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