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.
Colin Cadden
