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BIVI BAGS & OTHER SHELTERS | | |
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Bivi Bags : | | |
Bivi Bags (or Bivouac Bags) are waterproof sleeping bag covers designed for use in emergencies or in situations where use of a tent would not be practicable, such as multi-day alpine climbs. They range from simple polythene bags which are cheap and waterproof but not at all breathable and thus cause monster condensation problems, to more sophisticated and expensive breathable bags. Although the concept of having a double bivi bag is often attractive, in practice it is much safer for every member of the party to have their own.
Photo: Paul "Pink" Wood about to settle down for the night on a fantastic bivi on the Flamme de Pierre Ridge prior to an ascent of the famed Bonatti Pillar (TD+) on the Petit Dru, Chamonix. Alas this brilliant climb has fallen down in recent years.
There are usually only two ways that a sleeping bag gets wet; water gets to it from the outside (generally from rain or condensation), or from the inside (generally from getting into it with wet clothes on). The former situation can be solved by using a bivi-bag and the latter by use of a vapour barrier liner. The latter is not very comfortable but is better than a wet bag and it is easy to dry your clothes out if the weather improves. There are purpose built VPLs but a large plastic bag does the job as well and some of the plastic bivi bags we offer below are lightweight enough to serve this purpose. | |
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Group Shelters : | | |
Group Shelters are large windproof bags designed for use by anyone in charge of groups of people in the mountains. They are not completely waterproof but they are windproof (NB a completely waterproof shelter is not necessarily desirable as it will cause considerable condensation). They pull over the heads of the group when they are sitting in a huddle on their rucksacks and pull right down to the ground. They very quickly provide warmth in the most hostile of conditions and can be used for anything from simple lunch stops to more serious situations. | |
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| | "Bivouac is French for mistake." | |
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| | Prices: Please note that all our prices are in UK Pounds Sterling (£) including VAT (see below). An approximate price in US$ is shown in brackets. To work out a more accurate price please click for a Currency Convertor.BMC Members: We regret that we cannot offer a free UK postage service to all and do BMC discount as well. BMC discount is available only to personal callers at the shop. VAT: Included in the price shown is European sales tax (VAT) of 17.5% on most items, which non-European Economic Community (EEC) buyers should not have to pay. Click for our notes for Overseas Buyers. Stock Levels: Stock Levels are now indicated for many items - please click to see why these will not always be 100% accurate and why a zero stock level does not mean you can't order - Stock Levels more.... *Postage: is FREE for most UK Orders (some particularly heavy low profit items are excepted - this is clearly indicated for those items - they are mainly books). Overseas buyers please follow the ordering process through the first two stages for an estimate of postage costs - you can then cancel the order if you wish. NB Parcels will almost certainly have to be signed for, and are likely to be sent by a Carrier who may not have a depot near where you live. It is worth including a trusted neighbour's details, or having your goods sent to your work address. Please click for more details on UK Deliveries and Overseas Deliveries. Sizing: All our boot sizes are in UK (7, 7.5, 8 etc) or European Sizes (41, 42, 43 etc). Click for a Boot Size Conversion Chart. For assistance with UK women's clothing sizes, click for a Clothing Size Conversion Chart. Web order not worked? Please email info@needlesports.com or ring 017687 72227. Please rest assured - we will not use your email address for any reason other than to contact you regarding the order you have placed, and we will never pass on your email address to a third party.
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