Anyone ever actually used a Space Blanket?

[Rizzy]

I'm ready to purge my possibles pouch and the space blanket seems like a good candidate. Has anyone ever had to actually use one? Who still carries one?

 

[fillthefreezer]

i took mine out for ahwile but it made its way back in as its great for laying meat on when boning out...
other than that negative...

 

[orionthehunter1]

I've never used it but I still have one in my emergency kit. I thought about dumping it but figured if I did I would then find my self in a situation where I would actually need it. They don't weigh that much so I think I will just keep it in there for now.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I used mine after I killed a bull in 08. I forgot to pack my tarp. It rained half the night.The space blanket save my bacon. They are so damn light, why not pack one.

 

[Bearhunter]

I used mine for the first time in 18 years, this last season while goat hunting. After a mishap with the fire and my Thermarest Xlite, I was left sleeping on the ground with now minimal insulation between me and the frozen earth. So I brought out the emergency blanket and lined the bottome of my sleeping bag with it to radiate the heat from the bottom of my body back at me, worked fairly well... I would hate to be left with one as my only means of heat retention if in severe elements thou....

 

[muleman]

Never needed to use one. However the GIF tells me to keep two, one in the kill kit and one with first aid supplies.

 

[justin davis]

I've spent a few shivery nighted cocooned up in one. mostly have used them on fires when we had to sleep out unexpectedly, I think they are good to have. In case you need one.

 

[Manosteel]

used to always have one but never used one. So the last few years haven't packed one. But now that I think about it I could have used it the last couple of years to lay boned out meat on. I think I will folllow mulemans advise and keep one in the kill kit.

 

[jls]

I used one for two nights on a spring camping trip last year when my 10yr old forgot to bring his sleeping bag. I gave him my bag and wrapped up in the space blanket and tried to sleep, but didn't sleep much between chasing bears out of our camp and the shivering. I continue to bring one and hope I never need to use it.

 

[cali_hornhunter]

I've spent a few shivery nighted cocooned up in one. mostly have used them on fires when we had to sleep out unexpectedly, I think they are good to have. In case you need one.

Agree with Justin I always keep one in my pack as a last resort but also I keep one on me in my web gear during fire season when we have nights out on the fire line when it can get chilly it works better than nothing

 

[Rizzy]

I always carried one thinking I would use it in the event I broke my leg and had to spend the night where I lay, but I question the effectiveness on this, especially with the clothing I carry theses days. It seems the clothing might even outperform the blanket anyways. I already carry a trash bag in both my possibles and kill kit and rarely use those in all actuality.

The space blankets weigh nothing, but there is a little bit of bulk to them, probably better to keep it and maybe even add another.....lol

 

[pyroducksx3]

I never carry one but do carry fire starter. I've never seen a survival show where they pull one of these out to save the day. Carrying to lay meat out on isn't a bad idea though and have the dual purpose of emergency use. I have used a piece of the 1$ plastic picnic table cloth to lay my meat out on and that has worked well

 

[Snyd]

I've used em to siwash on the mtn side after darkness and a storm closed in on a sheep hunt. Helped some. They're not for being comfortable that's for sure but they do help some.

A couple times I've used them to cover meat sheep hunting above treeline. Meat in breathable game bags layed out on a pile of rocks for circulation and then covered with a space blanket. The space blanket reflects the heat from the sun and helps keeps rain off. You just need to be careful with it and rock it down but leave some space for airflow since they tear fairly easily.

 

[bigfish b.c]

have sleeped in them a few times always sheep hunting,after killing my big ram right at dark 5 miles from camp.have found rams late in evening & just stayed all night to be on then at first light too,i always pack the full bag not the blanket.

 

[AZ Ron]

I carry a lightweight space blanket and trash bag for emergency and post kill use. Figure if I absolutely need it in an emergency use, I could fashion some type of shelter with the space blanket (burrito, 'blanket', lean to, etc) and the trash bag (fill with pine needles and/or leaves for 'insulated' mat, 'poncho', pack cover, or half bivy by sticking my legs in the bag with 'insulation' added).

So far I've only used the space blanket for laying meat on while breaking down the animal, and the trash bag for wrapping around caped out heads to keep my pack a little cleaner while packing out.

I've thought about packing one of these if I was truly concerned about an emergency bivy, but so far the GIF hasn't convinced me to do it...

The idea of adding 9 oz to my pack isn't appealing and keeps the GIF at bay.

Ron

 

[Gman]

I saw an episode of dual survival where they lined a dug out tree with the space blanket and then closed it off the space with clear plastic. Outside they built a huge bonfire. The heat bounced off the space blanket and was trapped by the plastic and they were toasty warm! That's all that comes to mind when I think of a space blanket.

I think this sticks in my brain because like the OP I used to carry one around and never had used it in all my time afield.

 

[bowinhand]

I carry a cheap-o in my pack when just on hikes and an actual 3-lam space blanket when on a scouting or hunting trip. Always have a way to make a fire if stuck out over night.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Earlier on I carried one, only used it once and it was a miserable night tossing and turning shivering cold, sounded like a mouse trying to fight its way out of a potato chip bag.
Decided for what I do I don't need one as I have a shelter, or tarp, or plastic, or a sleeping bag with me anyways.

 

[TXCO]

I think the key is if you have another form of shelter or warmth you dont need it. It can serve a purpose on days trips or if youre leaving camp but if your bivying, it is only needed in a kill kit.

 

[Rizzy]

I saw an episode of dual survival where they lined a dug out tree with the space blanket and then closed it off the space with clear plastic. Outside they built a huge bonfire. The heat bounced off the space blanket and was trapped by the plastic and they were toasty warm! That's all that comes to mind when I think of a space blanket.

I think this sticks in my brain because like the OP I used to carry one around and never had used it in all my time afield.

I remember seeing that and was thinking that was probably the best way to use one.