Blankets vs sleeping bags
- Thread starter myotis
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We have a pretty grey Hudson Bay blanket - but the dearest wife would be doing slaughtering if it was even suggested we took it out camping
Echos of my previous experiences of blankets where the only ones my mother would let me use were the old worn out ones that seemed to have all the weight and none of the warmth.
This time around our "best" blankets will be the ones I just bought for camping, and my wife and I will both have one
Graham
I have seen a lot of good quality Pendletons on the bay - some going very affordably - but never had any luck snagging one yet
Those alpacas are nice
Yes, I look at them now and again, as well as the Dockers shirts.
Graham
It seems, according to an email from the seller, that these are also 100% Alpaca (Rustic Alpacawhatever that is).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....go=DR&its=S%2BI%2BSS&itu=ISS%2BUCI%2BSI&otn=3
Note this vendor sells two very similar blankets, with a $10 difference in price. The cheaper one is 60% alpaca/40% wool.
As for the blankets that I bought last night, I have now had an email saying they have been shipped. I have also had an apology and refund of $9 in response to my email pointing out that the additional 10% discount for buying two blankets the same colour had not been applied. For those not following the thread, the blankets I bought are not the ones linked to above, but this one:
http://www.great-gift-ideas-etc.com..._Blanket_Throw_Soft_Gold_and_Cream_Color.html
Also note that if I had been quicker off the mark I could have got a further 10% off by joining their free buyers club.
Graham
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....go=DR&its=S%2BI%2BSS&itu=ISS%2BUCI%2BSI&otn=3
Note this vendor sells two very similar blankets, with a $10 difference in price. The cheaper one is 60% alpaca/40% wool.
As for the blankets that I bought last night, I have now had an email saying they have been shipped. I have also had an apology and refund of $9 in response to my email pointing out that the additional 10% discount for buying two blankets the same colour had not been applied. For those not following the thread, the blankets I bought are not the ones linked to above, but this one:
http://www.great-gift-ideas-etc.com..._Blanket_Throw_Soft_Gold_and_Cream_Color.html
Also note that if I had been quicker off the mark I could have got a further 10% off by joining their free buyers club.
Graham
Hi Graham, i do normally have a fire going all night long as i usually build an open fronted shelter,i have never did the blanket only thing,ie without a fire as i think that would be hard going unless you build a solo kennel shelter,meaning that your body heat would build up in the shelter keeping you warm and the elements out.
Also i just hate being cold and will do anything to be warm and comfortable.
Cheers Stuart.
I have been meaning to make some sort of canas bed roll, like you describe, for years, but never got around to it. What is your quilt made from, and you say blankets (plural) which,together with the canvas bag , suggests a pretty heavy duty set up.
Graham
The reason I question blankets is because I came home from school one day and found mom had thrown out all our bed blankets and gone over to Duck down quilts on our beds so I've not used one at home in over 40 years. I did use them in the Scouts and remember being cold, then mom came to the rescue and got me my first down bag.
I've a HBC blanket I had as a birthday present off an American stove collector (after a blanket V sleeping bag debate on the stove forum) which we use as a throw over on a sofa and my one year old grandson seems happy enough with it over him if he has a nap, and for you UK members there are some very high quality Welsh wool blankets out there I'm told.
I've a HBC blanket I had as a birthday present off an American stove collector (after a blanket V sleeping bag debate on the stove forum) which we use as a throw over on a sofa and my one year old grandson seems happy enough with it over him if he has a nap, and for you UK members there are some very high quality Welsh wool blankets out there I'm told.
Apparantly qiviut from the muskox is the warmest wool and it's light too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiviut
Maybe these guys can make a blanket for you? http://www.moskusdesign.no/index.php
Maybe these guys can make a blanket for you? http://www.moskusdesign.no/index.php
Richard,
I can remember freezing in blankets as well, but as I said elsewhere the only blankets we were allowed to use were the worn out ones, and even the "best" blankets were still low cost ones. A move to down sleeping bags and down quilts was wonderful, and until this last month or so, I had never given blankets any serious thought.
Since then, I have discovered a lot about blanket material and while I can't see them being a realistic replacement for the more extreme uses, they do seem worth thinking about for everyday camping/bushcrafting.
Strangely, I have now replaced my quilt at home with blankets and I am sleeping much better than I have ever done. For as long as I can remember I have slept badly, and since going back to blankets I am sleeping all night, and not tossing and turning to the same extent. This is a mixed blessing as I am also waking up sore along the side I am lying on, giving the impression I haven't moved all night.
Since noticing this apparent improvement in sleeping, I have discovered a lot of claims for woolen blankets (much of it apparently coming from Welsh univeristies) improving sleep due to their temperature and moisture regulatory capabilities compared to other materials. You will gather I am becoming a bit of a blanket enthusiast
As for welsh blankets, we bought a National Trust travel rug made in Wales and its a lovely bit of material. Last year we bought what appeared to be an identical rug from the National Trust for Scotland (similar label, just "Made in Scotland" instead of "Made in Wales"). However, and as a Scot it grieves me to say it, the Scottish made rug isn't a patch on the Welsh made one. I am comforting myself with the thought that this must be an exception
What does the HBC stand for?
Graham
If I were from New Zealand, I might be tempted to say that Possum wool is the warmest there is !!
I think the more I look into this, the more it seems there is a massive potential for wool that most of us have ignored as we have only had bad experiences with blankets, and not thought beyond the down (or synthetic) sleeping bag options.
I think I've just got myself a new hobby.
Graham
Thanks, I should have been able to work that out. Its a shame the license stops them being sold in the Uk, as it seems daft to ship them all the way from the UK to Canada and then ship them back again.
I think I might give the Capote a miss mind you
Graham
Thanks, I saw them but I think if I was going for a sheeps wool blanket, I suspect the dutch army ones at £12 for grade 1 are going to be hard to beat (unless you wanted somting authentic looking for re-enactments of course)
Graham
These guys seem to do similar blankets to sutlers for less
http://www.abimelech.co.uk/fabrics_blankets.htm
http://www.abimelech.co.uk/fabrics_blankets.htm
I love cheap wool blankets, provided they're 100% wool. They can save your life (and have done so for millions and millions of people.)
The Hudson Bay blankets are fantastic, but kind of pricey. I've handled them and know people who have used them and love them. And too heavy for backpacking.
I've personally had more Pendleton blankets than a human should be allowed (pricey too, but not as bad as HBC) and loved them all. Also pretty heavy.
BUT! If money were no object and you wanted the best blanket or matchcoat you would want to go to an individual crafts person. In the US, I think the finest hand woven matchcoats come from Wilde Weavery -- www.wildeweavery.com/home.htm
CJ Wilde does exceptional work -- I've got some sashes and straps that she's done. Amazing quality. No matchcoat yet... someday....
The costs are about in line (or very slightly higher) than a new Pendleton or HBC, but the quality of a handwoven (tight, tight, tight) blanket by a craftsperson is unbelievable.
So here is what I would suggest of the BCUK brain trust. Rumor has it you know a little bit about weaving there in the UK and I'll bet you can find individual weavers who can do you up a magnificent matchcoat for a decent price.
Whenever possible, I try to go with craftspeople over big companies.
Anybody got links to individual weavers there?
The Hudson Bay blankets are fantastic, but kind of pricey. I've handled them and know people who have used them and love them. And too heavy for backpacking.
I've personally had more Pendleton blankets than a human should be allowed (pricey too, but not as bad as HBC) and loved them all. Also pretty heavy.
BUT! If money were no object and you wanted the best blanket or matchcoat you would want to go to an individual crafts person. In the US, I think the finest hand woven matchcoats come from Wilde Weavery -- www.wildeweavery.com/home.htm
CJ Wilde does exceptional work -- I've got some sashes and straps that she's done. Amazing quality. No matchcoat yet... someday....
The costs are about in line (or very slightly higher) than a new Pendleton or HBC, but the quality of a handwoven (tight, tight, tight) blanket by a craftsperson is unbelievable.
So here is what I would suggest of the BCUK brain trust. Rumor has it you know a little bit about weaving there in the UK
and I'll bet you can find individual weavers who can do you up a magnificent matchcoat for a decent price.Whenever possible, I try to go with craftspeople over big companies.
Anybody got links to individual weavers there?
