Reddit reviews Grabber 8313AWBGR Outdoors Original Space Brand All Weather Blanket: Olive, 5 Feet X 7 Feet, Box
We found 7 Reddit comments about Grabber 8313AWBGR Outdoors Original Space Brand All Weather Blanket: Olive, 5 Feet X 7 Feet, Box. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Use as shelter, prevent hypothermia, ground cover and much moreGrommets in all cornersWeight: 12 oz. Dimensions: 5' x 7'Pound for pound warmer than woolThis amazingly tough laminate of fiber scrim and aluminized plastic reflects back up to 80% of body heatUse as shelterPrevent hypothermiaGround cover and much more
Well since you asked.
Get a quality headlamp (like a Trunite TH10) instead of the one you have picked. Don't forget extra batteries and dont store them in the headlamp. I have had those energizer ones and while not bad for around the house or shop they arent very durable and I would want something a bit tougher for out doors. But this is more of just my opinion, the energizer one work an emergency.
You have three different firestarter kits. Stick with a ferror rod like this one and some cotton balls. Then toss in a 5 pack of bic lighters. Dont need to be more complicated then that.
I would pair the wool blanket with a survival blanket. Or even just carry a good sleeping bag. Just depends how cold it gets at night in the areas you travel.
Skip the Titan bracelet and cord and just buy some paracord at a fraction of the cost.
skip the campsnail, most that stuff is will be junk quality and redundant.
Tent stakes but you have a hammock?
Skip the tactical pen and get a couple pencils. Wont dry up and you can sharpen with your knife.
Those food ration packs taste like garbage. They will work but you could pack granola bars, jerky, nuts, rice, etc. Better for morale.
Skip the life straw/filter bottle and get a sawyer water filter. Fraction of the cost and is highly recommended by everyone who uses them including myself. Also get Stainless steel water bottle locally for a couple bucks. Allows you to boil water if you need to.
Get an Genuine Ames Entrenching Tool. from ebay. Anything but the Ames brand are flimsy junk.
I would go with a Fiskars x7 hatchet instead of one you have picked out.
I would suggest a couple tarps as well. 8x10 is a good size. Just get a couple cheap one from the hardware store. They dont need to be fancy.
After all my recommendations my best advice is to go out and practice. None of this stuff will do you any good if you dont know how to use it. There are many good youtube channels to watch as well. Go out on a nice day and practice fire making, water filtering, preparing food. Then spend the night. Next go out on a colder day, maybe a rainy day.
These are just suggestions, I'm sure there are cheaper or better quality alternatives to these, but it's a good start.
Also, you're a cool brother.
even the cheap ones can do a better job than no blanket at all and just leaving the patient lying on the ground uncovered. also handy if it's raining. i don't know many bikers carrying umbrellas around on their bikes.
these survival blankets are awesome but take up more space.
OP is talking about a stopgap measure for his bike, and space is at a premium. while those blankets might be a gimmick in the eyes of campers and sportsmen, in this particular situation it's way way better than nothing at all. that's all I'm saying.
I used a reflective survival tarp under my sleeping bag while hammock camping and ended up soaking wet. I was warm the whole night, but that tarp didn't allow any evaporation.
Things I would consider mandatory equipment on the bike: everything you need to change a tire (don't forget cotter pins), spare tubes (they're really hard to find, as it turns out, when you're on the road, and not everything can be patched) and a small patch kit, and a bottle of oil. Check your oil every time you gas up, and your tire pressure every morning. Fortunately the tire change kit can largely be divvied up between all of you.
Research the climates and weather of the places you're riding through. This, for me, was absolutely, entirely crucial. You don't want to be riding for hours while shivering, hugging the tank as close as possible to keep warm. And the "hand on the headers" trick is tough to do on KLRs (at least, I think it is) because the engine is so buried.
I'll echo those that have said "less is more" when it comes to equipment. Focus on things with multiple uses: for example, an all-stainless water bottle that you can heat directly on a fire. Packing up the campsite can take a decent amount of time (though I guess it's better if you're not going solo; more hands to spread the work around) so I got pretty good at the little tricks (ex: you can put water directly in the oatmeal packet and then the only thing you have to clean is a spoon). You'd be amazed how important food and water strategy can be.
The seat is uncomfortable (your ass will hate you). Your back might not be too happy either, especially if you're riding with a backpack.
Don't forget a knife. Tarps are awesome -- I had great weather and ended up sleeping under the stars in a blanket/tarp burrito more nights than not. For that purpose I specifically recommend something like this, which is a ruggedized emergency blanket type dealio with one side reflective and one side olive. Again, knowing weather patterns ahead of time is crucial for stuff like this.
> Cold protection (since I live in Canada): • XL MYLATECH Survival Reusable Emergency Thermal Blankets (unfortunately not available through Amazon Canada)
These little space blankets are noisy and flimsy, even the so-called 'reusable' ones. I keep a few of these Titan blankets for single-use or to give out, but I would not depend on them as my primary means of cold protection in a BoB. My preference is a more durable tarp-style mylar blanket e.g. these blankets from Grabber or SOL - much more versatile and reliable.
> Heat protection: • S.O.L. Survive Outdoors Longer 90 Percent Heat Reflective Survival Blanket
This is just another version of a space blanket. You could use this as both cold and heat protection. Just have the reflective side in for cold and out for heat. It's lighter than a tarp-style mylar blanket but not as durable. Depends on whether you're trying to minimize weight or collect items that will stand the test of time. Grabber blankets have stood up to decades of abuse in the field so I decided the weight was worth it.
just fyi I don't think his was hooded
http://www.amazon.com/Grabber-Outdoors-Original-Weather-Blanket/dp/B002CQUA28