Hello all! I was looking around to find a good expedient shelter to add in my carry kit. I have read equal pros and cons for the Space Blankets and Plastic. I was wondering what individual experiences people have had with them. Some of the information I am looking for, is the Space Blanket more resistant to fire than Plastic Sheeting? Is the Space Blanket stronger than 6 mil thick Black Contractor Plastic? Which is more resistant to tearing? What do you use? Open to any advise. Thanks.

Some of the heavier mil plastic is superior in terms of ripping vs a space blanket. Niether do very well around fire. The space blanket is superior as a fire reflector. Both can be improved by hemming the edges with ductape. Plastic beats space blankets in cost and in refolding. If I was packing an ultralight kit a spaceblanket used along with natural materials for shelter is my choice. In my minimal rucksack kit I pack a 9'x9' nylon sill tarp with premade lines and stakes.

Not sure about the fire-proof qualities of either - but the space blankets that I have used (the cheap $2 kind) have no where near the strenghth of a contractor bag. By the end of the first night my space blanket was severaly ripped. They seem to shred when I simply look at them. I now have one of the thicker "sportsmens" blankets - hopefully it will fare better. Takes up a LOT more room and weight, though. I still have the cheaper kind - but I'd only rely on them for a one night emergency situation - not as a source of warmth for an extended period.

Emergency Space Blanket Tip

Anyone that has ever opened one of those cigarette pack sized emergency space blankets knows that it can be a real pain. The static cling and thee 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.

Yes both burn very, very easily. The heavy contracor bags are muh sturdier. Both will helpkeep you dry. In a lean to if the inside is lined with a space blanket it will reflect any heat from a fire down to where you are sleeping. If you place one over a frame behind a fire it will reflect even more heat into your shelter. If you combine both it will reflect a surprising amount of heat down on top of your sleeping form.

An ideal tent would be to make a Forester Tent out of the heavy duty space blanket to take advantage of its reflective quality.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1984_March_April/Wilderness_Gear_You_Can_Make_Yourself
scroll down to the forester tent.

I have tried space blankets both the silver and I prefer the orange colored reflective one of the two. But now I use this for emergency shelter

http://online.boundtree.com/store/product_index.asp?Cat=&SubCat=&Prod=660100

the hartwell medical isothermal blanket effectively maintains a patient¹s core body temperature by reflecting the patient¹s radiated body heat. impervious to rain and snow, durable enough to carry a person, the isothermal emergency blanket is lightweight and can be cleaned and reused if so desired (unfolded 80 x 55)

{Link Above}


See what you think!

My preference is the Storm Shelter instant Pocket Tent. They can be hard to find though. So far I have only found then at REI. Although is shade from the sun and texas summer heat is what I'm after a shiny silver space blanket cant be beat, unless it's windy, in which case it gets beat all to h*ll and back. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hey tfisher thanks for the link. That looks like it might fit the bill. Sure would be a little more useful than contractors plastic. Do you by chance know what size it is all folded up?

Size 5.5" x 7.5" x .5"

I carry them both since the weight is negligable. But if I were limited to one it would be the space blanket. It's more versatile. The plastic bag I use is more like 3 mil though.

Regards, Vince

Cool. Thanks. May be getting one.