[garret]

hey man dont let me stop you, and if you can then kudos to you and you can spread the knowledge on to us

talking about ice, i formed a parabolic lense once with ice frozen in the bottom of an upside down coke can, it worked (just about)

[Foxfire]

I have some of these blankets also. But have found that the HeatSheets are made a lot better and last longer. They make good shelters and stand up to the wind fairly well. So now I carry those as a emergency back up.

[AlteredMentalStatus]

these are great to sleep on, to reflect your body heat back to you. It is impossible to completely cover yourself in a windy wet enviroment. I had a couple of these in an unopen bag that was several years old. I was demonstrating the worthlesness of these when i tryed to seperate the folds the space blanket started ripping and actually stuck to geather.

A much better item to use is a DOT trashbag. These bags are 3-4 mil thick and are 6' tall. You can cut a face whole and slip the bag over you and be completely coverd from the elements. If you start to over heat just slip your haed out of the bag to cool down.

[scorch]

Yes heatsheets are made alot stronger and some have rip
stop. Much tougher than mylar.

[spagirus]

Originally Posted by tjwilhelm

Those super-thin "space blankets" really do work, if draped loosely around the head and shoulders, to cut down on radiative heat loss as well as reducing evaporative cooling by blocking the wind.

HOWEVER, for those who don't find these useful, there is another version. It's the "Space" brand "All-Weather Blanket," and it's definitely more robust than the thin cheapies. I bought a few from Sportsmans Guide last year. It's a woven tarp, almost like the so-called "blue tarps;" but, the Space All Weather Blankets come in much nicer colors, and they're aluminimized on one side, just like the thin, mylar space blankets. They also have sewn fabric edges with grommets. These are great to use for a lean-to shelter with a fire out front. They do a good job reflecting and trapping the heat of the fire inside the lean-to. With some 550 cord tied into the grommets, lean-to construction is quick and easy.

Check them out at: SPACE Brand All Weather Blanket

I've got a couple of these. One was actually used military surplus that they use in first aid kits as trauma victim blankets to help with avoiding shock. The other one I have is that Space Brand kind. I love both of them, and have used them just as regular tarps a lot. To carry the blanket I take my sleeping bag, and roll it up like normal, and then wrap it up in the Space Brand blanket and then stuff this roll in a stuff sack. The blanket keeps my sleeping bag perfectly dry whilst carrying it, and now I have a multi-purpose item that can be used to supplement the warmth of my sleeping bag, as a ground cloth, an overhead tarp for rain shelter or shade, to signal with, etc. One side of it is olive drab, and the other side is reflective, so I can choose to either be seen easily or not so much (though the Space Brand blanket olive side is kind of shiny and not that good for concealment, whereas the military surplus one is more subdued on the OD side). I personally never carry a normal tarp, preferring rather one of these and poncho(s) because they are multi purpose (I guess a tarp is really multi-purpose too, but Space Brand blankets and ponchos are MORE multi-purpose).

[Celticwarrior]

I keep several of the cheapies on hand in BOB and car and even FAK, just in case. It isn't optimal, but better than nothing and can offer extra protection or waterproofing in a small easily carried packet at very little space and weight tradeoff. Other things are better if you can carry them, but I am a believer in having options.

[scorch]

managed to get some heatsheet pics

[AlteredMentalStatus]

Cool item is the Land Shark, here is a picture of the land shark on my buddy at a Wilderness survival course I taught to the Texas State Guard Medical Rangers. He is on your right and I'm on the left wearing a DOT trash bag:

023.jpg

[scorch]

Originally Posted by AlteredMentalStatus

Cool item is the Land Shark, here is a picture of the land shark on my buddy at a Wilderness survival course I taught to the Texas State Guard Medical Rangers. He is on your right and I'm on the left wearing a DOT trash bag:

Attachment 1329

Those look quite warm

[shadowwodahs]

The Blizzard Survival Bag and The Blizzard Survival Tube provide total warmth and shelter - anywhere, at any time. Made with Reflexcell™, a new standard in thermal performance. I personally have the Survival Tube because of the extra room. These items are compared to a 40 degree sleeping bag, and after I throw on my down blanket I sure I'll stay pretty warm. I also own several of the emergency blankets, but feel these items are way better and I've made the extra room for them. Also available is a jacket made from the same material, that would be good when on the move. Here's the home page; Blizzard Survival - The New Standard In Lightweight Thermal Protection