Hi WB,

As I recall we decided in favor of the yellow-type emergency blankets more common among EMTs at accident scenes, over the mylar space blanket things. The yellow emergency blankets are made of a layer or several layers of some type of fabric and may not be as good for heat loss, but they are mostly weather proof/resistant and they are in a generaly good supply. I know we split up a box of them that the local FD gave to us. I think the issue for space blankets just came in the comparison of ease of use - we pulled the yellow emergency blankets out of a dispenser box, and they were ready to place on the patient. The space blankets we needed to unfold, and while some may contend they are sturdier than all that, I know that when I was flinging a folded up space blanket and trying to open it up, I could tear it in two. The yellow emergency blankets also seemed to cover patients better, and there is not so much crinkling when covering and uncovering to access wounds, vitals etc. I don't know whether an injured patient could survive a night under a yellow emegency blanket, but it gave at least as good a vapor barrier as mylar, and was as resistant to wind.

Plus these were yellow, which might have played a role :-) Again, our choice was highly specific to our intended use, which may not arrive for years if ever. And the yellow emergency blankets ended up being free, whereas if we had to justify the dollars spent we might spend a few dollars per to buy them - I would, but anyone on a budget might make a different call. I don't think I would walk out into the woods with a yellow emergency blanket in my pack, but I wouldn't walk out with a space blanket either, not as long as I have an AMK bivvy.

The plastic bags are intended to be used as an emergency shelter. They do work reasonably well. The bright orange also makes you very visible.

Contary to popular opinion, mylar blankets are worth carrying because they are very effective as a waterproofing layer for a shelter. You get a lot for a very small weight and pack size. They can also be used in a desert enviroment to improve protection from the sun.

Yes they are noisy. Too bad.
Better to loose a night's sleep as the price of being warm and dry. The alternative won't leave you in any fit state to complain. Ever.

The AMK reusable ones are NICE. i just got one for my kit