The Space Blanket, silvered on one side and solid color on another, is a wilderness standby, useful in a variety of roles. The silvered side is intended to reflect infrared light (a.k.a. radiant heat), increasing the blanket's warmth when it's wrapped around you with the silver side in. Space blankets comes in two basic weights: lightweight emergency blankets, and full-weight personal tarps.
The space blanket hooch in it's simplest incarnation: Snoozing out the
passage of thunder cells on a wildfire near Livengood, Alaska.
SHELTER BASICS: A tarp-weight space blanket can be used to construct a number of personal shelter options. The most useful addition for this is lengths of cord attached at multiple corners. Space blankets also come in square and rectangular shapes. The larger, symetrical shape of the square blankets makes them more versatile, but rectangular blankets are lighter-weight options when your only concern is a sleeping arrangement. Be forewarned: space blankets are not made for durability, and they will eventually fray, tear, or delaminate after repeated heavy use.
Rainshelter. Using strings at the corner and/or side grommets, string the space blanket up so that water drains off it. There are many possible configurations. The key points: make sure you have enough space to lounge underneath it, and make sure the water drains to a place where it won't flow into the shelter. A single space blanket rainshelter often accomodates several people, and perhaps a small fire.
Sunshelter. The principle is the same as with the rainshelter, but turning the silver side up ensures that sunlight is reflected away, making it cooler underneath.
Heat Reflector. In a firecamping situation, comfort can be drastically improved by stringing the space blanket up behind you as a heat reflector, silver side face towards the fire, and sitting or lying on the remaining flap. For best results, another heat reflector of some sort (wall, cliff, tarp, hide) should be positioned on the other side of the fire. Beware: embers can burn holes in your space blanket.
Raingear. Clasp the space blanket over your shoulders, keeping a corner extended over the top of your head, and letting the opposit corner trail down the back of your legs. This works well with a square space blanket.
Bivouac Burrito. Don all your clothes and wrap the space blanket completely around you, silver side in. This made more effect by securing the edges together by tape or "sewing" with regular knife-cuts and a long piece of string. Expect your feet to stick out the bottom.
Groundsheet. Use the space blanket as a tarp.
Signaling Device. Both solid-color and silvered sides of space blankets are excellent aircraft signaling panels. For this reason, carrying a bright color blanket (such as red) may be advisable. You can lay the blanket out in a clearing. If you need to signal ground personnel, you can string the blanket up in trees or on a steep slope. An 8'x8' blanket is visible from a surprising distance. Aircraft may spot it from miles away.
Personal Heat Chimney. Build a fire. Wrap the space blanket around you like a cone. Stand over the fire, funneling heat up through the cone. WARM!
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