When I was assembling a snowshoeing survival kit for some friends' daughter, I received several helpful suggestions for emergency cold weather bivy bags and wanted to follow up on the topic. My assumptions are that the kit would be used where overnight temperatures are below freezing and an overnight campout is not planned. I'm also assuming someone will be able to get themselves off the snow/cold ground and will have some sort of shelter sheet (I carry my silnylon poncho).
The little mylar space bags are the lightest/cheapest at around a couple ounces and a few bucks. Stepping up from there, you find the Adventure Medical Kits Heat Sheet items for a little more weight and expense. At about 6.5 ounces and $30 is the AMK Thermo-Lite Bivy, which is said to be substantially stronger and better protection than the lighter alternatives. However, I read complaints from several folks about the amount of condensation that develops, despite the venting system. A couple felt it created a situation that might be almost as dangerous as not having the AMK Bivy.
That got me to thinking about something mentioned by our brother Bearthedog on a backpacking trip. He had an ultralight backpacker's quilt and said that he might be able to produce them commercially someday. As I recall, it weighed less than 10 ounces and provided insulation, not just a covering. Equally important, it was breathable. [Note that I've seen a bunch of quilts already commercially available from about $100-300+ and weighing around 9-16+ ounces, depending upon fabric and insulation.]
The next step up from there would be to carry one of the high-quality, ultralight sleeping bags weighing a bit over a pound. Examples are the Marmot Atom and comparable bags from Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering (HighLite). They aren't rated for sub-freezing temps but would certainly make a person much more comfy. Of course, these bags will set one back several hundred bucks and would have to serve dual duty as summer bags. As with the fairly costly quilts, I couldn't justify buying one solely for a cold weather survival kit.
So where would you draw the line? Go minimalist on weight and cost, carry an expensive one pound bag or split the difference?
Thanks for your advice,
DancesWithKnives
The little mylar space bags are the lightest/cheapest at around a couple ounces and a few bucks. Stepping up from there, you find the Adventure Medical Kits Heat Sheet items for a little more weight and expense. At about 6.5 ounces and $30 is the AMK Thermo-Lite Bivy, which is said to be substantially stronger and better protection than the lighter alternatives. However, I read complaints from several folks about the amount of condensation that develops, despite the venting system. A couple felt it created a situation that might be almost as dangerous as not having the AMK Bivy.
That got me to thinking about something mentioned by our brother Bearthedog on a backpacking trip. He had an ultralight backpacker's quilt and said that he might be able to produce them commercially someday. As I recall, it weighed less than 10 ounces and provided insulation, not just a covering. Equally important, it was breathable. [Note that I've seen a bunch of quilts already commercially available from about $100-300+ and weighing around 9-16+ ounces, depending upon fabric and insulation.]
The next step up from there would be to carry one of the high-quality, ultralight sleeping bags weighing a bit over a pound. Examples are the Marmot Atom and comparable bags from Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering (HighLite). They aren't rated for sub-freezing temps but would certainly make a person much more comfy. Of course, these bags will set one back several hundred bucks and would have to serve dual duty as summer bags. As with the fairly costly quilts, I couldn't justify buying one solely for a cold weather survival kit.
So where would you draw the line? Go minimalist on weight and cost, carry an expensive one pound bag or split the difference?
Thanks for your advice,
DancesWithKnives
Last edited:
). More for keeping the bag clean, added comfort, and dries quickly. Much as I like the liner, I'd caution about expecting much warmth, if you're already wearing longjons. It keeps potentially cold fabric from direct contact with your skin, and helps with a slight micro-climate. Maybe a little pouch or sock to safely contain some disposable handwarmers would be another easy and low-bulk option for added warmth.
Some fabric & insulation from owfinc.com and a sewing machine could probably set you up with a tailored quilt pretty quick, if you know exactly what you want and don't mind a project.
