The Lomo Emergency Storm Shelter 2-3 Man Bothy Bag is an essential bit of emergency kit to keep in your pack in case you get caught out.
The Lomo Emergency Storm Shelter is an excellent example of emergency equipment that you can also use regularly. The Shelter sits 96cm high, 45cm wide and 1.3m long which is big enough for two people to sit inside cross legged facing each other.
Peter Macfarlane’s Best in Test 2025
It’s simple, functional and a very good price too for something you might end up using regularly.- simple
- effective
- useful
- none
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £19.99 |
| Weight: 384g including stuffsack |
| Materials: 190T PU-coated polyester |
| Features: vents, windows, reflective patches, drawcord hem |
| Sizes: 4/5 and 8 person versions available |
| www.lomo.co.uk |
At each end there are snorkel vents which can be closed and there are clear windows at each side. The bottom hem has drawcords with two adjusters at opposite sides to cinch it in which helps the shelter to form a protective bubble shape.
The very visible bright orange fabric is PU-coated polyester with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm which does make it windproof and waterproof. There are two large reflective patches on one side to help night time visibility.
The shelter deploys quickly from its stuffsack and you can be out of the snow and rain in seconds. It warms up quickly once you’re inside, noticeably so with two people. Although rated for three people, this is definitely in emergency use only as you all sit shoulder to shoulder. Using the vents or keeping one edge propped open with a rucksack help keeps the interior from getting too stuffy and there is plenty of room to rest and eat or take your boots off to attend to a blister.
The shelter gives you that flexibility and enough comfort to complete tasks out of the weather. High winds will flap the fabric. Two occupants can tighten the shell between them to make it more stable but it’s harder to achieve when using it solo and, having spent nights on the hill in the Lomo, I do advise seeking out good spots out of the wind to help with this.
The Storm Shelter is light and packs away well at 22cm x 10cm in its stuff sack to I’m happy to carry it as on rainy hill days it’s been mood saver to climb into for lunch and it dries out quickly back at home. It’s simple, functional and a very good price too for something you might end up using regularly.
Testing conditions
Peter carried and used items from the review on all of his hill trips throughout 2023 from one winter into the next. This ranged from Munro days to low level trails and he also used the gear multiple times on ranger duties in the Kilpatrick Hills. All weights are from the reviewer’s digital scales.
This comparative review was first published in the December 2024 issue of The Great Outdoors.
