Blizzard Bag Review

[Tim Seaver]

The Blizzard Survival Bag. A good thing to have in the bottom of your pack - it's only 14 ounces and the size of a .....stack of Ipads? It's the size of a VHS tape - look it up if you don't know what it is.

Who knows, if you spend an unplanned night out in one, you might get a cookie from the F&G instead of a lecture and a fine

This review, which seems fairly balanced, is from a fellow in Montana who used one for a week:

 

[Chip]

Thanks for posting, Tim. This question comes up from time to time and I know you carry one of these. Anyone who hikes AT ALL ANYWHERE for any length of time in the winter (even fall and spring - heck even summer at higher elevations) needs a strategy for surviving at least a few hours in the cold. Nothing is perfect but something like a Blizzard Bag is way better than nothing...so Nothing is not Perfect. Nothing is dumb. Carry on.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I've been carrying one year-round for 10 years or more. I got it from Red Flare Kits.

 

[sardog1]

Thanks for posting this. I've been carrying one around for several years, dating back to the time I promised you folks a review ... and have yet to deliver.

Good to hear that re-compression might be available!

 

[Tim Seaver]

Thanks for posting this. I've been carrying one around for several years, dating back to the time I promised you folks a review ... and have yet to deliver.

I remember that! I was eagerly awaiting the test results. What happened, or should I not go there?

 

[PETCH]

I bought one of these 2 Winters ago. I took it out of the VHS tape sized wrapping and opened it up to check it out. I knew I wasn't going to get it back to the original size, but I wanted to get inside it and familiarize myself with it in the event I had to use it. I keep it stored in a Sea to Summit sack in the bottom of my 50L pack. I carry it along with a Z rest pad for emergency purposes. Haven't had to use it yet.

Petch

 

[michaelb]

The blizzard bag has always looked interesting. But to have one item for survival, I think the bothy bag is the better choice. My 3-4 person bothy weighs 14 oz, so much lighter per person. The bothy also can provide a sheltered location to avoid the crisis or tend to someone wounded or repair gear, etc. The ability to share the space in the bothy would also be huge. Sharing a blizzard bag inside a bothy would be a really good setup.

 

[Tim Seaver]

The bothys look pretty neat - I've never seen one close-up but an very interested in them. I suspect the bothy would be superior in lashing rain and above freezing temps, whereas the B-bag would perhaps keep you warmer at lower temps due to the smaller airspace that your body needs to heat ( and it's VBL-like nature). And yes, I bet as a combo they would go well together as lightweight companions.

 

[sardog1]

I remember that! I was eagerly awaiting the test results. What happened, or should I not go there?

In the end, I just didn't want to open it and lose the compression. It's pretty darn handy to carry in the compressed form, and I have enough confidence in the bag and a closed cell pad that I think it would serve its intended purpose for me. Maybe I should have sought a "pro athlete" deal from the maker ...

 

[Tim Seaver]

Bothys For Dummies

Tandem Technique:

Winter Use:

 

[Sunshine Chris]

Tandem Technique:

Winter Use:

I found these websites to be very informative. Thanks Tim
Also, I went to the primitive skills.com and Survival Metrics .com website and found them to have some great info on survival techniques!

 

[Remix]

It looks like a nice piece of gear but Ill stick to a bivy bag and a spare down jacket, since I usually carry these.