(E) Night out with a wool blanket


A

abo4ster

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Wool blankets are a fantastic piece of equipment. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of published information in one place on their use in the woods. The video below will hopefully help you learn more about things to consider in wool blankets, bedding configurations, and how to use as a coat.

“The warmest blanket for its weight is not a close-woven one, but one that is loose-woven and fluffy…” - Horace Kephart, 1917

The goal of this BushClass Elective is for you to spend the night out with just the wool blanket. That being said, there are no temperature ratings for Wool Blankets… there are just too many variables of which I tried to explain those qualities to consider in a blanket. In addition, everyone and every environment are different. It should be worth noting, your first layer of shelter is your clothing, not the wool blanket.

If you have NOT slept in the woods without a sleeping bag before, and/or you are NOT familiar with the five heat loss mechanisms, Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Respiration, and Evaporation; strongly suggest you learn and plan to address each before you embark on this class. Doing this exercise in a northern latitude, you will need to consider ground insulation, fire, and/or shelter (depending on your clothing, time of year, and environment/elevation). You may use a tarp or poncho to create or supplement a shelter or make an all natural shelter . NO hammocks or enclosed tents please.

The purpose of BushClass is to get out and learn, not DIE from hypothermia. If you are unsure of your skill set, please bring a plan B, a properly rated sleeping bag with insulated pad so you can escape to its warmth if needed.


EDIT:

Super shelter, while enclosed, is allowed and maybe a smart idea.

You may use a pad if you have done the (I) Ground Insulation Student Practice.



Link to Student Lesson

Note: Bushcraft USA and its affiliates are not liable for any of the information presented by the instructors in this class. Some of these activities are inherently dangerous so please exercise caution and consult with a physician as well as a trained professional before attempting these activities. This class is not intended to provide you with any official certifications and does not substitute for professional hands on training.
 
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good information and well thought out. getting old though I could use a little more volume
 
Do you guys have the names of any specific wool blankets or links for those of us who are new to wool blankets? I know people used to go for the italian wool blankets, but those are becoming quite scarce.
 
It says no enclosed shelters such as hammocks or tents, would we be allowed to sleep in a hammock on the ground with no tarp simply to use its mosquito net? If I don't do this one before late spring/summer a net is gonna be needed badly in our part of the world.


Edit: Out of curiosity I asked my wife how they used to do this (think Kurosawa for a visualization of the time period I guess) and the answer was the primitive version of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_coil. And also interestingly enough they used to wear heavy poncho type garments made from rice stalks which also doubled as a shelter, very similarly to the wool blanket in this lesson. Would still like to know if I can use a mosquito net though. ;)
 
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Great lesson abo. Am I to understand using a sleeping pad with the wool would be a nogo for this lesson?
 
Looking forward to this one. Gotta hurry. Temps rising fast down here.:)
 
That jetpack vid was awesome. Well done. Ive slept quite a few nights with my wool blanket. I have the Italian one. Its also the blanket that I use at the station every shift.. My PSK/repair kit has 3 blanket pins in it. They come in handy. Got em at tractor supply in case anyone needs some.
 
cloudraker said:
Lol the green monk. Very good presentation btw.
Click to expand...

When I tried mine on around the house, my wife called me "Maudie Frickett."

Some of you may remember Jonathan Winters' character of an old woman that he played back in the '70s.

Thanks for the video and demonstration of a great and versatile piece of gear.
 
Super shelter, while enclosed, is allowed and maybe a smart idea.

You may use a pad if you have done the (I) Ground Insulation Student Practice.

"Jet Pack" will be part of a future advanced class.


Will add this to the first post... Thanks, Chris
 
It was 70 degrees here last night. Is it ok to use the wool blanket as a pillow? lol

Kiddin'! That question doesn't need an answer. :)
 
I have made a full on sleeping bag out of one and a half blankets and it has doubled as a cloak and as a pack - would this be allowable for use in this lesson?
With tarp and groundsheet as a "Hudson Bay" pack
DSCF5987.jpg

Deployed for sleeping (with a detachable silk liner in place)
DSCF5983.jpg


Or is it a single, unaltered blanket only?
 
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John Fenna said:
Or is it a single, unaltered blanket only?
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The idea is a single blanket, but that is awesome and something we can learn from so I would say YES. Most folks we use a single blanket, so its all good!
 
Cheers for that :)
I will post on the general forum (somewhere) about the sleeping bag for all to see but as I also use a blanket cloak on a regular basis I will post pics of that as well when it comes to sleeping in a blanket. :)
As I go to work today (teaching bushcraft to folk recovering from mental health issues, down on a freezing estuary) I will be using 2 converted blankets - I (double bed size merino) has been converted under my sewing machine into a Swandri type shirt and a wool lined shooting type vest, the other (a Dutch Army Blanket) is my spare warmwear in the pack and has been converted into a hooded smock with a lace up front... I like blankets in lots of different guises :)
edit - thread posted in "self made gear" :)
 
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cellis said:
It says no enclosed shelters such as hammocks or tents, would we be allowed to sleep in a hammock on the ground with no tarp simply to use its mosquito net? If I don't do this one before late spring/summer a net is gonna be needed badly in our part of the world.


Edit: Out of curiosity I asked my wife how they used to do this (think Kurosawa for a visualization of the time period I guess) and the answer was the primitive version of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_coil. And also interestingly enough they used to wear heavy poncho type garments made from rice stalks which also doubled as a shelter, very similarly to the wool blanket in this lesson. Would still like to know if I can use a mosquito net though. ;)
Click to expand...

Sorry I missed this, have been using my phone while travelling is the excuse I am going with... :o

Yes, if you can improvise a bug net, that is OK. Folks in the southwest U.S. may have an advantage to this one in the summer, with almost no mosquitoes and some areas being mild even at night.
 
Ok I have a super dumb question. I know nothing about wool blankets. Had one that someone had left here at the house when we moved in 9 years ago but it has become very tatere and was given to my son to use to play army. When looking at buying blankets is the more wool the better? I've noticed some have 90%, 70%,50%, 45%. I assume the higher wool content is better?
 
kyhunt said:
Ok I have a super dumb question. I know nothing about wool blankets. Had one that someone had left here at the house when we moved in 9 years ago but it has become very tatere and was given to my son to use to play army. When looking at buying blankets is the more wool the better? I've noticed some have 90%, 70%,50%, 45%. I assume the higher wool content is better?
Click to expand...

I would think the more the better. If you are comparing several blankets you need to look at the weave, bulk and fluff. Depending on what you can afford and/or the opportunity before you, and what you intend to use the blanket for, a blend maybe a compromise for other important features. Size is another one. Would be silly to buy a 100% wool blanket just because it is 100% and then not have it fit you as an example. Not a dumb question at all. Hope that helps.
 
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