It had been approved by the military

But I purchased a heavier space blanket from a gun shop for $20.00, one side is red the other side silver.

It was horrifying to see in 'Survivorman' that the survival kit in his inflatable dinghy was an unsealed plastic bag with a flare that started getting hot immediately and items missing. Trouble is unless you put it together yourself how do you know a sealed (or sealed in your dinghy, BOB kit is ok?
Maybe I answered my own question with 'unless you put it together yourself'. If you can repack a dinghy.
The Sock

A report by the British Royal Marines has proved that Blizzard Survival Bags are up four times more effective in cold weather warfare conditions than current issue UK army survival bags.


The three day trials were conducted in Arctic Norway, at temperatures down to -13°C (8.6°F).

They also showed that our Reflexcell™ material kept soldiers warm up to three times longer than bivvy bags commonly used by civilian mountaineers.

Hi falcon5000,

The problem is that nothing else weighing in at around 500 grams is really going to keep your warm either at 40F or 4C, except for perhaps an ultralighweight Down Bag with the very highest specifications.

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=25_58&products_id=31

Even then it would require the use of a bivi bag designed with breathable materials, which is again another 300-400 grams, when used in conjuction with the sleeping bag in wet conditions and windy conditions. e.g Rab Survival Zone Bivi or Alpkit Hunka bivi

http://www.alpkit.com/hunka/

The main problem with the 'Blizzard Bag or Blanket' is the word 'Blizzard'. It claims a Tog rating of 8. This is a comfort temperature equivalent to a 1-2 season sleeping bag i.e. late spring/summer/early autumn. Certainly not a winter 'Blizzard' application product. These products are certainly an improvement on the conventional space or mylar blanket but there needs to be a reality check on its claimed usefulness in winter conditions.

From the Blizzard Survival Website;




The British Royal Marines are generally issued Snugpack Softie 12 osprey or Discovery 15 Sleeping Bags rated to -12C to -15C weighing in around 1.75 to 2.4 Kg together with a British Army Goretex Bivi bag (800 grams). I don't know what survival bag they are referring to. Your certainly correct about the 'hype' though.

I wouldn't rely on this type of product in temperatures less than 10C to keep myself warm and dry, but then being trussed up like a turkey has no appeal either.

If it was a choice between the army poncho and the 'Blizzard Blanket' in dire circumstances of cold, wet and windy conditions to keep myself from suffering a cold weather injury overnight in an emergency I would have to pick the 'Blizzard Blanket' over the poncho. (especially if the poncho was not made from a vapour permeable material)

Thanks Art_in_FL, I think I'm going to take your advice and return it for a money back. I don't care for a replacement, just a refund. I think I'll stick with poncho liners fir now and my WM bag for everything else.

I am no fan of space blankets. That said, I tested the Blizzard Bag and came away with a positive opinion.Forum readers may want to read that thread before screaming garbage and rattling credit cards at the retailers. Once again, The BB meets a specific need; compact emergency units for people who hopefully are wearing winter clothing. If you don't like one use items carry either a dedicated sleeping bag and tent or a body bag. A garbage bag seen without the prejudical contents equated with a BB is just that. I truly want to see an injured or hypothermic victim gather leaves in the high wind, white out conditions of say, The Pennines of the U.K.