Hello all, I am new, I have lurked for a few days, and am finding slinging to be a fun sport. But to the topic:

I am putting together a survival/primitive camping backpack, and want to know which blanket to get, I have narrowed down my choices to either this:

http://www.galleria-e.com/cgi-bin/Colemans.storefront/en/Product/303101

or this:

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=10121

I am edging towards the wool, lighweight, warm (when wet too, plus I like wool :D) and if it works for the army, it should work for me. A test trip I intend to take will have temps in the low 'teens at night, and I wonder if it will actually keep me warm in combination with a glightish jacket.

If you deem neither blanket suitable, would you kindly point me to some blankets that would be, and are still lightweight (excluding sapce blankets, those are out of the question.)

Hello jellywerker,
Welcome to the site.

When you say low teen, do you talk F or C, in other words, do you talk cool or freezing. That does make a big difference.

The coleman site blanket gives in their descripsion that you need a few for camping. The army surplus site is not as generus with information, but my own experience with ex army blankets, (European) and like woolen blankets, is that they are a nice extra, but not survival gear.

If you go camping in below freezing temps look for a good sleepingbag or at least a modern blanket designed for that kind of temps.
I do not know what a glightish jacket is, I asume it covers you warmly on the upper body, but remember that you legs are going to loose a lot of heat if not properly covered.
Also look into bedding, either natural or modern, small and lightweight, that can save you in freezing temps or make a misserable night into a nightmare if done wrong.

Success with the experiment and enjoy the trip.

Willeke

He proably means usa temps. The first link i have that blanket. It is not very good. It is made for inside a building on a cot. Not out side. If you get a good deal on it well it is fine for a pillow or a ground spread. The other blanket might work. You would proably be better off buy a sleeping bag though.

I'm interested in a blanket as opposed to a sleeping bag for two reasons . One is cost and the other is weight and ease of rolling it up tight . What are your plans for a shelter ? I've camped out for many years using only a sheet of plastic and using dry branches and twine for a "tent" . I use the space blankets only for my super lightweight pack for one nighters only . I'm interested in your final choice . See the thread survival backpack and the sling . I assume you'll have a sling . Another gentleman on this site carried a bow and arrow kit in his pack which I admired . He said he carried broadheads and a string and fabricated the rest out in the woods . I'm going to assemble a "kit" like his .

Wool is supposed to be warm even if wet . That would settle my choice quick . :)

wool is pretty cool. it whicks away water from the skin. now you cant sleep out in the rain, but for a little water wool is good. Its warm too. I have wool cloak and its warmer then most of my coats :)

Wool has long been the choise for outdoor activities in temperate climates. But it has been outclased by manmade fibres in recent years. Most minus freezing sleepingbags nowadays pack smaller than a woolen blanket and are as waterresistant.
In cold climates wool was always used next to fur, because that is much more windproof, and that in itself keeps you better warm.
A (modern) fleece layer with a wind and waterproof outer layer are warmer than wool ever can produce.

If you go for authentic, and above freezing, go for wool.
If you go for below freezing add or replace by modern stuff.
For sleeping a mummy style sleepingbag with the hoodpart closed is the best, I should say only option if you want to pack compact. But fit the sleepingbag in a shop, it should be snug but not tight (when you are at your full growt).

Willeke

Willeke: glightish was a typo, I meant lightish. I am speaking in fahrenheit, I wwasn't thinking about the global members of this board, I'll not be so careless next time :D Also, could you kindly point me to one of those subzero sleeping bags you are talking about?

Fritz: Shelter will be whatever I can make, something along the lines of what you have said, trap+branches+leaves+pine boughs. Also, no sling or bow, they would be useless weight, unless I take them to practice with. I am not good enough for a sling to be of any practical value to me in a survival bag, maybe somdey :D but not now. I have read that thread (part of what sparked me on this.) and I plan to include a breakdown .22 rifle (the henry survival rifle, a few friends have them and say they are great, waterproof case, light, shoot straight, etc...) for (in the "survival" part of the bag's use) hunting rabbits and other small game.

If you can find them, nothing beats a couple of Hudson's Bay wool blankets. They have kept fur trappers and explorers warm for 400 years. I would go with older ones ( 1900). They are thicker and more durable. I use two for Klondike camping, and am toasty.
 Whitney blankets are also good, but not quite as warm.  James Townsend and son sells them. They are worth the investment, especially if you plan on doing this for a long time.
 Aslo, remeber to have a good hat on . You lose 90 percent of your heat out of your head.

Well, the price is a bit out of my range I think, and finding 1900's ones could bee challenging. I'll wait and see what Willeke says.

Thanks , now I'll add a hat to my pack :D

A sling only weighs at most a couple of ounces  :-/

But it wouldn't do me any good unless the rabbits are attacking en masse :/ In which case I could just run around stomping on a few and taking them.

Edit: A blogun perhaps though, I am not bad with them. Say a 26 incher with a few darts, perhaps tipped with a knockout drug oo similar.

I do not keep up with the new developements, so better go to a site where they compare sleepingbags.

The brands are likely different in the usa anyhow.

Using one of those sites will give you comments of users too.

And remember that your reflexes like feeling cold do not work when too cold and that can be deadly.

Willeke

perhaps this?

http://www.dealtime.com/xPC-Black_Pine_Sports_10_Blackstar_Mummy_Bag

About the same weight as a wool blanket, but I wonder how small it can be rolled.

This is one of the sites I wanted to show you.
http://comparestoreprices.co.uk/compare-prices/sleepingbags
click on the sleepingbag name and see the user reports.

Do not trust them if you see no negative reports too.

If you want more sites, google on 'compare sleeping bags' (without ' )

Willeke

Methinks a vango bag then, they have good reviews, seem to have good quality, and are rather light.

Is a vango bag sort of a half of a sleeping bag ? Have you thought of making a custom poncho that could double as a blanket ? :)

For minimalist camping I allways bring a mil. spec. woll blanket nice worm....not flamable they are heavy though

Hehe, I think I found a source for some blankets, perhaps a sleeping bag too :D

I got my older blankets at an Estate sale. Also flea and garage sales are a good source. The 2 there cost me $140 for both, and worth every penny

My friend is getting me a 10pack of wool army blankets :D legally of course.

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2006 at 12:14pm:

I got my older blankets at an Estate sale. Also flea and garage sales are a good source. The 2 there cost me $140 for both, and worth every penny

tey are only worth like 30.oo

Perhaps to manufacture, but they cost about $240 or so new.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=army+wool+surplus+blankets&hl=en&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=unknown

sorry but you got ripped off

No he didn't, he is talking about woolrich hudson bay wool blankets.

Yup, thats right. new ones can be gotten from the Bay, but are almost $200 each American. They also aren't as thick and durable as the old ones.

thats alot of money for a blanket must be warm though

yeah, but it's worth it when you are sleeping in a nylon tent when its 14 below zero.  Most of the time you aren't even aware of the temp. The other thing is that the blanket is much more durable than sleeping bags. And even if they still get soaked, wool still retains 50% of the heat.  

If Im sleeping in -14degrees im bringin a mummybag

Im bringing a good fire  8)

how does one "bring fire" ?

in a lighter 8)

Nothing beats Hudson Bay Blankets. The thicker the better. I have camped out many times with just my Capote and two Bay Co. Bankets and a small reflector fire going and was fine. Be warned. These blankets are heavy!. :)

Big, I do the same thing.
By the way, you " bring" fire in a small dutch oven or other container. You but in sand or fine soil, then put in coals from the fire, then more soil or sand. Cover and carry with you.
 The low o2 content of the container means that the coals burn at a slower rate. When you reach your site, get the firewood ready, and voila! instant firestarter.

I am always impressed by the wealth of knowledge on this site. Hey BadgerDude you are not a student of Tom Brown by any chance are you? :)

Thats a cool trick! :)

  I wish. I've had to learn the old fashioned way. Look it up in the book and try it. Got the scars to prove it too.
 There is a place nearby called Kenneglen, that does serious wilderness survival classes. The lady who runs it spent 5 years living with the Australian Aboriginies.
  Needless to say, we get put through our paces. >:(

I for one would like to hear more about that Lady and her classes. Does she have a website? Thanks  BK

Go to deaheartwood@aol.com

Not sure if you (or anyone is interested) but I came across this site http://www.survival.com/cavecooking-2.htm and I thought of this thread (at least this part of it).  She cooks with a Dutch Oven and I bet that the firestarting "trick" you mention is in this DVD. The other videos they sell look kinda cool.  I think I'm gonna spring for a few.

As far as blankets, has anyone seen this idea? Seems like a neat one to me.

That is a good idea. Thanks! ;D

I'm going to try that idea out . The local dollar store has space blankets on occasion . As for the fleece inner I need a cheap supply . I suppose the design could be modified fot air vents .  8)