Stan C. from United States, CO Public Profile

These aren't just for snob-slobs who want to look good. The Euro Cat look started in Europe. They have excellent UV protection for casual, skiing and other outdoor activity that's not too extreme.

A good bivy sack is essential camping gear, whether for short trips or extended outings. Should the weather turn for the worse, one's survival may depend on it. More than a few of us have used our bivy sacks over our sleeping bags to increase heat retention. In milder temperatures they can of course, be used by themselves. Black Diamond is one of the foremost manufacturers of quality camping gear and bivy sacks. CampSaver is the leading outfitter of outdoor gear at the best prices.

Just got it so I haven't had a chance to try it out in sub-zero F weather, but I know it will do just fine. I got it because a friend has one. I've done fine on my old Thermarest with no R rating. But the Klymit rectangular shape has more coverage. The R rating is around 4.5, (some sources say 4.9, others say 4.4, which is what Klymit says.

R rating can be increased on type of pad underneath, anywhere from 1.0 to 3.0 + for a total R rating of 7.4 +. This makes a difference when exhausted/malnourished or have medical issues and need to conserve heat.

NB Side sleeping will reduce surface area and heat retention, reducing R rating.

Klymit has a .5 ounce foam hand pump you can special order now or wait until they have it online in a couple months. Vapor is not optimum posing potential frost layer, reducing R rating and possibly leading to mold. Save your breath, save your strength, get the pump, about $15. Otherwise, it takes about 40-45 breaths on average, more for some, less for others.

As a former OSHA safety compliance officer and long time patroller in Colorado, I'm very impressed with CampSaver people assisting me with purchasing the Mammut Rocker RAS airbag and Black Diamond Avalung II.

It's very important to take every possible precaution and have all the available safety equipment in the event of an avalanche, whether in the backcountry or at a ski area.

Montana is the only state that requires ski areas to keep trails closed until safe from preventable hazards, especially avalanches. Even then, it's still no guarantee that ski areas will take proper precautions. Fatalities and injuries that have occurred at ski areas in Colorado indicate this.

No safety equipment can guarantee survival. But the Mammut airbag systems and Black Diamond Avalung II can increase the possibility considerably when properly used.

More importantly, no safety equipment should be used in lieu of avalanche certification courses and following protocols. Snow stability forecasts should be used in conjunction with individual assessments, snowpits and route determination. Again, one can't assume that avy prone terrain at ski areas are safe.

"Any doubt, take another route."

In the event of engulfment, whether from an avalanche, landing in a tree well, terrain trap, drift or entrapped by slough after a fall, even with an airbag, there's no guarantee of any airspace. The BD Avalung II remedies this, if one is not incapacitated and the airtube is not clogged and in plac