10 Essentials spoke

Emergency Shelter

Emergency shelter blocks wind and precipitation when you cannot keep moving or cannot descend quickly.

Catalog items4

Source families1

Typical range60-220 g

How to use it

Emergency bivy, space blanket, or other compact shelter for forced stops.

Choose a shelter you can deploy with cold hands.
Practice opening it once so the first use is not during an emergency.
Use it early when a long stop is likely rather than after someone is deeply chilled.
Pair shelter with insulation; reflective sheets alone do not create warmth.

A bivy or survival bag is far more useful than a flimsy blanket when wind and snow are in play.

Keep shelter outside the deepest dry bag so it can be reached quickly.

Structured item stats transferred from the PeakList GearCatalog source families.

Pros: Extremely lightweight; inexpensive; can double as signal reflector.

Cons: Easy to tear; minimal insulation; noisy; requires careful handling.

Pros: Provides wind and rain protection; retains body heat; reusable.

Cons: Heavier than space blanket; can accumulate condensation; less comfortable than planned shelter.

Pros: Provides both shelter and warmth; durable; can be used as tarp for planned shelter.

Cons: Heavier; more expensive; requires stakes/guy lines.

Pros: More insulation and protection than a blanket; reusable.

Cons: Heavier than emergency bivy; may trap condensation; limited ventilation.

Most safety margins come from systems working together.