Reviewing the AMK Heat Sheet

Nice job. I'm not a big fan of open flame that close to my nads :eek: , and I wonder if the blanket channels Carbon Monoxide up toward your face. Maybe a chemical heat pack would work.

-- FLIX
 
nice review and test, thanks for posting.

i need to get a couple of these high quality ones...i think that the EMS down the road might carry them...i will check it out. it looks larger and better quality than the one that i have used...
 
CShepherd said:
Awesome test and thank you.

Can anyone suggest where to get tea candles that won't melt when left in the car in TN? The UCO candles will melt, at least enough to flatten. My BOB and my Bushbag ride in my car so they're exposed to some pretty hot temps.

Thanks,

Charlie
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Wrap the tea candle in Saran wrap or similar. Will still melt but the metal cup will keep the shape of the candle and the wrap will keep it from being messy.
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
TFonly - I had actually hoped that it would be a little colder, but seeing as how I'm a Florida boy, +4°C is plenty cold. :)
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for sure man,

hey, did you have any wind down there?
How much do you think, say 30km/h winds would effect usefulness?
 
We didn't have any wind to speak of when I was out there, but we might have some this weekend. If we do, I'll see about going out and doing some more checking, perhaps testing out the chip-clip idea. I probably won't dump water on myself again, though. :o
 
I like the thought of the chip clip, but what about some of those velcro tabs that have the sticky stuff on the backside of them? Seems like they may be a bit less bulky. Maybe cut a slit in the wrapper of the emergency blanket and stuff some of the velcro in there?

Great review though, I've carried them off and on and never tried one because I didn't want to have to deal with repacking it.
 
A good point was made with reference to carbon monoxide buildup from lack of ventilation with the candle burning within the closed up heat blanket. One might get lulled into a false sense of 'just being cozy warm' not realizing they were begining to suffer from CO2 poisoning. Do not try to fully cover your body, including head, with a candle buring within one of these. Not only are these blankets flammable, but CO2 poisoning is very subtle and extremely dangerous to a tired, cold individual in the wilds. If anything use a heat pack as mentioned (they come in boxes for atheltic aches and pains, Thermacare is a brand); or make darn sure the flame you burn is small enough, and steady enough not to ignite the blanket. I have used them for about 5 years now and the blankets can get holes in them from all manner of items. They stretch before puncturing, but campfire sparks will pinhole the heck out of them. You do not need to refold them neatly, just start folding them and then roll the air out down to the size that fits in the packaging. A good test of a piece of gear that works in your psk.
 
I had thought about the CO2 issue, but most of the time my face was outside the blanket anyway. I was kind of thinking that if it was airtight enough to accumulate to dangerous levels, the heavier CO2 would sink to the bottom and put out the candle... but I really don't think it was that airtight.

As for the chip clips vs velcro, I think that sticky-back velcro might be tough to apply in the cold and wet, with wet hands. Similarly, metal bulldog clips might not clasp close enough to really hold. I'll test out the clips tonight and see how they do.
 
Okay, I just broke out the sheet and the clips, and they work great! You don't have to be terribly precise in your folding or anything; just gather some semi-neatly and clip it over, and they hold great. Even adding one to your kit would be helpful to hold it together, but two or three would be better. I know two would fit in the package... perhaps three.

Edited to add:

A-HAH! So, with two of these little cheapy clips, I can turn this thing into a poncho:

P1000649Large.jpg


Yes, I know that you could do the same thing holding it with my hands, but this is hands-free. That leaves your hands available for carrying stuff, staying under your armpits for warmth, or whatever. I'm definitely going to steal a few of these from the kitchen. For what it's worth, I'm using the smallest length that comes as part of the multi-pack of them... around 2.5" long.
 
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Great little test and with the added bonus, you could double for Stephen King at a distance! :D

It really is a cool little test, pardon the pun. My son and I have one, I guess I will have to procure a couple of the larger ones as your commentary on that along with the chip-clip and tea candle ideas makes a lot of sense. A lot of sense.
 
Great review. You suffered for us and I'm eternally grateful:D
I'd never thought of using a candle in there, that is a great idea. I'll be sure to put one (and some clips) with each of mine.
 
Bump, this should be stickied!

Does anyone have any expierence with the bivy version of the heatsheet? I think it might do an even better job of keeping you warm.
 
This thread was just referenced here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=617476

I had two thoughts. My two larger hiking bags have a UCO candle lantern and a spare candle. I've loved these for years as they can provide not only light but heat and are almost windproof. I think they're a great piece of kit. I would imagine they'd work well in the scenario portrayed by Foxhole. The other thought was that you could improvise clips for closing up the blanket with a couple pieces of duct tape. I carry duct tape but not chip clips. ;)
 
troutfisher13111 said:
Bump, this should be stickied!

Does anyone have any expierence with the bivy version of the heatsheet? I think it might do an even better job of keeping you warm.
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I purchased the thermolyte 2.0 just after christmas and gave a brief review here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609913

Nothing quite so excellent and daring as the present review. However, next week at the Mich gathering, I intend to test it outside for its merits as a bivvy. I'll post a review when that test is completed.

My initial impressions is that the bivvy is a great product and far more durable than what I expected for the price. Coupled with a couple of dble heat sheets - one as a ground cloth and one as a overhead shelter, and I think you have a good survival shelter in the making that would take less time then constructing one of natural materials. Of course I still need to test that comment out and hope to do so.

Great idea on the chip clips. I think there are actual tarp clips out there and I wonder how they work with the heat sheets.
 
siguy said:
nice review and test, thanks for posting.

i need to get a couple of these high quality ones...i think that the EMS down the road might carry them...i will check it out. it looks larger and better quality than the one that i have used...
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I have seen them at EMS - they definitely have them along with a bunch of other AMK stuff.
 
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