Emergency Survival Blankets
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 2 months ago
Discussion at Outdoor Life.
I’ve seen in-field tests. These things have limited capability, and are no replacement for having a parka or being able to start fire (which underlines my constant attention to redundant means of fire start).
If anyone has an experience with survival blankets, please indicate in the comments.
On September 28, 2021 at 10:41 pm, Keysersozeforprez said:
I recently bought a $40 wool blanket from Amazon and did a little testing on my trip to AZ.
It was down in the 50’s by morning…low 40’s a few mornings. 50’s would be fine a d even 40’s if it’s dry and no wind. Even a small breeze cut through my blanket. I was looking on the bushcraft forums and some suggested how old timers used to sew a canvas backer on their wool blankets and oil or wax them. I intend to experiment further with wool.
A blanket can also be carried rolled and looped over a shoulder, a la Civil War soldiers. It can also be folded and cord wrapped to function as a “backpack” to carry other supplies. Example: https://youtu.be/Cp-LLwiTeJY
I’m not saying such a thing is a silver bullet, but I’m thinking we could be learning from our ancestors. The pros are these are cheap, durable, and serve as multifunction items. Cheap enough that having a minimum of knowledge and a cheap supply of said blankets, one could cheaply equip family and friends in this way.
On September 28, 2021 at 11:54 pm, Herschel Smith said:
” … old timers used to sew a canvas backer on their wool blankets and oil or wax them.”
Now that’s something I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for that.
I’ve been looking for a Polish Laavu, and can’t find one except foreign (in other words, mail would be from somewhere else to America).
And they’re also all quite expensive, at least, the legitimate ones.
On September 29, 2021 at 4:42 am, Nosmo said:
When I got shipped off to summer camp in New Hamster (back in the Pleistocene Era….) my father (who grew up hardscrabble in the eastern Rockies) mentioned that if it got cold at night a quick fix was put a layer of newspapers under a thin mattress to stop air infiltration. Since we spent a lot of time actually outdoors (8 weeks of camp, usually 3 days a week, sometimes 4, occasionally 5, actually “camping outdoors” in the White Mountains. It was quickly figured out by many that a layer of almost anything on top of the lightweight sleeping bag deeply urban Moms and Dads bought for their kids (because it’s “summer camp”) to stop air infiltration was worth whatever weight it added to the backpack.
On September 29, 2021 at 8:05 am, Jack said:
I’ve zero experience w/ camping in the modern era. After years of wearing only cotton (I raced cars and refused to wear synthetics due to the burn/melting hazard), I’ve discovered the benefits of modern material science…
A mylar/foil emergency blanket weighs 1/10 of a wool blanket, is puncture and tear-resistant, reflects heat and light, and stops wind and rain. Like canvas, it can be used as a layer inside another blanket. It can also be repurposed as a poncho, lean-to, rain-cover, water carrier, emergency locator reflector, or bandage, among other emergency supplies. The light-duty blankets run about $2 each while the heavy-duty blankets are $10-15. Cheap insurance.
On September 29, 2021 at 8:11 am, Fred said:
That’s the same principle as thermal layers. Create air pockets for your body to fill with warmth. Very efficient. No outside layer to trap the warmth in the pockets (spaces in the wool or synthetic fill) then you lose heat rapidly, especially in a even a light breeze.
This is why wool is a great mid layer. When working you can remove an outer shell and the wool vents heat and wicks sweat quickly. When done working wait a bit til your body comes back to rest then reapply the outer shell.
And remember what ‘ol Les Stroud would always say; “you sweat, you die.”
Winter is coming. Be ready of spirit, mind, body first, then knowledge, then tools and equipment last.
On September 29, 2021 at 11:38 am, xtphreak said:
@Herschel
Look up “1844 Helko Werk Germany Waxed Canvas Bedroll” on Amazon (but beware the price!)
I have a friend who rode about half of the TAT (Trans America Trail) and slept nightly in a sleeping bag, laid on a blue plastic tarp (think Harbor Freight) with the other half of the tarp folded over him like a burrito.
Personally, I use a US surplus (but new) bivy cover.
On September 29, 2021 at 11:42 am, xtphreak said:
@ Jack
I carry one when hiking or riding.
Small.
Light weight.
Inexpensive.
Noisy (every movement).
Not cozy (it’ll trap heat, but contact transfers the heat away quickly).
On September 29, 2021 at 12:07 pm, Ned said:
I’ve used mylar reflective blankets in hunting camp when it rained constantly. Set up as a reflector from a fire, we used it to dry clothes. Pretty much within seconds the wet clothes would be steaming.
On September 29, 2021 at 10:47 pm, jim said:
Ned keyed on the correct use as a reflector
The original sheets for use in EMS were used to moderate patient temperature and avoid temp loss – never intended as a ‘blanket’
All are manufactured the same – a sheet of clear mylar has a reflective coating bonded to one side, then machine folded to the compact package we’re used to seeing. Studies showed that the coated side would reflect up to 80% of the heat that hit it – however it would pass upwards of 50% of heat that hit the other side…
Which side is which when it’s dark and you’re already cold and wet?
MPI Outdoors came out with the gold sided ones – made it easy to determine which side was reflective – and the gold side was moderately effective as a signal panel
Very useful when used within the parameters of the design – but can be detrimental if not. Don’t wrap up in a plastic bag when you’re already cold and wet…
On September 30, 2021 at 2:22 pm, jeff said:
The article and the comments are discussing multiple categories. Pick one type of “blanket”. The foil type “blankets” are useless. Yes they stop wind and rain, so does raingear or a tarp / tent and these do so more efficiently. Synthetics (and wool) will insulate while wet and will hang dry / steam anywhere out of rain. Aside from IR camouflage, I have never seen foil type blankets used with any consequence.
On October 2, 2021 at 8:39 pm, bobdog said:
Those mylar things are fine in an emergency, but there are thicker multi-layer versions that will last more than 20 minutes. I’ve used both many years ago. The thicker ones are actually reusable and give you the benefit of an extra layer to hold in body heat.
On October 6, 2021 at 6:57 pm, TRX said:
I have one in my crash pack. Not so much for a “blanket”, but as a big shiny object to help find the crash site.
Out in the woods, and/or in the dark, simply *finding* a crash site (again, if you had to hike out leaving someone behind) can be a big deal.