15 April 2012, 16:21
Had some experience with bashas as a cadet but to be honest we where always taken to an area that lent itself to putting one up quickly and easily (medium density woodland) and there was always a member of the DS checking the temperature through the night so we didn't catch a chill so I knew how to put one up, early on you where only ever given paracord and some pegs and left to frustrate yourself with it whilst everyone else whipped out a few bungee cords and had it done in seconds.
More recently though me and a friend did a few days backpacking around the mid Wales coast. With no real idea where we would be stopping for the night meant he had invested in a few basha poles that would give you a space of around 18 inches and peg the other end down this is at its best in a field or somewhere with few options for anchorage points. As there was 2 of us meant you used your bergens on either side to block out the wind... Sort of. We just used roll matts bungeed to the side of our bergens then a sleeping bag inside a bivvi bag and we weres plenty warm enough.
In my opinion for 2 its a great option and if you have a 4 season + sleeping bag you would proably be ok on your own don't think it is really a year round solution but then I know if you where in the army you may have to do it in the dead of winter.
On a final point the issue ponchos make a great basha (that's what we used back packing and as cadets) and obviously comes with the advantage of also being a poncho. Just remember to tighten the cords as much as possible in case it rains... I learnt that the hard way as a cadet... not an experience to repeat
More recently though me and a friend did a few days backpacking around the mid Wales coast. With no real idea where we would be stopping for the night meant he had invested in a few basha poles that would give you a space of around 18 inches and peg the other end down this is at its best in a field or somewhere with few options for anchorage points. As there was 2 of us meant you used your bergens on either side to block out the wind... Sort of. We just used roll matts bungeed to the side of our bergens then a sleeping bag inside a bivvi bag and we weres plenty warm enough.
In my opinion for 2 its a great option and if you have a 4 season + sleeping bag you would proably be ok on your own don't think it is really a year round solution but then I know if you where in the army you may have to do it in the dead of winter.
On a final point the issue ponchos make a great basha (that's what we used back packing and as cadets) and obviously comes with the advantage of also being a poncho. Just remember to tighten the cords as much as possible in case it rains... I learnt that the hard way as a cadet... not an experience to repeat