That's good information. I would have thought that water wouldn't effect them. Glad to know this ahead of time.

 

I stay away from the cheap silver ones. Look for the orange ones from Adventure Medical Kits. They are a few dollars more, but reusable and more rugged, plus they only take up a little more space than the cheap silver ones.

AMK Heatsheet

AMK Bivvy

 

Are you sure it was the water?

 

I know that even without getting wet, space blankets degrade over time. You have to replace the cheap ones every few years or so. If you don't, you might very well pull it out one day and it will be in shreds. The constant compression from being in pockets and backpacks splits the sheets along the folds.

 

Hmm, I never knew that. I have some that are 10-15 years old I should probable inspect!!

 

yikes i'm going to inspect mine right now!

 

Yes the adventure medical and heatsheet blankets work much much better but do not compress as small as the cheaper ones. Deffinately rotate them every three years or so. One more note space blankets arent fire retardant at all lets just say they dissolve, like to stick to your skin, and create 2nd degree burns. How I know this information dont ask .

 

Good to know.

Space blankets are going on the rotation lists right now.

I'll bet in ideal conditions they would keep for a very long time though. Not compressed, out of the sun, etc...

 

I have never had this problem, and have used one in the rain before.

I thought the aluminum was in the middle of two polyester layers? thus making it impossible to wash off...

Maybe you got a some imitation space blanket or something...

 

Thanks. I did not know that.
I'm gonna check mine just in case.

Robert.

 

Recently I came across some "Mylar" used to hang in the window. In the instructions it was stated to keep it from getting wet. After that I suspected
that the knock-off blanket would do the same.
They really should put warnings on them. People could die from them falling apart in a wet environment.

 

get the laminated aluminum military casualty blanket instead
much better heat reflection
last longer also in diverse/adverse conditions

 

Update:

I got my once used Coleman brand emergency blanket out the other day, washed it in water, all the reflective covering still there.

Then I got some dish soap and a green scouring pad and gave it a bit of a scrub. Silver covering gone. So perhaps the alumina isnt in between two polyester layers as I first thought..

I also noticed there was no reflective covering where it had been creased.

I have about 10 of these blankets, the rest are still in their packaging, several are quite a few years old, and they all are still fine.

Additionally I saw on a related thread people saying they tore easy, well I tried to tear mine, and while possible, it was quite difficult. Given the thickness/compactness of it I think they are quite durable, certainly moreso than the cheap $2 garbage bag material ponchos.

Anyway, just thought I would add my additional 2c (i'm up to 4c now )

 

Take a look at the Heatsheets Emergency Blankets. They material is stronger and less noisey than the standard mylar emergency blanket.

Heatsheets® Survival Blanket - One or Two Person: Link: http://www.readypro.biz/heatsheets-survival-blanket.html

Heatsheets® Emergency Blanket - One Person : Link: http://www.readypro.biz/heatsheets-emergency-blanket.html

Heatsheets® Emergency Bivvy: Link: http://www.readypro.biz/heatsheets-emergency-bivvy.html

 

Before being used, how compact (size - width, length, and height) is the one person emergency blanket?

 

5.25" X 3" X .75" not including the semi-hard case

6.5" X 4" X 1.25" including the semi-hard case

 

Does anyone know where to get military issue space blankets

 

first post. hope we learn something from eachother

i found these places to buy casualty blankets, they look like the right ones:
http://store.colemans.com/cart/emergencycasualty-blanket-us-gi-p-727.html

http://www.armygear.net/ag/store/00291.html

http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-9069.asp

and this place is having an amazing sale on mylar blankets, less than a buck each if you buy bulk:
http://www.mcrmedical.com/category/silver-space-blankets.html

Im thinking of a million things i can do with 50 space blankets. pretty exite about lining my tarp house in the woods with it, double wall fancy and bright! :

 

Military space blankets come in two forms. Simple OD green/mylar laminate 4'x5'+/- tarp or the space blanket 5-6' lightweight duty tarp, OD green, mylar laminate ripstop.

I have to roll my sleeping bag out diagonal, they are not for big folks..... Both are great- one is compact, one is rugged enough to use as a tent floor liner/protector/tarp. Or one lightweight survival bedroll... They make good lean to shelters also. Reflect heat of fire down on thee. Covered with some pine boughs and lashed strong, survive all winter long semi-permanant shelter... Tarps are great for building with

I've found the USGI ones on ebay for cheaper than surplus stores, and theyre hard to find... The quality is pretty good and they dont de-laminate

Our fireproof survival shelters are like aluminum blanket burrito bags. One man tent. The mylar on them delaminates, looks like graphite dust-- making it unable to withstand the forest canopy burn, not 1500f resistant anymore... Need to be inspected, replaced.