Recommended for Hiking & Hill Walking Kit
Getting out of the wind and rain is the fastest way to stay safe when you're stranded or caught out. In the damp British climate hypothermia can set in quickly, even in summer on the hills, so some form of shelter belongs in every kit and car.
Our picks run from a pocketable foil blanket for every bag, through a reusable survival bivvy and a rain poncho, up to a versatile tarp you can pitch as a proper shelter — match the weight and protection to how far from help you tend to be.
Waterproof emergency sleeping bag that provides shelter from wind, rain, and cold. More durable than an emergency blanket.
Cheaper bags cause condensation. Look for breathable membranes like Gore-Tex or eVent.
Emergency bivvies: 100–200g. Reusable quality bivvies: 300–500g.
Full-length zips make getting in and out much easier.
In an emergency, fumbling with a bivvy bag wastes precious body heat. Practise at home.
A lightweight reflective survival bag that traps body heat to fend off hypothermia in a cold-weather emergency. Packs down small enough to live permanently in a rucksack or car.
A versatile 3x3m tarp with multiple attachment points for building shelters in dozens of configurations. A bushcraft mainstay for staying dry off-grid.
A multipack of reflective mylar blankets that reflect body heat back to fight the cold and shock. Cheap insurance to scatter through car, home and grab kits.
Lightweight hooded rain ponchos that pack down tiny and cover both you and your pack, keeping rain off during walks, events and roadside emergencies.