Just about every outdoor pack has an Emergency Blanket or two. Mostly because they are small, cheap, and light. But are they really that useful? Here’s why I think you should go for an Emergency Bivvy Sack instead.
The Bivvy Sack
A Bivvy Sack (or Bivouac Sack, Bivy Sack, or Bivi) is usually a slip on cover for your sleeping bag to make it warmer or waterproof. An emergency bivvy sack is made so that it can be used by itself. Usually out of synthetic materials that are designed to reflect and hold body heat.
Obviously it’s something great to throw in your Bug Out Bag, but I am thinking it might be most useful for an Urban Survival Bag. It would be a great warmth and weather protection option for an urban survival pack that is usually smaller and might not be made for out right camping, in which case you don’t have a full sleeping bag.
1. Its Reusable
I don’t know about you but I am never going to be able to refold a .79 cent emergency blanket back into that tiny little square. An emergency Bivvy Sack comes with a stuff sack and is made to be reused.
2. Sleeping Bag Style
Emergency blankets are nice but they are awkward in a situation where you need warmth around your whole body. Square blankets are great for laying on the couch in the winter, but when you need full protection from the elements a sleeping bag style is really the best way to go.
Not to mention you could just slip it over your full sleeping bag anytime you need to for added warmth or water protection.
3. Help Other People
Not that any Survival Cache readers would be caught unprepared, but you could use an emergency bivvy sack as a sleeping bag if you had to. Assuming all our great readers are prepared, you could use it for helping out someone else who isn’t prepared.
AMK Heatsheet Emergency Bivvy
AMK (Adventure Medical Kits) makes a great one called the Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy. It only weights 3.8 ounces and comes with a stuff sack. It costs more than a survival blanket, but since it is much more substantial and reusable that’s not a big deal.
AMK Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy
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My name is Lucas and I run SurvivalCache along with the help of several great contributing authors. You can read more on the
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I am going to try to get one of those soon. I think that it would also be a great "quikie" shelter in a wilderness survival situation. It would eleminate the stress of trying to find a shelter the first night in the woods. Although I would also keep a space blanket in my bag for long term shelters (can be used as a small tarp).
Yes, it is definitely more useful than a space blanket for a full nights shelter.
However, if at all possible you should try to find something else to put over you if you plan to use if for the whole night, to keep the dew off.
A space blanket is good, but like you mentioned a tarp is probably better for long term. Long term being a couple of days, before you can put together something more substantial.
my down filled cold weather sleeping bag has a older style canvas bivi on it if you treat that with some water repelant it is a great bivi I like it because of the OD green it blends in well with the foliage around my area so i just slip into it and role under a bush and walla no one can find you unless they are looking for you that is.
I was at FT Irwin in the winter one time and had my seeping bag stolen. I could have used a bivy sack ,but they didn't make them back in the 80's as far as I know. Having one in my pocket would have help get trough a freezing cold night.. I tried to wrap my shelter half around me but it didn't help much. I managed to cozy up to next a heater in one of the tents. long night.
There is not much worse than spending the night freezing. Glad you got through that night alright.
These little bivvy sacks are so useful for an emergency shelter, or a sleeping bag cover for added protection.
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