My (Unique?) British Army Basha Set-up

By request, this video demonstrates my favourite and preferred basha setup.
Is it unique? I've not seen this setup anywhere else, although it does resemble an Adirondack, although I've only ever seen those on a ridgeline.
Have you seen or used this shelter? Drop me a comment and tell me what you think.

[@brettatkinson4325]

Brilliant set up thanks 👍

[@Dutcharmytent]

So useful to see your design.

[@owtnabowt2723]

cheers. been a while since i put this vid up, but still use this set up whenever i'm in flat open space.

[@gerard6544]

Greetings form The Netherlands. Recently bought me a genuine Basha. I think it is the greatest tarp setup for my situation. It also works great with a ridge line or oars. Thank you for chairing

[@owtnabowt2723]

Hi Gerard, and hello to The Netherlands. I was in you're wonderful country last year and managed to get out and do a wild camp. I was also informed afterwards that you can get quite a hefty fine. Thanks for taking the time to say hello. I've added a link to the wild camp video I made while I was out there, and the "what 3 words" location in case you wanted to take a look youreself. The location I went to is what3words.com/backlog.lonely.mornings The video I made in The Netherlands Is kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5PToppnqMadhM0

[@gerard6544]

@@owtnabowt2723 I have been to your beauty full UK and did wild camping there several times. Dartmoor, Lake District, Toridons, Fisherfields, Sandwood Bay. Wonderful times. Corona kept us away for some years now but hope to visit again soon. See also my comments under you trip to the Netherlands.

[@simonh6371]

@@owtnabowt2723 Haha I used to wild camp when I lived in NL but was very stealthy about it. In fact I got caught once close to Amsterdam but managed to talk my way out of it, it was 11am and I told them I was just day camping/practicing and they let me off even though they knew it wasn't true (I still had sleep in my eyes and was brushing my teeth when they came). Actually it's an offence in NL just to be in the woods or forest from sundown to sunrise. There are a few spots where you may wild camp over in the East of the Netherlands next to Germany, they call it ''paalkamperen'' or pole camping, because you may camp within 10m of a specific signed pole, but there are limitations on number of campers, duration of stay, and fires are prohibited. Going to check out your NL video now mate!

[@owtnabowt2723]

@Simon H I learnt all about the paalkamperen when I went back into work after the weekend. Apparently its what the guy who suggested the area was telling me to do...lol If I want to lead people into thinking that I wasn't setting up for an over nighter, I point to the various bits of filming kit and convince them I'm only setting up for a video recording session. The worst that can happen is they tell you to sling your hook, at best you might actually get the footage you want in that location. Its a useful excuse if your on public land (country parks etc) and the rangers come across you all bivvied up :D

[@simonh6371]

@@owtnabowt2723 Well yes but they can give you fines too as well as telling you to sling your hook. However the rangers I came across were pretty okay as they saw I was respecting the area, cooking on a Trangia not an open fire, and there was no litter around, they could see my rubbish bag hanging off my bike.

[@kentmulter]

I've learned lots of tarp setups, and created a few of my own; but I've never seen this one before. I might describe it as half-way between an Adirondack and a Plow. Very clever! Now I'm going to be up half the night, experimenting with pieces of paper to see it in three dimensions.

[@owtnabowt2723]

I planned it out on little bits of paper 😆. It has become my favourite shelter when hiking and can be seen in multiple videos on y channel. I think what appeals to me is its sheltered enough to keep out most of the weather, but open enough to enjoy being outside.You'll have to drop me a line if/when you try and let me know how you get on 👍

[@frankmehlhorn6007]

Very good setup! Thank you for sharing 😀

[@gardenbasha22.0]

gorgeous dog helper

[@owtnabowt2723]

aww thanks, his name's Lister

[@lindleyca69]

Thats a great set up, can't wait to try it out.

[@owtnabowt2723]

Nice one lindleyca69. Pop back and let me know how you got on with it. Have fun, Stay safe Andy

[@mickybolesworth]

Wow!! Brilliant love that set up . That's definitely my new way now Thanks 😊

[@owtnabowt2723]

Thanks Micky, I appreciate the feedback. I love this set up, find it gives me loads of room, shelter from 3 directions and you still feel a part of the environment.

[@dcordry]

Best set up for the basha - Good job!

[@owtnabowt2723]

Thank MTS, I find having three sides helps when the wind changes 😀

[@buonafortuna8928]

Very good. I'm always interested to see a list of the gear people use.

[@DesGreene]

Nice one! Really like that setup👍 Gives a nice open view, which is what I prefer unless the weather is really lousy! Cheers & all the best👍

[@owtnabowt2723]

Cheers Des, its definately my favourite, pretty quick and easy to set up once you've had a go.

[@timosborne8174]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@owtnabowt2723]

Thanks for the feedback, and you're welcome 👍

[@armingilsdorf9675]

Cool , thx for sharing!

[@owtnabowt2723]

You're welcome, thanks for dropping by to watch and comment 👍

[@jeremynorman1330]

Excellent.....thank you

[@owtnabowt2723]

I glad you like it, Thanks for taking the time to let me know 😀👍 Have fun, Stay safe

[@paganoutdoors3193]

Brilliant setup, just come across your channel, have subbed, really interesting basha setup, never seen the basha set up like this, I noticed on what would be the centre/ridgeline ,there's a tieout/loop that could be utilised with a guyline to a branch etc to pull out the middle ish of the basha, providing more room underneath, even in the low setup, if that makes sense, really enjoyed the video, good health and safe travels, cheers craig

[@owtnabowt2723]

Thanks again Craig, and thanks for taking the time to watch a few of my other videos and comment. I see you have a new channel yourself which already has some interesting looking content. I have reciprocated the sub 😃 and will take a look when I get back to civilisation. Work has got me locked away, but will be spending some time in a wild location soon so should get a new vid out when I get back from my travels.

[@paganoutdoors3193]

@@owtnabowt2723 thank you,I should have done afew more videos by now but health has flared up, but means I'll have of videos to do ,when I do get out again, you'll notice me comment on afew tonight, as being bedbound, but able to watch stuff today ,so going to hammer youtube lol, cheers

[@mustamuri]

✨🧸✨🙂👍

[@robertfreeman6082]

Thats an interesting setup, thanks for sharing. Question - is that a current British Army bash ? I ask as it look like its square and the one I have (desert camo version) is more rectangular ? Did they change the size/shape at some point ? Keep up the great videos.

[@owtnabowt2723]

Hi Robert. Thanks for the question. I believe its current issue and its also rectangular (2.56m X 2.16) which makes it a little bit awkward when trying to set up some of the configurations shown with a 3x3 DD. Its even more noticeable when I use it as s over hammock tarp, one end of each side ends up much higher than the other. Not caused me any problems though.

[@RiteraRacoonOutdoor]

Hi, I love army stuff. Really nice video with fantastic tips. Great video! ;) Cheers and suppport from Thuringia Marco & Racoon

[@owtnabowt2723]

Cheers Thuringia Marco, I appreciate the comments. I have a video with the british army bivi bag (kzbin.info/www/bejne/banXZpKJptRsfJY) that seems to have gone down well that you might like as well. 😀 Just popped over to your channel,. you have some interesting looking content. I'll be taking a closer look. 👍 Have fun, stay safe, Andy

[@kimelisabethkristensen1485]

Thank you. My guess is you're using what's called a taut line hitch/knot. I like it a lot.

[@owtnabowt2723]

From the comments, I think that knot goes by a few names...lol

[@treksntarps]

Nice setup mate . Looks basically like an adirondak shelter but with the basha . Not seen it done with a basha before ( except by you) . Might give that a try soon. Heard that guy line hitch called a taut tarp hitch or a taut line hitch b4 I think . Anyway take care atb Andy 👍🏕

[@owtnabowt2723]

Evenin' Mark. I think it probably does fall under the Adirondack title. I'll check out the taut line/taut tarp hitch and rename my vid/knot if it's the same. Make sure you throw up a vid if/when you set this up 👍

[@treksntarps]

Yeah evening mate . Yes I will when I use it ( might not set it up as good as you do bud ) . Not 100% sure about that knots name but seem to have that in my head from when I learned it 🤔 . Have a good week mate 👍

[@weekendwildcamps1988]

I bet that’s a bugger to put up in the wind. 🤔

[@Taffwildmanofthewoods]

You can't beat a good old fashioned army basha as a shelter👌. In the coming weeks I'll be trying a new set up using an army basha and goretex bivi. Always good to learn new skills 👍atb Taff 🤠👊

[@owtnabowt2723]

Cheers Taff, I look forward to seeing your basha & bivi set up. Such a versatile pairing. 👍😀 Have fun, Stay safe Andy

[@simonh6371]

It's not that old fashioned mate, we were still using the old olive green ponchos in the early 90s, I think the basha was introduced about 1995 onwards. Have one now and it's like a palace compared to a poncho basha.

[@Taffwildmanofthewoods]

@@simonh6371 I was using a basha in 1984 when I joined the army, but it was DPM back then. It was pvc of sorts and the hoops attached were the same with no metal eyelets. Green bungee hooks were carried to attach them to anything available. The battlefield then was going to be central Europe.

[@simonh6371]

@@Taffwildmanofthewoods I joined the TA - a NATO inf bn in 49 Bde, part of 2 Inf Div, which would have been deployed to the Minden Gap if it had kicked off, in 1988. In 1989 I joined the regs. We only ever saw the olive green ponchos, and we had DPM waterproofs which rustled a lot. We also used green bungees but you had to buy them yourself from Millets in the TA, or the NAAFI in the regs. Were you in the RRW or RWF mate? Or not inf?

[@Taffwildmanofthewoods]

@@simonh6371 The PRI shop sold the DPM ones, they weren't issue lol. You missed Exercise Lionheart in 1984 never again will such an exercise take place on such a scale. It was mind blowing!!

[@crankcuffin1948]

Hi I recently purchased the same basha and a nato camping bed. Which basha setup would be best to accommodate the bed?

[@billyaitken1713]

Nice, I'll be giving the DD XL a go at this🤔👍

[@owtnabowt2723]

Evenin' Billy. You'll have stacks of room under a DD XL. Is that 4.5 X 3 meters?

[@billyaitken1713]

owtnabowt 😎👍, I normally run a 'modded version' of TA Outdoors "Stealth shelter" with the XL, mainly because it's normally just me and the sausage dog. I've been incorporating 1/3 - 1/2 of the tarp as a bottom sheet but I recently bought some El Cheapo blue plastic tarps for ground sheeting so I'm looking for something new to try 😊👍.

[@owtnabowt2723]

@@billyaitken1713 TA Outdoors Stealth Shelter🤔. I shall hunt it down and give it a watch.👍

[@billyaitken1713]

owtnabowt -kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoiaZ3-vf8mBj7c (5 tarp shelters) , god it doesn't feel good sending a link for someone else's stuff 😞

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Awesome video-new friend here

[@owtnabowt2723]

Pleased to meet you Dave, and I'll be checking out your channel as well, looks like you have some good videos on there 👍

[@DaveCollierCamping]

@@owtnabowt2723 Thanks 🙏

[@carolinescott3888]

Hi, could you give me an idea of what length to cut my cordage to for my basha please

[@owtnabowt2723]

Hi Caroline, I think my guy lines here are around 2mtr (6ft). I usually have a ridge line as well, which is around15mtrs for setting up in woodland. But tbh, I always carry stacks of cordage when I'm out filming.

[@carolinescott3888]

@@owtnabowt2723 thanks so much

[@ghostinthecodeRF]

What size is the tarp?

[@owtnabowt2723]

Hi FRO. The British army basha is 2.5m X 2.1m or 101" X 84". So considerably smaller than most standard tarps which tend to be 3m x 3m. Makes it a little more challenging to set up. For example, I find that although the tarp can be set up in tent tarp formation, its actually a little too small.