Are Bothy Bags any good? - Review of this emergency/survival shelter

[@daveys]

Used the bigger 8-10 person units quite a bit when I was in a MR team. One of those over the casualty and team working on them gives a really good amount of privacy, warmth and comfort for someone who is likely scared and freezing. Rest of the team just had to stand outside in rain/sleet/snow/hail waiting for the carry off, so being inside with a bit of condensation was more luxury than discomfort. I also had 2-person and 8 person shelters, which I carried in case I needed them while doing mountain top radio ops.

[@bigskies2202]

Thanks @daveys. Great to hear about the usage from someone who has put these to the test in an MR team.

[@Sam2sham]

Nice review, thanks

[@lyellclare9365]

I have a two man bothy and modified it by sewing two tags (with grommet holes ) along the top and have rigged a light weight ridge line in order to attach it to a couple of branches .it works very well when needed. I have two tags on the bottom as well (for pegs ).

[@bigskies2202]

Thanks @lyellclare9365. Always nice to hear some DIY modification ideas to make kit more versatile!!

[@chrisbamborough222]

I take some clips called clingon clips if I remember correctly. They can attach to a Bothy or Tarp and take a line from those.

[@jasonpip5417]

Seems a fantastic and cost effective solution

[@gnohn9366]

Good review

[@LomoWatersport]

Great video, lots of fantastic advice and knowledge. Thanks for trusting Lomo :)

[@mch2359]

I was surprised to see the open bottom. I simply assumed the opening was on the side, and then you pulled a draw string to close it tight. If you are using it to get out of the rain, it doesn't seem so good to sit in the mud.

[@bigskies2202]

Hi @mch2359. Yeah you can pull the edge under your bum as you sit but if the ground is sodden then yes you need something to sit on to avoid a wet bum. In the mountains it's usually easy to choose a rocky area. If you are in the Cairngorms in bad weather in the winter and need the shelter just being able to get out of the wind and rain is a huge boost.

[@dr.badass702]

Bottomless is good in the snow though - let’s you dig a pit for windbreak and insulation and use the nylon as a roof ( like with the old BD Megamid)

[@chrismccaffrey8256]

Be careful fully enclosing yourself. Oxygen will run low.

[@howardjones8629]

I've got one of these, the next size up I think. I take it with us on family hikes as a back-up but never felt comfortable using it for rest stops incase someone thought we were in trouble by mistake! I should perhaps stop overthinking things!

[@bigskies2202]

Yeah, it'll be fine but a considerate thought. If someone has a concern they would likely ask, but I think use is widespread enough that confusion is unlikely. Incidentally it was a friend in mountain rescue who introduced me to use as a lunch break shelter some years back. Context is also key. If I spotted one in a natural rest spot at lunchtime on a wet and windy day I wouldn't think to ask but in an awkward spot close to dark I would check in passing.

[@zeez4178]

Must be in a bright colour then

[@OoohAaah6603]

I've got a green one doesn't attract any attention

[@snowleopard0412]

@@OoohAaah6603 You are invisible from the air or approaching SAR

[@stewartlancaster6155]

hydrostatic head of 3000mm is pretty much useless in rain,

[@bigskies2202]

Ta for the comment but would differ on that one. For a raincoat absolutely but not a shelter. A lot of quality tents, MSR Hubba, Big Agnes copper spur have sub 2000mm HH. I think the context of use is important so wouldn't worry too much about that for a sub £30 emergency or lunch shelter.

[@matthewspry4217]

Dont bothy

[@kommandantvhs4994]

We don't use bothy bags in the USA because if you have a emergency you are likely going to spend the night outdoors.

[@zeez4178]

Exactly why you would need one

[@bigskies2202]

Indeed. an unplanned night with or without a broken leg would be a whole different ball game exposed to the elements.

[@beky2879]

​@@bigskies2202yes but imo tarp might be a better option

[@joep5080]

😂😂😂

[@user-vg6pj2my2n]

American logic.

[@FiveDORRA]

Not needed for the boat people, only the finest 5 star hotels will do for umbtwembe

[@helidude3502]

While you have a valid point, it’s not really appropriate in this context. Perhaps you should go to Popeyes’s chicken and order a Wopper with cheese 🤷‍♂️ Contacting your local representatives and taking an active role in the political process would likely be more effective than complaining in the comments of a camping gear video. But I will agree with you that the world is a shit sandwich at the moment 🤔

[@bavery6957]

Your government is importing a new workforce willing to actually learn and work instead of perpetually whinging. It'll take a couple of decades to get it up and running. At that point, you can spend the rest or your life bitching, moaning and on the dole...

[@user-vg6pj2my2n]

Racism is disgusting.

[@jameslawson3876]

This link is a very good review in real ice storm conditions by Luke of The Outdoor Gear Review. Basically the condensation these things create is incredibly dangerous as it soaks your clothes. Anyway, have a look at this review as a comparison before anyone depends on it for a real life situation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaCulId7ac2FgJo&t

[@bigskies2202]

Hi James, yeah saw that link a while back. To be honest, as a lot of the comments say, the review misunderstands the point of the product. Luke would have been in far worse condition for 3 hrs outside the shelter than in. Mountain rescue teams carry and use these all of the time in the UK for good reason.

[@stuartaminion511]

couldn't you just prop up a corner (small prop up) to let in more air to cut down on condensation??? i have seen these in windy conditions and i can not see how condensation would be a problem in high or low winds???

[@jameslawson3876]

@@stuartaminion511 I think it needs much better venting at the top to allow the moist air to escape just like on any tent. Opening at the bottom might promote air flow, but the humid air can't get out that way. And cold air may blow in (unlikely to have a cold sump or snow wall around it). Perhaps several mesh sections with covered vents near the top, but then the vents need to be kept open which is difficult and allows rain in - like in Luke's review. It seems basically the same as taking refuge in a large plastic bag. I wonder if a proper bivvy bag with a warm liner - ideally a sleeping bag - would work better for such a situation? Might be worth looking around at what others use to reduce condensation when 'battened down' for awhile.

[@jameslawson3876]

@@bigskies2202 Thanks. Interesting. I guess it depends how long they keep someone inside it. If for a short time until say a chopper arrived or the casualty could be moved then maybe OK, but if you were trapped in an alpine area with a blizzard and you needed emergency protection for an hour or more then this isn't going to do the job. I agree that you would be worse off exposed, but only up to a point. Once the condensation builds up and you need to move around or lie down, you really need to get out of that at the microclimate it creates is just as bad, but without the direct wind chill. There must be some better survival/rescue shelter out there which ticks more boxes, but I guess then you are really looking at an alpine hiking tent almost.

[@bigskies2202]

It's a good debate, thanks James. Yes a lot of the venting issues are solvable IMO. Lifting the sides up a foot and giving it a waft will remove stale air. Would be an interesting design project to engineer a better ventilated version or make a few adaptions. Maybe will have a play with that this winter and run some tests. If you want a comparably lightweight way to shelter multiple people and potentially a casualty only other option seems to be a tarp which loses most of the practicalility, ease of setup and added value of the bothy.