Lots of animals huddle together for warmth—musk oxen, penguins and bees all do it—but unfortunately, social mores prevent many of us from spooning with our paddling mates. So if we come ashore for a lunch break during a winter outing, it won’t be long before we’ll want to be paddling again just to warm up. The Emergency Shelter from Expedition Essentials can make it possible to huddle up for warmth without encroaching too much on anyone’s “personal space.” The Emergency Shelter is an update on an old concept and uses lightweight paragliding material to make a bag big enough to cover four people.
It’s an effective barrier against the wind, but it isn’t breathable. It may get a bit clammy inside as the humidity goes up, but fortunately the evaporative heat loss from your skin or wet clothing is slowed. The fabric repels water but isn’t entirely waterproof—if you use it as a barrier between you and a wet surface, you’ll get a wet seat, but since you’re dressed for immersion (right?), it isn’t a problem.
When we tested the bag with two people inside on a 48˚F evening, the temperature inside the bag climbed quickly, reaching a very comfortable 70˚F in five minutes. The shelter has two “ports” large enough to poke your head out. There are webbing loops at the corners you could use to set the shelter up in camp to provide privacy for a camp outhouse or shower stall.
Stowed in its stuff sack, the Emergency Shelter is a compact package, about half the size of a loaf of bread, and would easily fit into a day compartment. Sure it would come in useful in an emergency, but it’s also a great refuge anytime the weather is foul.