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.

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Blisters On The Move is a post from: BIVI BAG

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.

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Preventing Blisters is a post from: BIVI BAG

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.

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Frostbite – Symptoms is a post from: BIVI BAG

There are numerous reasons why so many people choose to opt for the use of a bivi bag over the more conventional idea of a tent, perhaps for many the number one reason is the sense of freedom it provides, allowing you to feel closer to nature and more in tune with the elements. A feeling of adventure is far more prominent whenever you are camped up in your bivi bag and this is something that just cannot be felt whilst in a tent and being out in a remote part of the country can camped up in a bivi can be an extremely liberating and thoroughly enjoyable feeling.

Amoung the other reasons for choosing a bivi bag is the ease at which it can be carried, with a biovi you do not hav to lug all that extra weight around with you and the ease of setting up a bivi as opposed to a tent you can be sure that it is a hassle free form of shelter that you can use just about anywhere without the problems of a tent. Whether you are looking for a bivi bag as your primary means of shelter or not, it is always a wise idea to carry a bivi , even if it is no more than a cheap emergency shelter as you never know when you may become unexpectedly stuck out in adverse conditions.

Often traveling around to find some of the better places to go bivi bagging can be difficult without the use of a car as many starting points can be somewhat remote and so like the author, if you don’t have access to a vehicle try to team up with someone who does or even hire a car. Cheap Car Hire is easy to find and for a small fee you can have the freedom to travel to places public transport can’t reach.

Having outlined some of the positive elements to bivi bagging there are also numerous down sides, however, many of these can be overcome with a little planning and fore-thought which is discussed at more length on the pages of our site.

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Why Go Bivvy Bagging? is a post from: BIVI BAG

This is your chance to give your opinions about this site and allow us to alter our pages to make your online experience as positive as is possible.

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Leave Your Comments

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Feedback is a post from: BIVI BAG

If you want extra space and don’t mind a little bit of extra weight in your Bergen or backpack then perhaps looking to a 1 man tent might be the solution for your needs over the choice of a bivi bag. A 1 man tent is ideal for solo backpackers and a good choice of tent will ensure that you have full protection from the elements and stay properly protected in order to gain a great nights rest. Not only is a 1 man tent ideal for those looking to travel alone but they are also great for festivals and for those using motorbikes as their mode of transportation due to the small amount of space and weight involved with transporting them.

1 Man Tent – High Standard Protection

Here at bivi bag we have selected the highest quality 1 man tents at the best prices available online. You can be sure that each 1 man tent selected in our listings provides a high standard of protection and won’t break the bank.

1 Man Tent Basic £29.99 – With Sleeping Bag and Ground Mat

If it’s the occassional use you are looking for perhaps for a festival then this 1 to 2 man tent is ideal and will offer a decent level of protection. For the price it’s going out this is a bargain but if you are seeking more long term use and durability then opt for a more upmarket model.

Buy Now at Amazon £29.99

Aztec Rapido Tent £69.99

 This 1 man tent is a high quality product that is waterproof to 5000mm and comes with a lifetime guarantee. It is fireproof and features taped seams to prevent any water from entering the tent, which can happen when seams are stitched due to the tiny holes this creates. Weighing in at 1.6kg with coated ripstop polyester this is a high performance tent.

Buy Now at Amazon Whilst Stock Lasts

Coleman Kraz X1 Tent £69.00

Designed for the solo adventurer this 1 man tent will stand up to even the most extreme conditions. With a weight of only 1.6 kg you will hardly notice this in you backpack. It is also quick and very easy to put together with colour coded poles so there will be no messing around.  Constructed fro polyested ripstop fabric and with aluminuim poles this tent is not only waterproof but breathable too. With hot taped seams and reflective guy ropes this 1 man tent compacts to an easily manageable size.

 Buy Now at Amazon and Save 23% !!!

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1 Man Tent is a post from: BIVI BAG

Outdoor survival books can be handy guides and give almost all of us some great hints and tips that we otherwise would never have known. All books selected here come with the Bivi Bag seal of approval.

SAS Survival Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere

This book is the authority on outdoor survival and is universally regarded as reliable, putting forth accurate and extremely useful survival information. The author, John “Lofty” Wiseman served in the SAS for an incredible 26 years, a feat that demands respect. The original was brought out 20 years ago and this version is updated with some priceless techniques and knowledge which has been hard learnt through first hand experience.

Buy Now at Amazon From Only £8.05 !

Ray Mears: Outdoor Survival Handbook

This outdoor survival book builds upon his successful TV series and looks to how we can make the most of the outdoors without damaging it in any way. His advice teaches us how to identify medicinal herbs in the wild through to constructing natural shelter, building fires and orienteering. Ray Mears clearly knows his stuff and this book will make a handy edition to everybody who enjoys the outdoors.

Buy New at Amazon From £6.19

Royal Marines Commandos Survival Handbook

Providing some great survival tips from the Royal Marines Commandos this book covers all the basics through to some more advanced survival  skills. This book will put you on t he right path to attaining a high level of fitness and leave you equiped to cope in a variety of testing situations. All knowledge is provided by those who have been there and done it themselves and so nyou can be sure they know what they are talking about.

 Buy New at Amazon for Only £12.59

Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

A clear and practical book, this offers easy to follow advice whcih readers will find no problem in transferring to the real outdoors. This book is more suited to those living in the northern climes but has a great deal of information which can be transferred to all settings. A best seller over in Canada “Bushcraft” has something of a cult following and is highly regarded by all who have read it.

Buy Now at Amazon £12.95

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Outdoor Survival Books is a post from: BIVI BAG

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.

Hypothermia is a post from: BIVI BAG

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!

Surviving the Cold is a post from: BIVI BAG

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.

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Snow Bivi Bag is a post from: BIVI BAG