Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Sleeping bag or Wool Blanket

I follow several outdoor sites, some are back packing, some are survival/bushcraft, some camping.

It seems that some folks live and die by a 100% wool blanket, and others never or rarely mention one. The wool blanket crowd will tout that it holds 80% of its heat even when soaking wet.
I can see that my Marmot down bag would not do that, but at the same time why would I let it get soaking wet in the first place??

A Sil Tarp, sleeping bag & pad, combination are, going to weight about the same as a Heavy wool blanket (not an 80/20 nock off), if not less. So where is the great value, or draw back of either??

I'm just trying to get a good fix on the two schools of thought.. What are you guys thoughts??

Just off the top of my head since I haven't really thought about it. A big enough wool blanket would weigh too much and take up the entire pack space???

Kinda like I wouldn't think about packing a canvas tarp.

Maybe there's new wool blanket technology?

Kent

synthetic sheep? I don't know if anyone makes an affordable Alpaca blanket, but it would be nice to have, as warm as wool without the itch. I can't see either one being as light and efficient as a light down bag, though. I have to agree with the warm when wet, but in this country, that's normally not an issue anyway.
I just checked a couple wool blankets on Amazon. a 72 x 90 Hudsons Bay weighs a little over 6 lb. That's too heavy. Thinner ones weigh considerably less but they're not nearly as warm. They'd be ok for summer use I guess.
I'm assuming you'd wrap it all around you. If you just want it over the top, you can go smaller and lighter.

You need to start spinning and weaving!

In our rescue stuff, it's mostly wool blankets probably because the patient is likely to be underneath a frozen waterfall

I love my wool blankets at home or at a late season football game. They are not comparable to a good sleeping bag in any way, shape or form. One, a warmish blanket is very bulky to pack. Two, try sleeping in just your underwear and a blanket in 40 degree weather on your porch.You'll have your answer. As for 80% warmth-80% of not much is less than not much.

The whole wool is warm even when wet fantasy amuses me. It certainly beats cotton by a huge factor but it will not keep you warm when wet under really adverse conditions ... just takes longer to die.

the best wool ive found is merino wool,it dont itch or scratch.i still have bad dreams about the old woolies long underware the army use to issue

i use a pendleton wool blanket in my sleepin bag but not for back packing

Wool blankets have the advantage when trying snuggle up to a fire.

I've camped with wool blankets, before I could afford a sleeping bag. Never again. Especially if it's cold.

Which is likely to be of great interest to someone sleeping in a wool blanket.

I own as much wool clothing as anyone on the Campfire---------more than most probably. But I can't imagine sleeping in a wool blanket unless I was intentionally trying to recreate the "full effect" of retro/primitive camping. It's bulky and heavy for backpacking, but could work for horse back or truck camping. IF used with a shelter like a Whelen leanto and a large campfire, or a wall tent with a dedicated stove stoker that got up every three hours, it could work too. But for just rolling up into and expecting to sleep well, I don't think so. A blanket of sufficient weight would use up much of your pack space. Combining it with a tarp or canvas bed roll would help trap heat and cut wind, but also add additional bulk and weight.

I've still got a brand new, untested but authentic Whelen I still need to test out. I'll bring a wool blanket but will most likely just use it to hide my sleeping bag from sparks and help give my camp the proper 1930's look.

Wool and canvas stuff is tuff as nails and wears like the iron. I won't pack it far simply cause I isn't "rugged" enough.

This coming from the man who makes pulk traces out of 1" square metal tubing and clevis loops meant for 4x4 recovery!

www.nwwoodsman.com this guy talks allot about this old school stuff.Then again he carries it (allot of canvas as well)in a canoe which reduces the burden somewhat
Tim

YOU are definitely rugged enough!

You make shooting your 38 and a 1/2 look comfortable, and yard-saling your pulk at the bottom of a hill look enjoyable.

I have seen www.nwwoodsman.com, and I have spent a fair amount of time over at Dave Canterbury's site www.wildernessoutfitters.com . I appreciate the teaching and passing on of primitive skills, or as Canterbury puts it "the tribal knowledge". I get that, its cool, its pracitcal, and its fun! Having said that part of being practical is acknowledging when something better comes along.. IMO anyway.
I like ferro rods, but I carry a lighter too, and use it as a first option.
I just never could get my mind around carrying a 4-6 lb wool blanket, when I could carry a sil-tarp, and down bag?? I can still light a fire if I need to... I thank all of you for your comments and thoughts, and for confirming that I am not just being naive on the subject.. Keep your comments coming, this is fun..

Wool blankets instead of sleeping bags should only be used when filming a cowboy movie. Camping/climbing/backpacking technology left them behind over 50 years ago.

Those who carried wool blankets didn't have other things to carry...like stoves, tents, pack frames, etc. There are some things with which I'd just not wish to be retro.

I love wool blankets..when I can drive to the campsite and unload everything right there. If that's the case I generally have 1 folded in my big over sized Coleman sleeping bag.

If I gotta' carry everything on my back, the wool blankie is staying home and I'll be using a Feathered Friends 27 oz. down bag.