Ruck Tent by A R Worral

Abstract

As a student of Design and Technology and a keen climber and Fell walker, Robert Worrall identified a need for a more substantial emergency shelter than the present plastic bivouac bag available to those taking to the hills, particularly in winter. From his own experience Robert felt that something more robust which would cover the whole body would provide greater comfort and moral for those unfortunate enough to become benighted on the hills in severe weather conditions. If somehow a tent with a sewn-in ground sheet could be combined with a standard rucksack, to be quickly erected and folded away without any great sacrifice of space and the whole equipment light enough for mountaineering purposes, then a most valuable piece of equipment would result. With this analysis it was soon realised that the equipment could double as a one-man emergency shelter as well as provide a rucksack and tent for hiking and camping. This was a problem worth a challenge particularly as early investigation revealed that no suitable piece of equipment was available on the market.