Half Bags

Half-bags are back, and bang up-to-date

Half-bags (Pied d'elephant to oldies) are coming back. They've been out of fashion for a few years in the trend towards using lifts and huts to make quick comfortable ascents, when a bivouac was a mistake, not a plan.

But the logic behind half-bags is still valid. If you're wearing a warm jacket already, all you need to spend the night out is something to keep your legs warm and there's no lighter way to do that than to use a half-bag. Check out the weights of PHD's new half-bags and see for yourself.

• When there's no hut in the right place for your climb, or it's full, or you just don't like the crush
• When you want to wander along your GR, free to sleep inside or under the stars as the fancy takes you
• When you want a lightweight backup in case weather, miscalculation or accident catch you out

...A half-bag is the lightest answer.