Space Blankets

“Anyone else use Space Blankets as their shelter? I so seldom encounter rain in the Sierras (Never so far in the years I've been backpacking) that I'm planning to just pack a Space Blanket to rool up in if I encounter any showers.

Anyone ever experience a storm from a Space Blanket? The only storms I've been in in the Sierras were the 2 hour long afternoon cloud bursts (on camping trips) where I usually can sit them out, than dry stuff out afterwards... There pretty cool :)

How good are Space Blankets for that emergency night time storm?”

“I ate lunch under one of these things during a snowshoe day hike when it started to rain. What a miserable day that was.”

“They work get in a pinch and if you don't mind skimpin' on the shelter. It will be a low slung setup when protection is need the most since there is not a whole lot of blanket to begin with. I never like the 'burrito' style of protection your suggested. Very limited.

I pack one of those and Cyclopes bivy on occassion. The SB will either be a gound cloth when stars are out or a shelter for me and gear when rain is a comin. My lower half tends to get the least protection. Its different.

You got a bivy?”

“I use a floorless tent most of the time. I use a thermolite emergency (space) blanket for a ground cloth. It is not one of those cellophane $3.00 jobs. It cost me $10.00 from campmor and is made of tyvek or something just like it. Very light, very durable, waterproof, reflective coating and it has first aid instructions printed all over it. I carry one on every day hike. It could be (and has been) a tarp.

Emergency Blanket

I have the emergency bivy sack too.”

“Hey thanks for the links, my space blanket is about 10oz, but doesn't have those instructions on it... I like the looks of that emergency bag.”

“In your summit pack, leave behind that open ended space blanket because if the winds are strong, the ends of it will just flap everywhere. You'll waste too many calories trying to keep it around you.

Just in case you're stuck on some glacier overnight, the other space blanket that you can step in is a better way to go. It completely wraps around you to keep your body heat nearby.”