The Space Blanket has been much maligned in this and other forums. I'm a believer in their weight to usefulness ratio. Here's what I've come up with so far, pro and con. Feel free to add or detract as the fancy strikes you.

By the way, I'm talking about the cheap $1.99 USD ones commonly encountered everywhere, not the more expensive coated "sportsmans" brands.

1. They are lighter than the lightest poncho, yet just as waterproof.

2. They do reflect SOME body heat back to the wearer. (How much is in serious dispute, but any is better than none.)

3. They make a GREAT reflector for a fire.

4. They SHOULD make a fantastic snow-melt backdrop for drinking water. (My own pet untested theory. The idea is taken from the book "Alive" by Piers Paul Reed. The survivors of the Andean crash used aluminum fusilage parts to melt snow rapidly, and the Space Blanket should work as well. I'll test it the next sub-freezing day I encounter--probably next autumn. Comments--or better yet testing from our northern --Canadian-- neighbors are encouraged!)

5. They make a passable groundcloth. Again, their reflectivity is in dispute but NOT being directly in contact with the cold wet ground is better than lounging in the mud.

Cons:

1. They are flimsy. Enough said. If it's windy, you better stay low! And carry 2' of duct tape for accidents!

2. They are noisy. I confess this has never bothered me a bit but it might disturb somebody.


Regards, Vince

Another con that many have against them is because of static cling they are a roal PITA to unfold. The static cling and the smooth surfaces causes them to stick together. Making it difficult to open up. Have you ever wondered how with stiff and cold fingers you could ever open it in a true emergency without tearing it to shreds?

Well the answer is a little careful preparation beforehand.

The best way is to take it outside on a calm day. Because this is a little messy so you might not want to do it in your living room. First carefully and calmly unpack and open the blanket. Give it a Very light dusting with either corn starch or baby powder. Then with care refold it back into its original configuration. Yes if you take your time it can be repacked just as small as the original package. Then it can be replaced in its carrying container for storage. It just takes some time and attention to detail.

The end result is the powder acts as a lubricant allowing it to be deployed much easier when it is needed.

Why the manufacturing companies don’t do this when packing them in the first place mystifies me. I can only suspect that them would rather save a couple of pennies than improve their product.

Anyone checked out the MPI Outdoors Extreme Pro-Tech survival vest and bag? I know it's not quite a space blanket, but almost, and it seems like it would have much better insulative properties.

-john

I have the MPI Extreme Bag and it is my primary survival shelter for snowboarding, it's definitely too large for a PSK though.

If you have some cord or string with you, you can also suspend it between some sticks (etc) and use it to catch dew and rainwater. Or dig a shallow pit of suitable size and anchor the edges with rocks.

Sue

Check out "Ranger Ricks" simple but effective mod for turning the space blanket into a poncho using good ole duct tape.

Is that where you reinforce the corners with duct tape and put a strip down the middle on both sides? IIRC the idea was to increase the strength of the blanket for use as a tarp or a poncho. I did that for the space blanket in a kit I made for my niece but I couldn't find the link. It seemed to be a useful thing to know how to do.

Regards, Vince

That is a good idea. And while you have it unfolded you can take the opportunity to perform the Ranger Rick modifications that StuToffee refers to. When I get some time I'll be doing this to all of mine.

Regards, Vince

Let's also not forget its value as a signal panel, laid out flat on the ground or held by two people to "flash" search planes, etc.
YES, space blankets are fragile, noisy, etc., etc., but for the amount of space they take up - which greatly increases people's willingness to carry them - they are way better than nothing at all.

Good point about the water. I spend most of my time in the mountains where water is plentiful and my gear and mindset reflect that. But I also do some riding in the desert and there are no water sources available for miles. And what little there is is often salty.

Speaking of the desert, the space blanket would prove to be a highly efficient shelter from the sun as well. .

Regards, Vince

I have made some pretty cool a-frame tarp tent style shelters from the $1.99 space blankets. I have some pictures around here on a disposable camera somewhere (rarely take my digital camera in to the feild due to its weight). I guess it's time I get all these disposable cameras that I have laieing around here developed. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi, Vince. Yep, thats the one. I think his site is called the Ranger Digest, its very informative. Ive converted quite afew space blankets & big orange survival bags in a similar way.
The important thing to do is to have a spare stip of duct tape to close the slit for your head(thats if you cut the slit in the first place!)

regards - Stu

Theres nothing inherently wrong with a space blanket, just what people, users and marketers expect and believe the things can do. How many movies show the couple lost in the woods wrapped like catfish in tin foil and almost as baked? It's akin to all those skinny canvas bedrolls tied off to John Wayne's saddle. A real period bedroll is a monster requiring a pack horse or dedicated wagon <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Obviously a space blanket in a pocket is better than a Hudson's Bay blanket for carry. It's knowing you have to create that striped classics insulative value with additional resources most people don't understand.

Couldnt agree more! People expect the space blanket to have "magical properties"
IMHO the most valuable thing about the foil blanket is the fact that its waterproof & windproof, and lets face it, Its better than nothing!!

I was tent camping with a friend many years ago and found myself unprepared for a sudden drop in temperature. I dug out a cheapo space blanket and unfolded it. It made enough crackly noise to wake my friend, who told me to be sure that I "fluffed it up enough to provide warmth".

No matter where you go or what circumstances you endure, there always seems to be a comedian around. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Any more info on the MPI Extreme Pro-Tech vest and bag?

Thanks,

-john

I would like to see some photographs of shelters made with a space blanket. The only use I have put one to so far is to put it under me in a tent and make some shade by duct taping it to two poles. It seems too small and frail to make a shelter with.

I think a 7’ jumbo trash bag might be more useful. If it is raining you can stand in it and pull it over your head. You can use it as a ground sheet. You could split it in half and make an A-frame or L shaped lean-to shelter with part under you and part over you. You could make a tube tent out of it. You can put leaves in it to make a blanket. You can put snow in it and place it on a dark surface to make water. Smaller trash bags are not as useful. There is the Coghlan’s Emergency Bag and the Survival and Outdoor Safety trash bag. I have tried both. The SOS bag is thinner and folds smaller. The MPI heavy duty Space Blanket and a 7’ trash bag make for a great survival shelter. Add about 15’ of cord and 6 small steel tent stakes and you can slap up a shelter in a matter of minutes. These items easily fit in my CamelBack Blowfish aka survival bag.

A-Frames are the only things I have done with them (when using them by themselves) but that's enough to justify carrying one for me. I'm not trying to make any space blanket wilderness mansions or anything. Just something to provide a little shade during the day and maybe keep the ticks from landing on me as they fall out of the trees while I sleep in the summer and something to keep me dry and/or reflect heat in the winter. That being said, I agree there are better options. My preference is the Storm Shelter Instant Pocket Tent but often enough is the space blanket that goes with me do to is light weight and extreme compactness.

My observations based on personal use of this item:

1. They are wind-proof.
2. They are good at reflecting heat.
3. They suck in blocking conductive heat transfer (i.e. butt-to-cold ground).
4. Whenever you move, they sound like you are wadding up a patato chip bag.

So, from a heat transfer standpoint, their performance is adequate in blocking 2 of the 3 heat transfer modes (radiation and convection) and are inadequate in conduction.

I still carry them, but you have to have something else to put between you and the cold, hard ground.

Your mileage may vary.

Jim

I too have never made a shelter from a space blanket alone. I have made a debris shelter and used the space blanket as a groundcloth. I have used plastic for rainproofing the roof of the shelter but the space blanket should work as well as that, particularly if it is reinforced at the corners with duct tape.

Regards, Vince

Is the storm shelter a tube tent?

Yep its basically an 80 x 96 yellow plastic tube. I get mine from my local REI store.

Storm Shelter Instant Pcket Tent at REI.com

Somewhat similar to the coghlans tube tent, but the tacoma shelter is probably better.

Except about 10% or the weight and bulk. I have owned one of those too. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Brian, do you have a weight on the tacoma shelter?

I'll check when I get home to see if it's marked on the label. I have one that is still in its original packaging. I can tell you its nowhere neare the 2.5mil on the coghlan's tube tent. It feels more like a thick trash bag.

It's probably 1 mil at about 4 or 5 oz.