Most folk will be able to work out what a ‘biwaksack’ is though the etymologists could have a little fun as the English version, bivouac, is French with maybe a bit of German, so we may be better sticking with a dictionary version “a temporary, or emergency camp or shelter used by soldiers or mountaineers”.

The armies of the world were bivouacking long before mountaineering was developed as a sport, the classic piece of military kit was a cape or poncho, the Scots wrapped themselves in the plaid or woollen blanket.

Early mountaineers used tarred paper, or canvas, and polythene sheets until bivvy bags came along. Most bivvies were overhead shelters until then, with bivvy bags you just got inside – they were designed as a waterproof sleeping bag cover. Early ones were made from a type of Nylon, later ones from Goretex, the one we have here in the collection has a Nylon bottom and a Goretex top.

Most seasoned mountaineers have an epic bivouac story, with or without a bivvy bag. Doesn’t look like the one we have here has a story to tell as it’s never been used and was kindly donated by Hans-Dieter Schwartz.