I was able to handle the Corpair unit. It is well made and they give good service. We are working within the limits of the space blanket concept. The unit itself is superior as an enclosed bag with the additional layers of reversable orange and desert covers. The small space blankets are a trial to successfully wrap up in and tear easily. The bag concept overcomes these problems and it seemed very durable. They listed the bags ability to conceal the user from various infrared systems. This is well and good for Escape and Evasion. Those same military technologies are finding their way into SAR units. We don't wan't to hide from a helicopter scanning the search area with infrared,do we? Unopened, garanteed shelf life is given at 5 years. If you haven't used space blankets, get a few. Tape them into a bag, find shelter, add insulation, build a fire. Do everything you would in an emergency. Personally, I am slowly saving for my favourite sleeping bag vacume packed at the factory. Now that is expensive <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.