In an emergency or survival situation, an emergency blanket, also known as thermal blankets or space blankets, is one of the most compact, helpful tools you can have ready to deploy from your vehicle or backpack.
Emergency blanket is made of thin, heat-reflective plastic that quickly protects someone from the elements, and reflects the person’s body heat that would otherwise be lost to thermal radiation, water evaporation or convection.
In an emergency situation like an accident or fall, things can quickly take a turn for the worse if someone goes into trauma-induced shock, or is suffering from hypothermia.
The compact folded plastic sheet fits snuggly in any backpack, car or first aid kit, and quickly folds out to cover you or a person subjected to the cold or trauma.
In a wilderness survival situation, an emergency blanket can provide protection from the elements, be turned into a make-shift shelter, or fashioned into a reflective SOS beacon, as well as many other creative survival aids and tools.
There are many different brands and styles of an emergency blanket or thermal blankets on the market, some for single-use, and others for robust, compact survival applications. So which one is best for you?
Well, let’s just say the team here at My Gear Expert have your covered! Read on to find out more about the best in an emergency blanket.
Grabber – The Original Space Brand Emergency Blanket
Product Features:
- Reflects and retains 80% of body heat
- Lightweight and durable
- Made in the USA
The Grabber name has been synonymous with an emergency blanket for years. They utilize a robust, four-layer construction of super-insulated materials. These all-weather blankets are designed to retain up to 80% of radiant body heat, and its full-edge binding and grommeted corners make it durable enough to be reusable, perfect for hiking and climbing.
The emergency blanket weighs only 12-ounces, is waterproof and windproof and remains flexible in a below-freezing -20°F. As well as keeping you warm this space blanket can also be used as an emergency tarp to make shelter, A ground cover to keep dry or as a reflective beacon to signal search parties.
Pros:
Approved by the Boy Scouts of America, utilized by a variety of military, rescue and police organizations.
Cons:
Once opened, this blanket will not fold up to its original compact size. This should be taken into consideration when planning climbing or hiking expeditions.
Science Purchase 73MYLARPK20 Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
Product Features:
- Insulated Mylar material
- Weighs only 1.44-ounces
- Pack of 20
These Science Purchase space emergency blanket is great value for a 20-pack of quality, single-use emergency Mylar blankets. Mylar foil, also known as BoPET, is a polyester film with high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparent and reflective properties.
These qualities make it perfect to use as an emergency blanket as has been the most popular medium for the product in first aid, emergency and survival kits since the 1950s. These rugged, durable, insulated Mylar blankets come in lots of 20, an excellent purchase for regular adventurers, community sporting clubs, or to keep in your vehicles for emergencies.
Pros:
Super compact for easy storage, these handy emergency blankets are the size of a standard wallet before deployment. Great value for a 20-pack.
Cons:
This emergency blanket is for single usage. Please be thoughtful of the environment when disposing of them after use.
UST Survival Emergency Blanket/Tarp 2.0
Products Features:
- Tarp with reflective surface
- Corner grommets for tie-downs
- Weighs only 13.5-ounces
This survival emergency blanket is a must for every outdoor adventure enthusiast. This tarp has an orange, high-visibility surface on one side and a light and heat reflective surface on the other. This high-quality thermal blanket is designed specifically for multi-use survival applications.
The reinforced grommeted corners make this tarp perfect for emergency shelters, a windshield, or an emergency sleeping bag in extreme survival conditions. Its three-ply polyethylene, reinforced fabric and metalized polyester structure make it durable and reusable offering years of loyal protection from the harsh elements.
Its light-weight and compact design make it easy to store in your camping or climbing kit. As a result, you can easily store in your boat or vehicle for emergency situations. It can also be used as a waterproof ground cover for your tent or 4WD annex.
Pros:
Durable, multifunctional and reusable. Perfect survival emergency blanket for any adventure or to keep at the ready in a bug out bag.
Cons:
This product only comes in one size and color. This is an emergency and survival utility, not ideal for hunting or for use as camouflage.
S.O.L. Survive Outdoors Longer Reflective Lightweight Emergency Bivy
Product Features:
- Emergency sleeping bag
- Quiet and tear-resistant
- Weighs 3.8-ounces
This emergency sleeping bag, also known as a bivvy is from Mylar and other materials the same as emergency blankets. This robust and compact bivvy can act as an emergency thermal blanket or sleeping bag, it is waterproof, with sealed seams and reflects up to 90% of body heat.
The dual-sided emergency device can also have the reflective lining reversed to dispel heat when trapped in the hot sun with no shelter. It weighs a minimal 3.8_ouunces and packs down into a small carry bag offering reliable, tear-proof use over several adventures.
Pros:
Reliable and durable, as a result offering a space-saving option for emergencies and overnight camping trips.
Cons:
Can be tricky to get back into the carry bag if you lose track of the original folds. Does take some practice.
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