The price may seem a bit steep at first, but the Land Shark’s weight and space savings, as well as its toughness and versatility, make it a good buy. And if you’re writing that check in sub-freezing temperatures at 1 a.m. on the desert floor, it’s going to seem downright cheap!

After a knife, this is now the first item that gets put in our go-pack, for certain protection against whatever elements one may encounter on land, sea or air.

In my opinion, the toughest and therefore most reliable, as well as most versatile of these (Thermal Protective Aid shelters) is the Land Shark from CAPS Aviation, which is designed for use both on land and in the water. It can also be turned into a tarp (3' x 7') by slitting the seams. It is vacuum packed inside a very tough bag for protection from abuse in storage.

For a quick, emergency shelter, I really like the Land/Shark bag. Essentially, it's a tarp bag, sealed on all sides except the opening where you would crawl in. One side is a bright International Orange color, which is great for signaling, and the other side is a neutral desert camo.

Now I personally hope that I never have to use one of these in a real life situation, but I can clearly state that I happy to have this as a part of my kit.

With a rate of heat exchange 25 times greater in the water, the bag significantly slows the drain of vital body heat, while providing protection from the chilling seaspray and breaking waves. This considerably extends survival times.

I do see it as a good emergency item on the way to backcountry adventures. Hope I don’t have to use it for its intended purpose, but nice to know it will be there.