More than ever, a record number of Americans are enjoying the great outdoors. Whether embarking on a simple day hike with the family, or tackling a 14,000 foot peak, it’s important to be ever mindful of the reality that outdoor adventure and risk are inextricably linked.
A wrong turn on the trail or a freakish twist of nature can result in a night exposed to the elements, or a day spent hunkered down waiting out a thunderstorm. While there is no way to tell ahead of time when disaster will strike, or how bad it will be, we can, and should still be prepared. Of course the difficulty with most “survival equipment” is that outside of the traditional pocket knife, not much comes in a convenient “carry around all day” form, this can be especially true in terms of shelter. Traditionally, it hasn’t been practical to carry your shelter with yo. However, when it comes to preparedness and survival the Terra Nova Equipment Bothy 2 Person Shelter from Sport Hansa LLC is changing the rules of the game.
Originally designed as a lightweight emergency shelter, Bothies are now increasingly used by mountain rescue teams, hiking clubs and others. Why? Because weighing in at just over 8 ounces, the 2 person bothy is feather light and stuffs into it’s own rucksack. In other words, it’s convenient to carry ensuring that there’s no excuse not to carry one when you head into the backcountry. More importantly, Bothies create a surprisingly warm and sheltered internal microclimate, making them an essential item of safety equipment for any outdoor activity.
As any outdoor enthusiast knows, Mother Nature can be fickle. Blue skies can fade and give way to thunderstorms in the blink of an eye. In such instances the Bothy isn’t just an emergency shelter, it can also be useful for meal breaks, route planning, map reading or any other situation that requires a warm and sheltered environment.
When unpacked, this 2 Person Bothy retains its shape by the individuals leaning into the walls. However, you can also utilize your hiking/walking poles to prop up a side if necessary. The Bothy bag’s sides come under the base to provide a “waterproof seat” for you to keep yourself off the wet ground. More a continuation of the bag material, than an actual “seat” the extra material is still a nice feature to help keep you clean and partially dry. That being said, if you are setting up the Bothy in a marshy area, or in a wet environment, know that the seat won’t keep you completely protected.
One Product, Multiple Benefits…
More than a quick shelter, think of the Bothy as a multi-faceted survival tool. First, this lightweight shelter saves you the trouble of having to build or find your own shelter and will help keep you and your hiking buddy warm. Secondly, the bright color ensures that you can be easily spotted by rescue teams. And in the instance you’re stuck inside the shelter for an extended period of time, a UV – clear’ windows allow to you keep an eye on the weather and world outside your shelter.
Notes from the Field…
Get a bothy bag that’s the right size for you, i.e. a bothy bag for 8 people, when you’re using it with only 2 people will create a significant amount of sag thereby allowing the rain to collect and wind disturb your shelter more than it normally would. Although in the case of using a larger Bothy bag with less people, these downsides can be avoided if the individuals sit far apart from each other, you will lose the benefits of warming a small space – one of the most important benefits of the shelter. Finally, while the UV-Clear window is an appreciated feature, a larger window providing greater vision of the outside world would be a beneficial addition to future iterations of the bothy.
Bottom Line…
Bill Watterson once said, ‘if your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.’ As you prepare for your next outdoor revelry, make sure that you are prepared for any potential emergency. The next big disaster could be just around the corner, which means that even on a simple day hike, it’s always best to be safe, be smart, and be prepared. The Both 2 Person Shelter from Sport Hansa LLC makes being prepared easy and convenient.
Manufactured by Terra Nova Equipment, the Bothy 2 Person Shelter is available through Sport Hansa LLC (www.sport-hansa.com/) for approximately $40. This emergency shelter packs down to a size of 22×11.5cm weighing in at 400g. Dimensions in use: W = 64cm, H = 98cm, L = 121cm