Minus 20° F corrugated plastic sleeping bag

RokJok · Feb 21, 2003

Definitely a FYI and FWIW item. I figured I'd post the link for the gearheads in the crowd, of which I'm one.

http://www.emprep.com/emergency sleeping bag.html

Raptor68 · Feb 21, 2003

Certainly sounds fabulous. Of course if you test it you end up with "Compress product down to a manageable size. It will never go back to its original pack compact size."

If it's as noisy "rustlewise" as its forebears it will make sleeping an interesting proposition too. I hope somebody grabs one and gives it a good test followed by a lengthy report.

numberthree · Feb 21, 2003

This looks very interesting as a lightweight sleeping bag replacement for those times when you want to pack ultralight...

Evolute · Feb 21, 2003

I am very doubtful about the the claim "Extremely effective to -20F".

Nevertheless, it looks like a interesting and probably good product.

So, who among us is going to be the first field tester?

--Mike

DancesWithKnives · Feb 21, 2003

That "minus 20" claim got my attention too. I suppose if you were hiking with a down jacket and heavy wool pants to wear at night, the bag might have a shot. But I can't see how it could get there on its own.

Alberta Ed · Feb 21, 2003

Cool -- or rather, pretty danged cold! It's about -20 in Whitehorse right now, but I'm not really all that keen about sleeping out in a corrugated plastic 'bag.' Looks like a good emergency rig though. I've packed alumninum survival suits for years; they are amazingly effective. Just don't try to put them back in the original envelope they come in.

Sharptooth · Feb 22, 2003

For the $30 these cost you can buy about 10-15 of the space blankets.

phatch · Feb 22, 2003

Looks like it would also be a vapor barrier. Expect lots of condensation.

Phil

DancesWithKnives · Feb 22, 2003

If it's made like the heavier multiple-use space blankets, which run around $8-12, the price isn't that outrageous. I'd be willing to buy one and try it car camping sometime (when I had a regular bag to fall back on). If it's made like the one-time-use space blankets, I'd agree with Sharptooth that the price is high.

With regard to the question of whether they are warm enough for cold weather, one could try carrying two and nesting them. Two would weigh 24 ounces and cost about $60. That would still be lighter than most top-of-the-line ultralight bags and perhaps cheaper (depending on their durability). I believe the lightest 800 cu in/oz down +20 degree F bag from Marmot weighs about 32 ounces and costs around $200-250.

John Andrews · Feb 24, 2003

Alberta Ed, You have it really cold there in the best town in Canada. You are going to need two of those blankets to keep warm!

DancesWithKnives · Feb 24, 2003

I agree with that opinion of Whitehorse, although I've never been there during the winter. I started visiting in the 80s and, aside from the incursion by McDonalds in the early 90s, it's still a very charming little city. I really like the fact that you can hike most of the town in a day. With a day's drive, you can be in some pretty remote areas.

scotjute · Feb 24, 2003

Would the outer layers of plastic become brittle and break-off an -20 F?
Be sure to write report if someone acutally tests it.

John Andrews · Feb 24, 2003

I was at Whitehorse back in the '70's and have spent quite a bit of time in Canada. Canada is wonderfull and Whitehorse has to be the greatest town I've been in! Alberta Ed--did you get my e-mail? I owe that fellow at the bank there a knife if I ever get to see him!

Bhodisatva · Feb 28, 2003

I wouldn't put too much faith in this product. If it is so effective why do we not see professional mountaineers and backbackers taking these "space blankets" to the summits of mountains on their expeditions? I didn't read anything on the site about the blanket, but I bet you would have to keep moving or be in the sun to even think about surviving -20 degrees. The guy in the picture isn't even in snow anyway. Speaking of Alberta, I don't know where Whitehorse is, but I think Banff and Jasper is one of the most beautiful areas I have been in. I might be heading that way this summer for a backpacking trip. Can't wait!

DancesWithKnives · Mar 1, 2003

Check out the portion of the Canada map just north of British Columbia and you're likely to see Whitehorse, Yukon. Much of the Yukon's population is concentrated around the Whitehorse area. I have friends in places like Stewart Crossing, but nobody would accuse that of being a big town!

Bhodisatva · Mar 1, 2003

Oh yeah, I see Whitehorse, its waay up there towards Alaska. I thought somebody said it was in Alberta. Never been that far north, all in good time though.

DancesWithKnives · Mar 3, 2003

It's worth the trip. But if you want to see some REALLY open country, you need to continue on to Inuvik (the Dempster Hwy, IIRC). The only downside is that hundreds of miles of shale gravel road make your tires look like they drove over a chainsaw a few times (while it was running).