Lightweight blanket advice

[SoDak]

I've been thinking a durable, lightweight blanket might be a handy thing to have for hiking and keeping in my truck. I saw some people talking about how they liked using USGI poncho liners for this purpose in the sleep system thread and the poncho liner seems like a good candidate. On the other hand I see Cabelas has this blanket.space blanket I like the idea that this one would suffice as a tarp, plus I could probably get one at my local Cabelas. Anyone have an opinion on which might be better?

[Ak44]

Get both haha they aren't too pricey.

[EchoMirage]

get a space blanket, or several. they probably insulate better then nearly anything else, and have more uses then just a poncho liner. it can be a tarp, ground cover, gear cover, rain fly, overhead cover, etc. waterproof, windproof. only thing is id imagine since they are mylar, they dont breathe at all, and if wrapped up when its extremely cold, you could get quite a bit of condensation on the inside.

[huklbrry]

You could always wrap up the space blanket in the woobie(poncho liner). A USGI wool blanket is also a good thing to have as well as it will insulate even when wet. If you do go with the space blanket, get the heavy duty, reusable ones. They go for about 12-15 bucks or so. Stay away from the thin mylar ones as they tear easily even though they are marketed as "reusable". 3mil. 55 gal. drum liners are also good to have, weigh virtually nothing, and have many uses (insulation included).

Two is one, and one is none.

[Iraq Ninja]

If you can afford it, the Kifaru Woobie is much better than the USGI poncho liner. It is warmer, packs smaller, and feels much nicer.

[SoDak]

If you can afford it, the Kifaru Woobie is much better than the USGI poncho liner. It is warmer, packs smaller, and feels much nicer.

Looks nice, but I'd say it's a bit out of my price range for now. I'm thinking right now I might try to pick up a regular poncho liner and maybe try the sportsman's space blanket later. My local Cabelas had one, but it felt a little lite. It looks like it's miles ahead of those potato chip bag space blankets, but I can't imagine it would insulate very well considering it's so thin. It does look like it would make a nice lightweight tarp for a shelter though.

[LonghunterCO]

I have a space blanket, have had it for years now. It occompanies me and most of my outings. I typicall use is on the inside of my tent (reflective material facing up) with a thremarest on top of that and then me in my bag on top.
They are very durable. Way above the the standard/mylar spaceblanket in durability, but do not pack anyway near as small. After all these years I only have one small hole in it (that I patched with 100mph tape). With this all said I would not want to have it as my only wrap. Maybe down south, but that would not fly out here and at altitude.

[Belmont31R]

You wont beat a poncho liner for size, warmth, and price.

[ra2bach]

after a recent surgery, I woke up covered in a silvery spaceblanket type sheet that was very warm and soft feeling. not like the typical space blanket Mylar feeling at all. I googled the name and it is a called Thermoflect with the website thermoflect dot com...



in my drug induced flirting, I was able to convince my nurse (who was old enough to be my grandmother) to get me one to take home.

I love it, it is very warm and folds down very flat and I keep it in my go bag. I am wanting to get more but so far, no luck sourcing a dealer.
short of doing larceny at the local ER, anyone have any leads on this?

[SoDak]

Two final questions about the poncho liner. How compact can they be folded up and would it be worth finding a new one or is there nothing wrong with a used one?