Terra Nova Bothy 2 Bivouac | The British do Some Things Better

What in the heck is a bothy bag? It's essentially a rapid-deploy, high-quality waterproof nylon shelter you put over the top of you and your partner's heads and sit down in. People, not poles, provide the structure. Not only are they lightweight, but they are a cinch to deploy. Here's my eleven-year-old unpacking and deploying it:

And here is my daughter joining him:



Here's what these shelters are built to protect you from:


The Terra Nova Bothy's all deploy from an integrated stuff sack:

The stuff sack doubles as an air vent when deployed

A sewn-in pocket in the top of the bag allows you to put a trek or ski pole into it--allowing you to add a bit of structure to the bag:

Put the handle of your trekking pole here for added structure

Heavy-duty black nylon is sew into the bottom of the bag and are made to provide a weather-proof seat for you to put your weary bum:

You put your butt here

The view out through the clear polyester window

So what do the experts say about bothy shelters? Andy Kirkpatrick is a professional these things to say about the little wonders on ukclimbing.com.

"If you're cold or have no bivi gear, sit with your legs pressed together; bent over; your chest against your knees; breathing through your nose. The prisoners of Alcartraz slept like this, but kneeling, for years at a time as they were never given blankets - a thought worth remembering as you suffer away. Press tightly to your partner (it does help if they're of the opposite sex) and consider both getting inside the same survival bag. In this kind of situation, the use of a lightweight Bothy bag can be a real life saver, with an adult giving of the same heat as one bar on an electric fire, you could actually stay comfortable! A piece of gear you shouldn't leave home without."