A long time ago I had the idea of a cammo bothy bag to be used as a multi functional item: Bothy bag, wildlife hide, 3 season tarp for lightweight overnighters. So I managed to get an 8 man bothy bag made up by JDS components. I promised to reveal it a while ago...
http://www.bothyshelter.com/
They were very helpful and more than willing to add some basics alterations to the design such as horizontal vents and loops on the corners to allow guyinging etc. My spec was that it had to be long enough to strecth out in and they were more than willing to accommodate this.
After receiving the bothy bag I realised that it was HUGE and a lot wider (I loved the length) that I expected (I have a 3 person bothy that barely takes 2 hence opting on the big side for this one) so I added a few mods. Pegging loops 2ft up on the corners and a guy loop on the middle of the roof, as well as guys on all corner loops. This allows the bothy shelter to be used like a very lightweight fully enclosed tarp/tent complete with a 2ft interior flap (around the inside circumferance of the tent) to sit/sleep on. It packs down roughly to the size of a small football.
Plenty room although Broc aint so sure!
My next mod to this would be to add a couple of two way zips on one of the sides for a door and some small vents with wire stiffened hoops built in. In addition to this maybe some more peg loops higher up the corners so the whole shelter can be lowered and make it more adaptable to different contexts. When no trees are around 4 trecking poles can hold it up or at a push one in the centre to create a pyramid type tent.
So if anyone has a couple of double opening zips going spare or willing to trade/sell them pm me please!
(SWMBO-loves it...warm and dry for a brew, fantastic and brownie points for me)
Cheers
WS
http://www.bothyshelter.com/
They were very helpful and more than willing to add some basics alterations to the design such as horizontal vents and loops on the corners to allow guyinging etc. My spec was that it had to be long enough to strecth out in and they were more than willing to accommodate this.
After receiving the bothy bag I realised that it was HUGE and a lot wider (I loved the length) that I expected (I have a 3 person bothy that barely takes 2 hence opting on the big side for this one) so I added a few mods. Pegging loops 2ft up on the corners and a guy loop on the middle of the roof, as well as guys on all corner loops. This allows the bothy shelter to be used like a very lightweight fully enclosed tarp/tent complete with a 2ft interior flap (around the inside circumferance of the tent) to sit/sleep on. It packs down roughly to the size of a small football.
Plenty room although Broc aint so sure!
My next mod to this would be to add a couple of two way zips on one of the sides for a door and some small vents with wire stiffened hoops built in. In addition to this maybe some more peg loops higher up the corners so the whole shelter can be lowered and make it more adaptable to different contexts. When no trees are around 4 trecking poles can hold it up or at a push one in the centre to create a pyramid type tent.
So if anyone has a couple of double opening zips going spare or willing to trade/sell them pm me please!
(SWMBO-loves it...warm and dry for a brew, fantastic and brownie points for me)
Cheers
WS
. You've given me an idea to dig out an old tent outer and have a play. I need something lightweight for keeping in the bottom of my rucksack for beach fishing. The weather can blow up out of nowhere sometimes and you can be a fair few miles from the car. I was looking at bothy bags but most are way too expensive for me just now.
:You_Rock_ 
Needs must and all that! It is when you have so little that you can aspire to create so much! pmsl
