient to protect most fleeing dicatators.

US currency, he believes, provides superior insulation due to a high loft factor and the use of good quality, water-resistant paper. Small notes will provide greater volume when stuffed into a sack, he said, but high denomination notes are often less heavily used so provide greater stiffness and insulation. For a handy pillow, Saddam suggests stuffing a string vest with well used greenbacks then tying a bootlace top and bottom to keep the padding in place.

Money isn't just handy insulation though. It can also be used as a handy cooking fuel - at several hundred dollars per meal it's good value too - and, at a pinch, as a roll your own cigarette paper.

An unnamed industry source told OUTDOORSmagic that the new miracle insulator could spell the end for both down and synthetic insulation. However OM editor Jon Doran cautioned readers to stick to bank notes rather than coinage. 'It's an easy mistake to make,' he said. 'I once made to error of bedding down on top of £5,000-worth of 50 pence pieces. It was an expensive and uncomfortable night and the coins were hell to carry next day...'