Recommend a Survival Shelter

I have a 2 person vango branded one but I suspect it's a generic model with vango decals. It packs small, like 2 tennis balls in a sock although i tend to pack it loose in a backpack pocket and stuff it in after using it.

They are absolute game changers in bad weather, it gets most use on scottish winter hill days where it is invaluable for food and rest stops. In an emergency it would give you precious time. In a heavy rain storm it is superb, and once in they warm quickly and you can get your extra layers on out of the weather, eat, read maps etc

Mine has an integral stuffsac but it is pretty tight to pack hence stuffing it into a pocket on my back pack. It has a window, sort of useful but not a deal breaker. It is def 2 person, a third could get there torso in but that is all.

I also have a 4 person one but never really use it, its light but bulky. And I only have one friend, so superfluous

Lomo

These are really good https://www.summitgear.co.uk/product-category/bothy-bags/summit-bothy-bags/

We've got the 4 man summitgear one listed above, it's well-made and tough. Great for lunch stops, getting kids into waterproofs etc if rain starts suddenly. Not had to use it in emergency but would expect it to be pretty handy, more so than x2 smaller ones as everyone in together?

Do they make a difference - yes absolutely. It’s standard practice in MR to put a group shelter over the casualty when we arrive in scene, particularly at this time if the year. Four of you in one shelter will probably generate more warmth than two in two. It’s dead weight until you need it, then it can quite literally be a lifesaver. A bit of closed cell for to sit on will reduce heat loss through direct contact with the ground as well, which can be significant in cold weather.

Another vote for the Summit ones.

+1 for Lomo because it's cheap and seems well made, gets good reviews, but thankfully while I've carried it often enough, I've never actually had to use it

Lomo.

Mine gets used in challenging places and it's fine. Don't forget to have sit mats of some sort. Absolute game changer, vital for making the experience bearable.

Another Summit gear user here. I've had them at the outdoor centres before as well in huge sizes.
We've the ultralight 2 person now in bright orange now.
UK made.

I have Vango two-person one that lives in my mountain pack. It's not the lightest - 440g according to google - but it seems robust and functional, thankfully only used for lunch stops. I should probably get something lighter for mountain biking, the Lifesystems Ultralight is a claimed 215g, so half the weight for an extra 30 quid - £70 as opposed to £40 at SRP.

As above, they make a huge difference. Shared body heat, morale booster, wind-proofing, also bright orange tent-sized things are much easier to spot in an emergency. Great for lunch stops when it's grim out, sit on your packs for insulation from the ground.

ps: thanks for reminding me to dig out my Blizzard bag for solo use... also worth a look, basically a survival bag with insulating properties.

I've got a few of different sizes for group stuff, a normal 2-man, ultralight 4 and normal 6-8. Lifesystems new Ultralight ones are silnylon so they pack down a chunk smaller - maybe a bit less durable but if it's the pack size you're after could be good. Not the cheapest - the JDS/Summitgear ones are great value - but the UL 4 man is half the packed size of a standard 2 man

https://www.lifesystems.co.uk/products/ultralight-survival-shelter-4

Like @Pyro, I have the UL4, I made a different bag for mine, it's longer and thinner to reduce a little bulk also means it can slide inside or be strapped to the outside of a pack. I think someone mentioned sit-mats, I made up some folding ones out of an old rollmatt that fit the dimensions of my groups various packs so it slides down inside the hydration bladder pouch, taped in the middle with 'sniper' tape.

I have a 2-man, might be a LifeSystems or a Trekmate, and a 4-man, an original Karrimor K.I.S.U. Neither are particularly lightweight.  They've both been used for lunch stops, for which they are remarkably effective. If you do use them for this, be prepared for any passers-by to admit you are ok 😀
I've only once had to use one in a casually situation and that was descending the Ben a couple of years ago when someone had broken a leg. We didn't sit up in it due to our location but did use it as a large bivvy bag/wrap to keep her warm while waiting for the MRT.

It is def 2 person, a third could get there torso in but that is all.

So carry a machete. And two and a half straws.

Pop a couple of those air activated heat packs in your bag also. All well and good being protected from a chill wind but the cold is there all the time and heat packs will make things a bit more comfortable.

They take up next to no room and are fairly lightweight.

A very timely thread indeed. I've been meaning to replace the rather ancient 4-man 'groping shelter' that I had made from ripstop nylon by a local seamstress about 30 years ago, when I was regularly walking with the Mountaineering Club. Despite very rarely coming out of its bag in all that time, it's developed a strange smell rather like vomit. So that can be replaced with one of those nice Summit Gear 2-man Supalites - much much smaller and lighter, and much more likely to come out with me from here on in.

Pop a couple of those air activated heat packs in your bag also. All well and good being protected from a chill wind but the cold is there all the time and heat packs will make things a bit more comfortable.

Agreed.
We seem to have lots of them scattered around bags and cars.

Another + for lomo. Mines great

Lomo for me. My rucksack has a removable foam pad so I just sit on that if I need to. Never had to use the shelter in anger (so to speak) but nice knowing it’s in my bag if needed.

Thanks all. 4-man Lomo and some heat packs odrered. Hopefully never need them, but have the comfort knowing theyre there 👍

I take one on proper days out, 4 man supalite. I've only used it once, on Skiddaw in winter with my daughter. She was cold and wet and I needed to get her out of the wind, change her layers and get some food in her.  worked great but lesson learnt is to bring a second bigger bag to pack it back into. Wet shelter and cold hands makes stuffing hard. I just attach that bag to the stuff sack so it doesn't blow away

I've got the 4 person Lomo and use it quite a bit, not just for emergencies. For fatbiking it's great if someone gets a puncture/mechanical and needs to spend time fixing it with bare hands! Also for lunch stops if it's windy, it even has a little window so you can still see the views.