Wool or survival blanket?

Sufler

Sufler

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Setting the availability of vehicle space aside, which is a better choice to keep in the car for "just in case"? Car breaks down and your stuck on a road in a snow storm, as one example. Would you rather have a surplus wool blanket or a survival blanket (heat sheet reflective)?

Please share your reasons why you'd choose one over the other.

Thanks.

:thumbup:
 
Wool. Survival blanket blocks wind and rain, which vehicle does better, and stops radiant heat loss -- less than heat loss by convection slowed by dead air trapped in and beneath blanket. Better would be a sleeping bag.
 
I carry a survival blanket in my car. Used it once all ready at an accident that I drove up to. The one I have has the reflective on one side, filled with thinsulate and a wind proof outside. Grommets and all. It is called MPI All Weather Emergency Survival Blanket. Great for keeping one in a car. I also keep a small space blanket in my glove box.
 
I put one of our sleeping bags in the trunk, covered in a garbage bag, and I have a smaller mystery material blanket that we use for camping rolled in the back seat. I have several of those heat reflecting emergency blankets, but if I have the space I'll take something much warmer and more comfortable. There is spending a miserable night in the car, or a less miserable night.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Wool. Survival blanket blocks wind and rain, which vehicle does better, and stops radiant heat loss -- less than heat loss by convection slowed by dead air trapped in and beneath blanket. Better would be a sleeping bag.
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This.

And a down-filled sleeping bag stuffed in a compression sack is likely no bigger, and probably smaller, than a wool blanket.
 
I keep an old fleece blanket in the trunk ... it's a no-name brand but it's cheap, thick and warm.
 
Both! I have both in my rig. I've used the space blanket for ground cloth and shelter. Wool for warmth. I always test my gear in a simulated situation so I don't have to learn the hard way when it happens for real. Trust me you'll want both and more!

Staying in a vehicle without fuel to run the heater (window cracked open of course) is a death trap in cold. It becomes a big ice box. Too confining and nothing to occupy the body and mind. Taking the blankets I built a warming reflective fire, a quick shelter to block wind and snow and used both blankets nearby the car so I can observe it for security and rescue. Plus I can use 12 v to charge lights and phone. The fire and blankets are substantially warmer with a quickly assembled shelter.

I keep both in a duffle bag with my water filter wrapped up inside to mitigate freezing the filter.
 
Smithhammer said:
This.

And a down-filled sleeping bag stuffed in a compression sack is likely no bigger, and probably smaller, than a wool blanket.
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As a brief aside, i'd recommend not storing any sleeping bag in a compression sack for longer than a day. The insulation will become permanently compressed eliminating it's insulative properties. While down-fill resists this compression slightly longer than synth bags, eventually it too will be permanently damaged. Unlike synth bags (which retain some usefulness even when the insulation is compressed), down-fill has no redeeming qualities once the down fibers are broken/destroyed.

I am a *huge* down-fill sleeping bag fan. For truly cold weather camping down simply cannot be beat. However for car use, i use worn-out synthetic sleeping bags and just keep them loosely stored in the 'trunk' area.
 
Why either or?

For me the answer is both.
They serve different purposes

A disposable space blanket significantly cuts the wind chill factor, as it protect from cooling from the wind and it can be rain resistant
The blanket insulates from the cold, and can be synthetic or wool as it is an emergency item
 
fmajor007 said:
As a brief aside, i'd recommend not storing any sleeping bag in a compression sack for longer than a day. The insulation will become permanently compressed eliminating it's insulative properties. While down-fill resists this compression slightly longer than synth bags, eventually it too will be permanently damaged. Unlike synth bags (which retain some usefulness even when the insulation is compressed), down-fill has no redeeming qualities once the down fibers are broken/destroyed..
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Good point. While I've certainly left down bags in a compression sack for more than a day with no ill effects, it's not advisable for storage. Loosely stored in a large pillow case or something similar works.
 
fmajor007 said:
However for car use, i use worn-out synthetic sleeping bags and just keep them loosely stored in the 'trunk' area.
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If a synthetic bag is worn out and has lost it's loft, I don't see any downside in keeping it compressed for storage in the car. It's not like it can loose any more loft.
 
Quirt said:
Both! I have both in my rig. I've used the space blanket for ground cloth and shelter. Wool for warmth. I always test my gear in a simulated situation so I don't have to learn the hard way when it happens for real. Trust me you'll want both and more!
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Prudent.

[qupte]Staying in a vehicle without fuel to run the heater (window cracked open of course) is a death trap in cold. It becomes a big ice box.[/quote]

And how does the vehicle generate this extra cold?

[qupte]Too confining and nothing to occupy the body and mind. Taking the blankets I built a warming reflective fire, a quick shelter to block wind and snow and used both blankets nearby the car so I can observe it for security and rescue.[/quote]

Smithhammer said:
This.

And a down-filled sleeping bag stuffed in a compression sack is likely no bigger, and probably smaller, than a wool blanket.
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You constantly perspire. It is more or less obvious, but it goes on 24/7 unless there is 100% relative humidity at your skin. When warm, moist air reaches dew point, it condenses into liquid water. Depending on outside temp, that condensation can be inside a sleeping bag. If condensation is inside a down bag, it steadily loses loft. Same occurs if the air is damp. Down bags are not easily dried out in field conditions in much of North America. Polyester batting is bulkier and heavier but, as it is hydrophobic, not subject to absorbing water. (Condensation can freeze inside or on a bag if it's cold enough.)

pinnah said:
If a synthetic bag is worn out and has lost it's loft, I don't see any downside in keeping it compressed for storage in the car. It's not like it can loose any more loft.
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Loss of loft is a process. The longer polyester is compressed, the more it cold forms into the compressed shape. I suppose there is an end point.
And if it is pouring rain or showing heavily or strong winds?
 
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I do mine a l different. I carry a survival blankets, and a wool capote made from heavy wool blankets. It can be be worn or wrapped up in and takes no more space than a normal wool blanket. This is mine, being worn by the guy who sewed it up for me.

IMG954672.jpg
 
Just get both, you can use one based on the situation. Or if it is snowing, use the survival blanket for a covering to keep your wool from getting wet, and use the wool to stay warm.
 
An old fashioned Wool blanket bedroll with canvas cover. It is heavy, but in a car it is not that big of a deal.
 
Sticking to the OPs question, I'll take the wool. Warm when wet, fire resistant, and does'nt crinkle. In other words it'll form around ones body better.
One thing is for certain, til you've had to do this in every situation you can think of, you can't be certain what you've got will work. Staying in the vehical might not be so good if there is a chance you'll be hit by another car or worse, a snow plow. Personally, if there are woods near by I'm goin in and buiding a BIG fire. On the Prairie it would be a whole different tune. Fact is just a blanket won't get you through the night in sub freezing temps, but it's better than nothing at all IMO and more gear in the winter is better.
 
mewolf1 said:
Sticking to the OPs question, I'll take the wool. Warm when wet
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To be more correct, it's "warmer" than anything else when wet - however, it's still not warm. It's about as bad as being naked and dry, which would still suck in most cases. You're better off not being wet ;)
 
Anybody tried the Harbor Freight wool blankets?
 
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