posted by admin on Sep 16

Treating Blisters On The Move

The correct treatment for blisters is still a controversial subject with some contrasting ideas being put forward. However, here at Bivi Bag we believe in a common sense approach, and so if you have a small blister whilst on the move, which has not yet burst, we recommend that you do not pop it, take whatever steps you can to stop any rubbing or friction on the point of the blister and if possible cover it with a plaster or bandage to provide an extra barrier. If you have access to them then the circular pads with a hole in the middle are ideal as they will let the skin continue to breathe.

Special Forces - Anti Blister Sock £9

For larger blister, pop them, make the incision as small as possible and try to use a sterile knife or needle. For sterilization tip some of that whisky you’ve been saving for emergencies over the blade or heat it briefly with a lighter to kill off bacteria. Don’t peel off the skin of the blister, this provides a nice barrier. If available put some antibiotic cream on the area to stop infection and wrap a clean bandage around it. Then get back to whatever it was you were doing, inevitably after some time walking the pain wears off in most cases.

Just remember, that at night you should take off the bandage as this will hasten the healing process and if possible put on a fresh bandage every day to keep chances of infection at a minimum.

Bivi Bag

posted by admin on Sep 14

Prevention of Blisters – Some Quick Tips

Blisters can be a real annoyance and have the potential to hinder movement and take the enjoyment out of your bivi bag adventures. First of all it is important to address the problem of blisters before they arise, this is done by wearing in boots and taking care of any potential areas of friction prior to setting off on a trip.

Special Forces Anti Blister Socks £9.95

Wearing breathable boots made from a fabric such as gore-tex will allow your feet to breathe while remaining dry, which in turn decreases the chance of blisters as any area that it damp for a prolonged period will become a strong candidate for developing a nasty case of blisters.

Don’t ever wear socks that are made from too much of an abrasive material as this will really wear the skin on the feet, this is often found in thicker socks. SAS trooper Chris Ryan was unfortunate enough to have on an army issue pair of socks at the time of his heroic escape from behind enemy lines in Iraq, and sites this as being a major cause for the horrendous state his feet eventually got in.

Clearly you will not be facing anything of this magnitude but it is a point to keep in mind. Some studies also show that 100% cotton socks are most likely to cause blisters as they do not allow the skin to breathe, so perhaps looking to avoid these may be a good idea.

Some also say that soaking the feet in white spirit every day for a week or two before any major hike can harden them up nicely and help prevent blisters, although the choice is entirely yours.

However if blister do apply then there are various ways to treat them to reduce the pain and help you get on. This will be discussed a future article.

Bivi Bag

posted by admin on Sep 13

The Symptoms of Frostbite

Frostbite is an extremely debilitating condition that can result in permanent and life altering injuries and so it is of upmost importance that you are able to recognise the symptoms and learn what the best practices of recovery and prevention are. Clearly, when we are out on our bivi bag adventures, or whatever outdoors activities you are doing, there will be times when we all come across extreme weather conditions and not only this but some will face this on a regular basis.

So here are the symptoms to look out for. Firstly, in the initial stages of frostbite, often referred to as ‘frostnip’, you may begin to notice a mild burning in sensation in your extremities, this is often noticed in the ears, and a waxy yellow or white color can come on to the skin. This however is easily treatable if caught early by slowly reheating the area. Do not apply direct or intense heat, remember that a slow and steady approach is always best. Often the reheating process is quite painful but don’t forget that you’re sacrificing a brief period of discomfort for the long term benefit.

The second stage of frostbite is when the cold has begun to really penetrate the skin and begin to freeze, pain will generally disappear at this stage and you will end up with reddening skin and some swelling. Again if you get to this stage remember to thaw out and reheat slowly, although you are likely to experience blisters and peeling skin, this tissue will be replaced in time and hopefully should not leave too much of a scar.

Finally, the last and most dangerous form of frostbite is when the cold has thoroughly worked into your tissue and has killed, or begun to kill the skin. This happens through a lack of blood reaching the tissue and is presented through waxy looking skin which is hard and painless to the touch. This skin will slowly turn black as the deeper tissues die off completely and will result in amputation of the affected area in a high majority of cases.

So these are the symptoms and possible implications of frostbite, shortly Bivi Bag will be bringing you an in depth article covering the best practices for keeping frost bite a bay and the methods that have been found best to aid in recovery from frost bite.

Bivi Bag

posted by admin on Apr 16

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is an extremely debilitating condition brought on by a loss of body temperature to below 95 and the bodies inability to produce heat faster than it is losing it. You may feel yourself progressing from some slight shivering which can progress to the point where it is uncontrollable. However, the onset of hypothermia can be  gradual process and so the effects can creep up on you without noticing any dramatic decrease in your bodies functioning. Hypothermia can cause us to feel sleepyand feel confused. It can also affect our co-ordination and make us become somewhat clumsy and unable to carry out relatively simple tasks. This will drastically affect our chances of survival as if the bodies internal temperature decreases below 25 death is the most likely outcome and the onset of hypothermia will in turn make us less able to care for ourselves and remedy the problem.

If you think you my be suffering from hypothermia then take measures such as these; get yourself out of the wind as this can sap any heat from your body at an incredibly fast rate. Also if you are wearing any wet clothes take them off and change into dry ones if at all possible. Don’t look to apply heat to your arms and legs when you are initially starting to warm yourself up. This can cause your internal body temperature to drop further as it may cause cold blood to return to the vital organs and brain which can have fatal consequences. Also when you apply heat to your body look to focus on the torso and apply heat indirectly through the form of a heating pad or lamp. Lastly, don’t be tempted to drink any alcoholic beverages as this will cause the blood to rise to the surface of your skin and radiate heat away from you.

posted by admin on Apr 14

Surviving The Cold

Extreme cold weather and snow can cause a major threat to us all if we are not properly prepared. To prevent succumbing to the cold you must take the correct equipment with you on your excursions.

Remember to take lots of warm clothing and dress in layers. This helps to keep you insulated and protect against the cold finding its way in. I would recommend wearing a vest, t-shirt, pullover and a good waterproof, well insulated coat from a good outdoor gear store at a minimum in very cold conditions.

Also consider the advantages of wool, this material will keep you warm even when it is wet. Layering helps to keep the warmth your body generates from leaking out into the outside air and also has the advantage of letting you regulate your temperature by peeling off layers if you start to overheat.

Also remember that nearly half of your body heat is lost through your head and so the importance of a good hat cannot be underestimated. Even though our heads usually feel warm when our extremities are cold this can be because of the vast amount of heat radiated through this area due to the body rightfully seeing it as the number 1 priority.

So just by keeping your head properly insulated you have already made major progress in the battle to keep warm . Again, a woolen hat is always a good option. Other points on your body such as the neck and the wrists are places where a lot of heat can be lost if not properly covered.

This is due to the large amount of blood which is circulated through these points. So be sure to have a good pair of waterproof, breathable and well insulated gloves ‘at hand’, and a  scarf with a well zipped up coat to protect your neck from leaking heat.

Make sure that your coat has fasteners on the sleeves , preferably Velcro as this will help seal in even more heat and cover your wrists. The same goes for the neck of your coat, the tighter the seal the better, just don’t choke yourself!

posted by admin on Apr 12

Using Your Bivi Bag in the Snow

So hiking and adventure in the snow can be fun and allow you to see some amazing sites enhancing the challenge and excitement of whatever adventure it is that you are pursuing.

However, whenever there is snow involved everything becomes more difficult. Navigation my be hazardous and progress slow, sometimes leading to a standstill and forcing you to set up camp. This is where a high quality bivi bag will pay off.

Insulating yourself in a bivi bag will keep you dry throughout the night and for added warmth you may want to get into a sleeping bag inside your bivi and put keep some warm clothing on particularly keeping hat on as a large percentage of body heat is lost through the head.

Be sure that if you purchase a bag of high quality you will stay dry even when camped in heavy snow and the benefits you will reap will be worth the money you have spent.

View our selection of Bivi Bags

posted by admin on Apr 12

How to Optimise Insulation in the Cold

Staying warm at night is obviously vital to survival and to make sure you sleep well and are rested properly for the next day to optimise performance. The human body, even in cold conditions, can sweat over a litre of water, and so using a breathable bivi bag is the preferable option for most, this will prevent you from getting wet with sweat during the night and making you cold,damp and miserable.

However, sometimes it may be a wise idea to also use a sleeping bag inside your bivi bag for extra insulation, particularly in a bivi tent. Also consider putting down a sleeping mat to place your bivi bag on top of.

This will prevent alot of your vital body heat from being sucked away into the ground and also acts as a barrier to prevent any damage to your bivi bag from thorns and the like.

Not only will this enable you to keep alot of heat in but it will also make for a more comfortable nights sleep as the ground will be somewhat softer, preventing you from waking up with aches and pains in muscles you didn’t know you had.

So summing up, to stay warm get a breathable bivi bag and consider insulating yourself further with a sleeping bag and a ground mat.

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posted by admin on Apr 11

 Top five advantages of a goretex bivi bag

Goretex has many advantages in a survival situation, here are my 5 top reasons to choose this material over any other.

1.  Goretex fabric is really a very durable material and will ensure that, as long as you take good care of it, it will last you longer than other fabrics you may have the option of choosing, which will in the long term save you money buying new equipment.

2. Goretex is, unlike many other fabrics, breathable whilst still being waterproof to give you maximum protection but still keep you comfortable. Wind protection is also provided by goretex and again allows moisture to escape, something you wont find amoungst other materials.

3. Goretex is lightweight and compactable and will enable you to add it to your survival kit without any added frustrations of extra weight or space.

4. All seams can be hot taped, meaning that there will not be stitching in the seams, unlike other fabrics in which stitching of the seams can inflict small holes and allow heat to escape and moisture to enter.

5. Finally, goretex technology is constantly advancing and new innovations are regularly coming into mainstreram use.  For example, the introduction of triple layer goretex fabric has further optimised the breathability, durability and windproof and waterproof properties of this material.

So in the authors opinion if you are going to buy a bivi bag then i would advise that you opt for a goretex model, preferably triple layer as this will provide you with every apect of protection you can get in the present day market. Also if you think that it may be too expensive, cobsider that in the long term in may not only save you money but may save your life or at least ensure you get a better nights sleep.

posted by admin on Apr 7

Top 5 Myths of Survival

When it comes to outdoor survival there are a number of common misapprehensions and myths that are passed on which could result in less than desirable consequences, many of which i took at face value until either being informed of otherwise or reading sound advice as to their pitfalls.  Here are 5 of the most prominent myths for your benefit.

1. High Ground is always Warmer

Many would be adventures will tell you in no uncertain terms, that when setting up camp for the night and perhaps finding a place to bed down in your bivi bag or whatever form of shelter you may have opted for, you should attempt to find some high ground as this will be warmer. They may also tell you to avoid any low lying areas and valleys reasoning that cold air will settle here. Technically speaking on the pure basis of science this can be seen as good accurate advice and it does have some advantage, such as flood protection. However, put this into practice and it is more than likely that you wont thank them for it. The main reason behind this is that we are not factoring in the inevitable wind chill factor that may plague you during the night.

Lower ground is generally much more shelterd from the wind and will make a considerable difference in terms of the body heat you will lose and thus your chances of survival. Also consider that you may be making a fire to keep warm. When making a fire a higher ground will inevitably be problematic if the the wind picks up. This will not only cause any heat you have generated, to be quickly blown away with any positive effects nullified, but the fire may also be difficult to get going and once you do get it started it will burn more fuel and at a much faster rate.

So the next time you hear this ‘myth’ keep this advice in mind.

2. Build Shelter From Dead Materials

This one is simple and easy. You may have been told that it is best to build a shelter exclusively from dead material, ie; leaves and branches. However, take into consideration that you will most likely be using a fire to cook and help keep warm. This could result in your shelter catching fire and have disastrous consequences.

3. Snow Is Always Safe Drinking Water

You may have been led to believe that snow is always safe to be used as drinking water. However, as much as this would be great news if it was in fact true, you must be careful when in a situation where you may have limited supplies of water and this is your only option. For example, fresh snow may be covering animal tracks, which in turn could mean that it may be polluted by animal droppings. Also in some countries pollution from the air may also contaminate any snow that has fallen. So in order to be safe make sure you boil any snow before consuming it. Also remember that in a survival situation eating snow will lower your body temperature and cause your body to use energy to break it down to use in liquid form. So if possible always melt and boil it first.

4. Boiling Water

This myth is banded about everywhere you look with everyone having their own opinion, mostly from armchair survival experts. Some will tell you to boil water for 5 minutes before it’s safe, others 15 minutes and some even longer, leaving you to wonder whether, after this amount of time, would there be any water left to drink?. What is the truth of the matter though? Well the simple fact is that once water reaches boiling temperature it is safe to drink. It does not matter what altitude you are camped at this is always the case.  When water reaches boiling point at 100 °C it is safe, as all pathogens are killed. If you don’t have a thermometer then measure the temperature by waiting until you have a rolling boil. This is hot enough to ensure that it is safe to drink. So don’t waste fuel, time or any water with overkill.

5. Drinking Alcohol Will Help Keep You Warm

This is another myth which dates back a long time and although you may have experienced this first hand during a cold night out on the beer, or as I’ve often heard it referred to, ‘the beer jacket’, it merely gives us a false sense of warmth. As you consume alcohol blood vessels in your skin open up and the rising of blood to the surface gives a temporary feeling of warmth due to the fact that alot of our heat sensing nerves are near the skin. This feeling is temporary though, and will actually allow the cold to penetrate your body as heat is radiated away from the body at a much faster rate causing your brain and vital organs to shut down at a much faster rate.

posted by admin on Apr 6

Build your own Bivouac Shelter

Building your own bivouac shelter might not be the ideal solution to keeping you warm and dry on a cold wet night in the outdoors but with a little effort and knowledge it is possible to construct an adequate makeshift shelter which may help to keep you dry and keep out some of the wind and cold.

Bear in mind that although these instructions may appear simple, they are in no way easy to carry out and alot of trial and error will be involved until you eventually are skilled enough to make an effective shelter. Anybody that would inform you otherwise has not tried this themselves.

• First you are going to need a piece of waterproof tarpaulin or bivouac, and a groundsheet
• Find a flat piece of ground where there are 2 trees about 3 metres apart with a space clear of obstacles
• Make some pegs from a branch which is roughly the thickness of your middle finger, these pegs should be about 1 foot long
• Sharpen one end of the peg so it will easily penetrate the ground
• Now cut a notch in the other end of the peg so as you can secure ropes to them
• Place the tarpaulin or bivouac between your chosen trees and tie each end at chest height the tree at either side
• Make sure the sheet is tied tight and is taut between the trees and then pull down the guy ropes and knock them tightly into the ground attaching the pegs you made. Do this with all four corners of your shelter and then lay your groundsheet underneath.

However, if you are serious about outdoor adventure it is highly recommended that you purchase a fully protective, professional bivi bag.