Back in the old days, before bivy-bags and mylar blankets, the plan was to carry a cagoule. One sat down, flexed the knees and pulled the hem of the cagoule almost down to the boot-tops, and spent the night cozy and

The rest of the time, the cagoule served as an anorak that hung down to one's knees, and spent the night cramped, but cozy. I tried it a couple of times while deer-hunting, and it was warmer than the alternative. Scrapped it when the bivy-sacks came along.

Does anybody currently carry and use a cagoule?

My back would never stand one night...

Kinda, in the past I had one of these and loved it. According to the prices I see now, I am glad I didn't have to pay for it directly. I would love to have one for each of my family, but I also love to be able to pay the bills.

I have a wool WWII Swiss greatcoat that is similar. It has become my favorite piece of gear for camping in the Texas winter. I got it from Sportsman's Guide on clearance for $14 but now the only one google turned up is this one.

-Blast

http://estore.websitepros.com/1764795/-strse-8/Bivanorak/Detail.bok

check out hillebergs bivanorak

I can't remember now which mountain man it was I read about that survived a blizzard by "building a cup full of fire, sitting around it cross legged (non P.C. term Indian style) wrapped a blanket around himself like a tipi" and weathered it out. I've always kept that little tidbit in mind living in an area where -40F isn't uncommon in winter. Always figured if I had to, my old fire dept bunker coat would be the best choice for the job.

My wife has one from Campmor. She calls it her Buggoule as
it is good for refuge from mosquitoes too.

Don't know how hell e berg can patent something so old as a cagoule.

Homeless folk around here will sit under some plastic with a
candle to survive the night.

Cavers keep a garbage bag tucked in their helmet suspension.
When deployed they use their carbide lamps to heat the air
in the shelter if they become injured and have to wait for
help.

With a larger tarp, several can sit our of the storm with
the edges tucked under them.

i don't have or need one..i always assumed they were a bit of mountaineering gear ment for quick shelter. no mountains around me but i get the impression it can go from ok to really bad and back again in a very short time with little space to pitch a shelter so you wear something you can hunker down in untill it clears up. the Hilleberg bivanorak is the perfect example of the quick mountain shelter.not something you would want to spent a nite in but great for a few guys to take cover in where there are few wind breaks.

I spent lots of nights huddled under a poncho in my old wool sweater. It's about the same thing, just not as refined. It wasn't snuggly warm, but survivable.

HI, you almost, but not quite got the idea of a cagoule.
If you have ever walked through the brush when it has been drizzling for a couple of days you will understand.
Old cagoules were rain gear.
Like Haley 1 says above, a poncho.
Except it is sewn together like a pullover.

They were made big enough to drape over you even with a pack on.
They were also made long enough to reach your ankles like a dress.
The reason they were so long was that every leaf on the shrubs holds a drop of water and it would soak you from the waist down as you walk through it.
Even if it was not raining enough to get your head wet your legs would be just soaked from the water on the low shrubs.
Today we would wear rain pants or leggings.
The cagoule was cheaper to make and better because the water would not run down your legs and into your boots as badly.

The time when you would pull the cagoule up around your waist would be if you were walking down a road or someplace without any bushes to brush against you, just to give your legs more freedom of movement.

The old cagoules I saw were oilcloth.
That is a light canvas which has been treated with linseed oil, a lot like those Australian Outback coats.
As for lighting a fire under a cagoule to stay warm, umm no. It would not work.

However seeing as a cagoule was rain gear and not a parka that means it is not bitterly cold and if you are wearing wool shirts, pants, and a sweater you shouldn't freeze and might even stay fairly warm. It would be almost the same as sleeping under a canvas tarp.
You could stuff it with anything bulky and dry too. (if you could find anything dry)
Not at all comfortable, but doable.

Yeah, like Haley says, it is the same as sleeping in a poncho.
I would not do that if I had a tarp or a tent.

The tent thing that Desperado showed has a configuration a lot like a cagoule when it is not pretending to be a tent.

Edit:
I do not own a cagoule. Whenever I have to travel through soggy brush like that I either wear rain pants or I make trash bag leggings.
It might look funny but if it keeps me 100% waterproof and warm I am all for it.