I'm not really a fan of this type of kit. The heatsheet although much tougher than a mylar sheet really does not provide any realistic protection against the elements. Same with the bivy made from the same material. Firstly, claims about reflecting 90 percent of the bodies radiant heat really is just marketing fantasy considering radiant heat losses are just a fraction of heat loss from convective heat. The Bivy bag is really just a metalized plastic bag with no real insulation qualities at all. It would be best described as a high tech body bag. Secondly this material is not breathable, which is always an important consideration in the survivability stakes. To keep warm you need to keep dry. To keep dry you need breathable materials. For an small increase in additional weight (an extra 400 gms) there are much more practical functional shelters available such as the Outdoor Research Lighthaven. The Lighthaven would allow 2 people to sit out a storm in relative comfort and allow the occupants to brew up a nice cup of hot sweet tea. A sort of more advanced version of the Bothy Bag.


Or there is also the Blizzard Survival Bag weighing in at 385 grams available at http://www.blizzardsurvival.com/

I'm so proud of you Matt. The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

OK Matt, repeat after me "Hi everyone, my name is Matt and I'm equipped to survive."

Then we all reply in unison "Hi Matt!".

As they say, once you're "equipped to survive" you'll never really be 100% cured - its just that you'll learn to keep your addiction, well, under some level of control. Some days will be good, and some days will be not-so-good, but the reality is that you'll never really be unequipped again.

"Hi everyone, my name is Matt and I'm equipped to survive."


too funny

NH,

How do you keep your kits from gradually growing to the point you need a trailer to haul 'em?


Frank2135 (wondering if he can't get just one more coil of paracord into that pouch...)

Matt,

That sounds like a great kit. Other's have added their "must have" suggestions as well, but no one surprisingly has mentioned the one item I simply refuse to venture into the wilderness without:



Uses are endless:
1. nut cracker
2. foot warmer (heat by fire/sun and place in bottom of bivy at night)
3. counter balance for moose snare
4. hot air ballon balast
5. etc., etc.

Add this bad boy to your kit and you're good to go!

A trailer is just a bigger bob, whats wrong with that

Lasd, shouldn't that be over in the long term section.