"survival" blankets

H

Hoodoo

Joined
Aug 18, 1999
Messages
2,355
You ever buy one of those tiny space blankets? They are like paper. And try unfolding them in the wind! I'd hate to have to try to deploy one in the wind under freezing conditions. I'd probably die from hypothermia first! But not before the thing was torn to shreds in the wind. Anyway, what do you carry in your BOB and why? Heavy duty space blankets? Light duty space blankets? Ponchos? Garbage bags? What? Enquiring mind wants to know.
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
I have used a lightweight spaceblanket once but it wasn't in a 'survival' situation. I was sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent and I was still a little cold so I wrapped the space blanket around the outside of my sleeping bag. It made a big difference and I was warm the rest of the night.

I don't think they would make a good shelter by themselves. You would have to build/find a shelter from the wind before using the space blanket

My kit contains a space blanket and a few garbage bags.
 
HooDoo,

My survival kits, BOB, and my first aid kits all contain space blankets. I have used them on several instances covering accident victims and in one instance to cover myself after being accidently doused in the cold headwaters of upstate's Deer River. They've worked great for me thus far. I usually include some duct tape in my kits to reinforce or repair the blanket and cordage to add versatility. I also include a 42 gallon 3mil contractors garbage bag for use as a poncho, ground sheet, or shelter cover.

There is no provision for quick temporary cover in my minikit, other than cordage.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
I carry the mini space blanket and although it is a pain to get at in the wind it is a valuable piece of gear. Like the sarge, I've used mine at accidents and on injuries on the ski slopes. It works well at stopping the wind... IF you can get it open
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I also carry a small sip loc to put it back into wheh I'm finished and one or two Large Contractor grade garbage bags. One bag is always in my back pocket. Makes a tough and almost instant shelter/float and much more.

Ron

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
Float? Who'da thunk it but Ron. I learn something new everyday here. Thanks!

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
I always have a sleeping bag version of the space blanket [it's just bigger,connected up and taped]. It works but it can be a pain to refold. Duct tape is a great idea.
 
I've carried one, off and on. I've never used one in an emergency situation, but I have tried placing one beneath my sleeping bag to see if it made much difference in reflecting heat back up to me. If it did make a difference, I couldn't tell. That's not to say that I don't think it works, just that I didn't notice much advantage to putting one under my sleeping bag.

Keep in mind that they can serve other useful purposes. On several occasions, I've used one in a pinch as a light reflector. (I'm a nature photographer.) They can keep valuable electronic gear dry in a sudden downpour. They could also be handy if you were in an emergency situation in the desert, and needed to make an evaporated water collecting still.
 
Placing the space blanket under you would only help as a moisture barrier, as it is not designed as a thermal reflector. It works as a radiation reflector, catching radiated heat and/or light and bouncing it back at you. Because of this it is better if there is a space between you and it.

I used one once when all I had was a medium-range sleeping bag and a tarp and found myself at a much higher elevation than I had anticipated. I put it over my sleeping bag and pulled the tarp over the whole deal for rain protection and slept comfortably all night long - even though I woke to find the tarp frozen stiff and ice coating everything around me. In fact, I even had to unzip my sleeping bag and stick a leg out to cool down!
 
I carry one mylard space blanket for each person (my wife and me) still in original wrap. Mine is in my belt pouch midi kit. Probably, would have been better to give it a try to learn more about it in use but I always thought about it as an emergency last ditch.
For regular use, I carry a grommetted one-side-red-other-side-silver sportman's blanket in the backpack. Only problem: it built up several small holes.

HM

Using plastic bags as floatation devices is a great idea. One just had to be careful with punctures. Maybe, place it inside a buttoned shirt is a good protection. For that same purpose I bought the 10 liter size Dromedary Bag by MSR. It is grommetted and now equipped with two shoulder straps for extended field carry. Just an idea....

 
I carry a throw-away poncho in the left cargo pocket of my BDU's, and a couple of large garbage bags and a Mylar blanket in my right rear pocket. I also carry some fast food napkins in that pocket for TP. Why not carry the little luxuries as well as the basics? And I keep a couple of empty ziplocks handy for whatever I may need, as well. The first time I ever tried to refold a Mylar blanket, I came to the realiztion that they have elves working in the factories to get them that small. Now, I carry ziplocks for peace of mind. :~}
 
I carry a throw-away poncho in the left cargo pocket of my BDU's, and a couple of large garbage bags and a Mylar blanket in my right rear pocket. I also carry some fast food napkins in that pocket for TP. Why not carry the little luxuries as well as the basics? And I keep a couple of empty ziplocks handy for whatever I may need, as well. The first time I ever tried to refold a Mylar blanket, I came to the realiztion that they have elves working in the factories to get them that small. Now, I carry ziplocks for peace of mind. :~}
 
I always carry two of the $2 space blankets, and advise those travelling with me to do likewise. They are almost weightless and their best feature is in making a reflector oven for yourself -- tie two each up in a parallel fashion with you and a small fire between them. ...toasty! Only problem is you may have to wear sunglasses! ...small joke.j

Bruce Woodbury
 
We also use them in desert survival programs. You can tear off a small piece and they work as sunglasses (Transparent) and will shield you from the sun's rays. If you make a shade from one there is less re-radiated heat below the blanket than you would have from a canvas tarp or other flimsy shade.

I noticed the commment about using them under you. they are of zero value to heat loss due to conduction. There are five heat loss mechanisms, Conduction, convection, radiation, respiration and perspiration(wetness) that we need to concern ourselves with. The space blanket helps with two of them (Convection (wind), and Radiation (somewhat despite thier claims of 90%) and to some degree against wetness if it from outside of the body) [That is one strange sentence, I hope it makes sense]
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I use one under my hammock in the woods. Hammocks are notoriously cold in cold weather as they allow a lot of air to circulate. The Space blanket tied under the hammock adds a huge benefit to the hammock by reducing heat loss.

Ron
 
Ok, ok, you guys have convinced me they are worth packing. But I'm not giving up my original space blanket either.
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Doc Rons comment is right on saying "radiation insulator" this actually is not allways easy to understand. It only works in insulation mode when radiative heat loss of importance otherwise it is a sheet of mylar, usefull but nothing special.

Radiation heat loss is at maximum on clear dry nights and the higher you go the greater it gets, at 3000 m it can be double compared to sea level.

I have found them most usefull in winter time with two layer tents put on top of the inner layer, it makes a difference in inside temperature and moisture control.

A friend works with cryogenic applications and I get the left-overs from MLI used there.

TLM
 
So what brand do you all recomend? I have one of the adventure medical kits in my bag but never used it.
 
I use a "space blanket" in winter in my home. My wife and I sleep on the floor in the living room. She's Korean, and that's the traditional way they sleep. It takes getting used to, but it's great for your back! We've slept that way for ten years now, so it's normal for me now. Anyway, in the winter, the floor gets cold because our floor is basically a concrete slab, with our unheated garage beneath. When it starts getting cold out, I pull up the rug in the living room (a nice hand-knotted tibetan) and put the space blanket between the rug and the wood floor, with the reflective surface facing up. It does make a big difference, making the rug noticeably warmer to sleep on. When it gets warmer in the Spring, I pull the space blanket out and throw it away. The rug is too warm to sleep on if you leave it there when it's warm outside.
 
moonwilson said:
I use a "space blanket" in winter in my home. My wife and I sleep on the floor in the living room. She's Korean, and that's the traditional way they sleep. It takes getting used to, but it's great for your back! We've slept that way for ten years now, so it's normal for me now. Anyway, in the winter, the floor gets cold because our floor is basically a concrete slab, with our unheated garage beneath. When it starts getting cold out, I pull up the rug in the living room (a nice hand-knotted tibetan) and put the space blanket between the rug and the wood floor, with the reflective surface facing up. It does make a big difference, making the rug noticeably warmer to sleep on. When it gets warmer in the Spring, I pull the space blanket out and throw it away. The rug is too warm to sleep on if you leave it there when it's warm outside.
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So do you sleep on the bare floor without any kind of padding?
 
KuRUpTD said:
Holy smokes - a thread revival from 2001

I prefer the AMK heatsheet myself

:thumbup::thumbup: on the Heatsheets. These beat most of the other ones I have used. I also have some "big" contractor trash bags folded to about 3"x3" along with a emergency poncho.
Be safe.
p.s.: Didn't Space Brand also make something called a Sportsman's Blanket or something like that a few years back? Reflective on one side, hood, hand pockets, etc. ?
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