OT: Space Blankets

Big Bob

Big Bob

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
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This year I'm wanting to do some overnight camping whereas I carry all my stuff in. I recently bought a backpack that is large enough to hold my tent and inflatable mattress. I can tie my sleeping bag to it, but it would likely make my pack cumbersome and I'd worry about the sleeping bag getting muddier than necessary. I'm considering the Space Blankets like the ones sold below, as they'll be light, packable, and supposed to keep you warm.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=40357

I figure that between a Space blanket and the air mattress I'll be warm enough when camping as it won't be any colder than the mid-forties when I go. Has anyone here used these Space Blankets and if so, what are your impressions on these?

Bob
 
I've never slept in one but I figure condensation might be a problem with those. You might wake up with wet clothes. :confused:

You might want to ask in the survival forum for better answers.
 
Hey Bob,

i place my tent on a tarp to protect from the wet. this is something i learned from miserable experience.


as to your question i have always used a mattress pad and a sleeping bag. even during the summer, the sleeping bag make the bedding a lot more comfortable.

hmmm... perhaps those who truly rough it can better answer your question!
 
I don't know if a space blanket would be very comfortable.
Can't say for sure I've never tried one.
I think they're more for emergency use.
For the price it wouldn't hurt to get one or two.
But a half decent sleeping bag would be your best bet.

You also mentioned an air matress.
Is it the self inflating kind?
A comfortable sleeping pad is important too.
The ThermaRest type are a little pricey but worth it.

Chuck
 
The theory of the basic "space blanket" is that it reflects back body radiation . Because covection and conduction are much greater causes of heat loss than radiation, the actual value of the "space blanket" probably lies in it's use as a wind/precipitation block.

There are several different products called "space blankets." One type has some polyester fabric and, therefore, some minimal insulation value. Otherwise, a heavy-weight large trash bag is probably as useful in a survival situation.

No survival blanket will do much to deter loss of heat to conduction between you and cold ground.

Condensation can be an issue with a space blanket or trash bag. Some ventilation is recommended.

People vary tremendously in how well they handle cold - and 40 degrees is cold. We had a kid who used no pad under him in winter camping. His body shape would be melted into the snow the next morning. "Weren't you cold? Heck no."

Consider a Thermo-Lite Bivy as minimal sleeping kit rather than a space blanket. $18.99 at Metro-pak.com last time I looked.

A cheap or second-hand polyester blanket is also a possibility. They have good insulation vakue for the weight and you can just throw it in the washer when you get back.
 
A space blanket is a great emergency keep-warm, keep-dry item in a pinch, but not a substitute for a decent sleeping pad (read: Therma Rest****) and a well designed sleeping bag. Unless you're into pain and discomfort :D
Check out compression straps to cinch down that bag to fit into the bottom of your pack. Saves a lot of space. Lots of good options out there....

What Tom just said... ;)
 
Personally I'd ditch the tent before I ditched the sleeping bag. I do not believe a space blanket can replace the bag. Emergency use only. However if you are in a tent and on an airm mattress you would likely be okay for 40s.

Are you going solo, or is there a partner that you can use to carry some of the tent? If solo I would look into the bivy bag tents, or just tarps. Is the inflatable mattress large when packed? I use a RidgeRest closed-cell pad, it is perhaps not as comfy, but very warm and probably more durable so can be easily strapped to the outside of the pack.
 
Implicit in the good advice to use a foam pad or foam-filed-self-inflating air mattress (e.g. Thermarest) is this fact: the air spaces in a conventional air mattress are too large to constitute insulation ("dead air"). Convection currents form in the mattress and the air pretty quickly becomes cooled to about the temperature of the ground and surrounding air.
 
On my scoot (read space limited) I still insist on my Therma-Rest, a mini Eureka 1.5 man tent (not a bivy sack) and bag. The tent rides on top of one saddlebag, the mat on top of the other, and the sleeping nag goes into a green waterproof mil issue bag scrunched up and rides behind me as a backrest. The waterproof bag holds everything that doesn't go inside the tent at night and keeps both wet and critters out of it.

I have spent *many* nights in perfect comfort this way....a small fire to make coffee and toast, maybe add a piece of fruit and a chunk of cheese to get my day off to a great start. :D

I have only seen success with the space blankets as an emergency shelter/wrap...would not reccommend them as Plan "A" :(

.
 
I have first hand knowledge of space blankets, and they remind me of being a bed wetting kid in more than one way :footinmou :D They are noisy like a plastic sheet, and you are going to be wet from condensation. Ther is nothing "snuggly" about them. They do work, especially if you have a pad, mattress or bed of pine needles under you. I would buy a ultralight synthetic sleeping bag myself. I love my goose down bag, but damn near froze one night when my gear got wet; the better synthetics will still insulate to a degree even when damp. Just 2 cents from the dude with no sense ;)

stevo
 
stevomiller said:
. . . I would buy a ultralight synthetic sleeping bag myself. I love my goose down bag, but damn near froze one night when my gear got wet; the better synthetics will still insulate to a degree even when damp. Just 2 cents from the dude with no sense ;)

stevo
Click to expand...

Sounds more like good input from someone who's "been there."
 
The best use I found for the space blanket was to toss it loosely over the sleeping bag. It helps to cut down some of the air circulation and it did seem to warm things up a little. I also tried it as a sleeping bag liner and found the experience very wet, and uncomfortable.

BTW: 40 degrees is pretty darn cold when you are just lying there. You should have a good ground pad and a comfortable sleeping bag.

n2s
 
stevomiller said:
I have first hand knowledge of space blankets, and they remind me of being a bed wetting kid in more than one way :footinmou :D They are noisy like a plastic sheet, and you are going to be wet from condensation. Ther is nothing "snuggly" about them. They do work, especially if you have a pad, mattress or bed of pine needles under you. I would buy a ultralight synthetic sleeping bag myself. I love my goose down bag, but damn near froze one night when my gear got wet; the better synthetics will still insulate to a degree even when damp. Just 2 cents from the dude with no sense ;)

stevo
Click to expand...


Plus the bags will insulate you from radiant heat, but if you touch it, it'll still conduct the heat away from yourr body.

Did that make sense?
 
Bri, mpisi and stevo and others' advice is right on. I also have spent a night rolled inside a mylar space blanket. It retains heat well, but it you will be soaked in perspiration. Mine also tattered into a million pieces during the 14 hours I spent in it waiting for daylight. It is a survival tool, nothing more.

If I'm backpacking "light" in cold weather I'll ditch the tent for an 8x10 tarp and keep the mummy bag.
 
45-70, if I understand what you are saying, if you have a fire the radiant heat from it will be reflected away from you. Conversely, if you are in contact with the mylar blanket without an air gap, your heat will head south? I concur.

One damn thing that I hate about new fangled outdoor gear is the fact that embers and sparks from your fire will either catch it on fire asap or melt it. After spending cold days and nites almost sitting in a small fire trying to stay warm you can appreciate good woolen clothing ;)

Raggy, I have crashed on top of the pine needles inside of a tarp with my sleeping bag. I think that you are spot on ~ a tarp is more versatile than the small tents. A good tent is best IMHO though if consistent rain is in the forecast.
 
Campmor had a 3.5 lb 1-2 person Wenzel tent for sale for $29. Nicely made, compact, held up against 30 mph winds and weather tight. ALSO bug tight, something which can not be said for a tarp.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=66486&memberId=12500226

Space blankets are emergency stuff. Wet and cold = hypothermia candidate.

Down needs to be dry, but it compacts nicely. If you are dry, go that way. If you can tolerate the bulk, get a hollowfil or the like bag, mummy style. The synthetics keep their loft even when wet.

Your body is the heat generator, a bag and tent contain the heat you generate. Most tents will have some condensation on the walls from your expiration of moisture from breathing. Most old-timer used "browse" for a mattress, the thermarest self-inflating mattress, even a 3/4 size one is well worth the investment in funds and weight.

And, I love my Svea 123 stove, or the Optimus 8R stove; both white gas, single burner, and make a wonderful noise while they work for you.


Be well and safe.
 
Hey, Bob.

I tried a space blanket (not overnigt, just a test.) in a snow drift last winter. I must say, that would be a truly unpleasant night of sleep. They are noisy, stick to skin, condense like mad, and don't stay on very well.

Also, if it's cold, a sleeping pad is vital. The ammt. of heat you can lose by direct contact with the ground is staggering.

If you're concerned about a muddy sleeping bag, seal the floor seams of your tent. Use a good quality seam sealer and follow the directions. If you do this and have a tent of any reasonable quality with a fly, you ought to stay high and dry! Or, if you have a tarp tent, be sure to pitch it in an area that's unlikely to have water running through it (high ground, not rut or gully), and IMO use a tarp or "footprint" as they're sometimes called. Many ultra-lighters go this route and are quite happy.

Probably a relevant question would be, in what kind of temperatures would you be camping? This would affect what kind of sleeping gear you have. Also, if you have a decent budget, they make backpacking sleeping bags that are both comfortable, durable, water-and-stain-resistant, and amazingly light.

Check out www.backpacker.com and use their gear finder. It is really quite helpful and easy to use.

Good luck, and my advice would be to keep the space blanket in your pack for emergencies, but plan on using a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent.

Hope it all works out! :)

Nam
 
What Thomas Linton said, is what I intended to say.


He's smarter than me :)
 
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