Funny how everyone still reacts with "Hey kid" given that this is 9 year old footage. My respect to you sir, that reminds me of the stuff my dad taught me some 20 years ago. We had no high-end gear and such. Love the passion for the outdoors.
Hey Kid. I'm a former Green Beret that wants to give you a thumbs up for thinking out there and applying what you know. As you gain experience in the field you'll find ways to survive comfortably and literally be prepared for anything. Myself, I use to build a fire (if possible) and set large stones next to it and get them hot. Then dig out a small foxhole and place those stones deep in the dirt. Then make my hooch (Bed) over it. Always if possible, make a field expedient cover with a poncho or tarp in case during the night it rains. Also dig a trench around your sleeping area the redirect the water away from where you are sleeping. Very simple and worth the time to stay warm and dry getting a good night's rest. For safety purposes, always build your sleeping area next to and surrounded by trees so no one accidentally runs you over 4 wheeling. I was stationed in Germany and a soldier was in his fart sack unprotected and was ran over by a 13 ton 113 APC. Listen, I like that you are thinking Kid. That is the difference between life and death sometimes out there. Well done!
you have to be careful camping near trees, if it begins to storm out with lightning you could get electrocuted if you are sleeping near a tree, the lightning strikes the tree and travels down and out through the roots of the tree, and if you're sleeping on or near a root you're fried.
Thoughts: 1. I can imagine that sometimes one woolen blanket is not enough. 2. Wool keeps you warm even if wet. Smart to have. 3. If you sleep outdoors, you still need some sort of shelter to protect from snow or rain. 4. If you sleep outdoors, you would be wise to have a gun. 5. This kid has an accent. Can't trace it, though. Danish? I'm actually surprised if it's true. 6. To sleep better in cold weather, wear a gator or scarf and cover your mouth and nose when you sleep. Helps to warm the air as you breathe and stave off pneumonia. Camping in the wilderness is a GREAT way to teach kids (or learn for yourself) how to pay tremendous attention to detail, how to plan and how to organize. I respect the kid for what he's doing. That's a solid kid.
@@Kakker71 In America it's essential. Wildlife has recovered a great deal over the last 60 years. You can now find cougars (not the divorced/unmarried 40+ women in bars kind - the actual hunting cat) from California to Maine, and wolves have been seen as far south as Colorado and Arizona in the West. Also, there are black bear pretty much everywhere and grizzlies have made a comeback in the northern part of the West as well. I've never actually had to fire a shot, but there have been several instances where I was glad I had one with me.
Leave the kid alone.. at least he ain't sitting in front of a game console turning into a bowl of jelly. If it works for him, then that's great! What business is it of yours anyway? Don't like the video, then move along and keep your crap to yourself.
Been down this road many times on the AT, here in the states. A wool blanket, a reflective heat barrier, a tarp--can be all you need. And it works great in winter as an addition to a light weight bag...
For those wondering about finding straps to bind their wool blanket,I bought two boy's size belts from WalMart.You can always add holes with an awl or leather punch if needed
This video inspired me to go to the local thrift store where I found three WW2 wool blankets. After feeling you were cold in one blanket I sewed the three wool blankets together and made a sleeping bag with zipper around. I thought you would be warmer in mine but it weighs 10 pounds lol! If you had a sled you could easily take it with you in winter.
Great vid/ teaching. I'm a reenactor-1750s period. Woodsman had multiple layers of wool clothes on and often a deer or bear skin to go under to create a thermal sandwich when using a blanket. I was in the military and am a big fan of poncho liners and fleece. Lt wt and drys quickly. Excellent presentation.
Can't beat wool for insulation. I have fond childhood memories of sleeping outside in my dad's army issue pup teen in Alaska with the Army green wool blankets for warmth.
I like the second method best as it gives you more layers on insulation. In addition, it makes a nice tidy jelly roll for the bears that might stumble across you during the night. lol
You need two QUALITY wool blankets to do it right. With two blankets and a good ground cloth, I've slept out at below zero F. People seem to forget that sleeping bags have not been around forever, and neither have modern, lightweight tents.
I say BS. Wool blankets alone, at below zero F? I'll need details, weights, pictures of this environment, the campsite. No way without details, how much you weigh, where was the site, etc. etc. etc.
Yes, and way back when people used to freeze their ass off, but they were used to cold and extreme hardship. Freezing to death was not an uncommon way to die, even when your tough!
@faultroy Okay, so assume he didn't actually do this at zero F. I would think most milder temperatures would be doable with a single wool blanket, say, temps above 32F, with a small fire and a tarp under the blanket plus some sort of leave/pine-bought bedding?
The only problem I see is that your boot are not covered for snow or critters. Being in the infantry in Germany back then we used our pup tents, sleeping bags rubber ladies as we call them with our boot as pillows under our sleeping bags. We slept with clothes on, and dry socks. It really got cold eary morning hours in the forest of Germany.
Once, when I was in the army, I had to go out into the field without a sleeping bag. I took two wool blankets with me. I laid my poncho down with one blanket folded in half under me. Then I folded the second blanket in half with me in the middle. The final later was half the poncho folded over on top. It worked quite well. In the morning I woke to ice and snow. I wasn't exactly toasty. But I survived without hypothermia or frostbite.
I sleep with a wool blanket over my military sleeping bag and bivy sack. You'd be surprised how many pin holes you get in your gear being close to a fire. alot of them are so tiny you could never tell they were there. best to cover your sleeping bag and back pack with a wool blanket
you can sew the edges of the woolen blanket and make a sack with it (to prevent cold air from entering), and you can even sew over it a sack made with anti-sunlight solar curtain fabric (which retains the radiating heat or infrared)
But remember, you dont have to choose either sleeping bags or woll blankets, it depends on your mood... If you feel like going traditional, grab the blanket. If you feel like lightweight hiking, grab the bags... Simple as that brother, just don't go out with anything that wont keep your butt toasty!
I had seen this wool blanket folding method before, but had forgotten about it, so thanks for reminding me! Also, like the reuse of belts for strapping!
Yo your voice kicks ass!! You even have cool background music to go with it. I actually never had a wool blanket but I did just buy my first 100% wool coat.
Thanks for the video. I like the second way arranging the wool blanket better. Sorry you got a cheap wool blanket, I have no first hand experience, but folks I went camping with a couple of nights ago swore by the Italian wool blankets.
Good video, nice background music ;-) I like the '15 minutes later'...."Did he fall asleep or is he frozen to death?" Truth is that a blanket could make that difference in emergency situations. If possible a simple shelter and fire should be made. I recommand a 'reflector fire'. Some years ago I slept that way at -12⁰ C and it felt warmer than my bed at home! But in the open air without fire I prefer my sleeping bag with bivi during the winter.
Thanks for posting this excellent video. Useful tips. It is one of the best I've seen on using wool blankets. I usually use sleeping bags and am thinking about purchasing a blanket. One advantage of wool over synthetics / sleeping bags is that they won't melt or catch fire from the sparks of a campfire. I live in southeast Texas, USA. It rarely gets cold here -- but I plan to camp to other locations where keeping warm is important, Take care, Ken
Brother, no doubt this video is HEAVILY inspired by Dave, i'll give you that. But it's not uncommon for boys my age to get inspired by older and more experienced folks. If i make a video, where the subject is inspired by others, i always try to give my own input! I believe i did that in this video, with the other way of sleeping in it, and maybe with the more relaxed theme, which you don't see all that often with Dave. To be continued -
I tried the Mark Baker thing...once. To be fairly comfortable, you need two good wool blankets with plenty of loft (US military blankets are among the worst) and a canvass tarp to go on the outside. Without the tarp, your body heat will escape and you WILL freeze. You also need some kind of insulation between you and the ground. A tarp alone will not be enough.
When I joined the Australian Army in 1977 we were issued a very thin wool blanket (called a horse blanket) and a nylon outer cover. It was fine until the temp dropped close to freezing and then even with all your clothes on it was cold. Then we got sleeping bags which were better, but not by much. It wasn;'t until about 1981 we were issued a much better sleeping bag. I still have my nylon outer but lost the blanket years ago. Great video and I wonder if you are still sleeping in the snow like that?
From the research I've done, I've narrowed it down to three blankets that are currently the best from what I've read. The Italian wool army blanket, the original vintage Swiss army blanket (not the re-production variant), and the Canadian Hudson Bay Company point blanket. The former 2 are much less expensive, but harder to come by. The latter Canadian wool blanket is still currently in production in England but costs $400. That may be a lot of money for some and it may feel that it's more of a fashion statement than a tool, but from what I hear they last generations.
I used to use a wool blanket and military poncho... little or nothing more. Eventually I "upgraded" and spent years with "better" gear... Now I'm 43 and two weeks ago I bought a new wool blanket - because the fundamentals are always reliable! I realize this video is 8 years old... hope you're still getting out!
Here we are, two months later, after I just came back from some dirt time using my alpaca king sized blanket. Throwing one over other cover is a grand idea, also... it covers two people easily with plenty left over to cover your head. It was cold enough to keep the wolves howling all night.... but I slept through most of it. THEY didn't have an alpaca blanket, though! LOL
Simple and neat, Thanks. Alpaca blanket - May be bought in Germany as LAMA (try in health-care section of Dept.stores). Size - look for the full under-blanket size. Sheep's wool blankets hand woven in Wales from Bryncir Woolen Mills snowdonia. Ever tried the "Utility" blankets sold during post-WW2 scarcity - may still be available - I have one still used regularly since late 1940s. All "Utility" stuff was well designed and made to be indestructible - the blanket is heavy !! Happy Camping !
In my opinion, the best part of your video is your comments at the end, thanks for telling. That's such an important thing...not all wool blankets are created equal, but who but the most curious/informed would know. Thicker weaves are great in my experience.
Correct. I would put it this way: - moist boots suck all heat from your feet until all moisture has been evaporated - both modern boots AND no-membrane leather boots WILL draw your heat - even when dry, boots have little or no insulation and will effectively just add to the bulk to be kept warm by your feet - boots even when loosened, will inhibit proper blood circulation in your skin and fat layer of your feet, when you are no more walking and active
I'm watching this sitting in a freezing draughty old farmhouse in Scotland, it's frosty and blowing a gale, I'm wrapped in many layers but my old (proper) wool socks that my mum bought me years ago are my favourite things (and the only part of me that is not cold! ;-)
Just a closed cell foam mat. This one was thin (6mm). I recommend italian army wool blankets, Dutch army wool blankets and danish civil defence wool blankets.
Wool is great for surviving cold weather outdoors. You are correct that the short fiber blanket will not last with much use. It will also not insulate very well in severe cold but in a pinch it's better than nothing when you need something.
Good on you kid I've only just stumbled across this channel as I've been looking for Wool blanket ideas. Ignore the haters at least your trying & have the balls to do it. There's only 1 problem I have with this set up is I'm a side sleeper & a very restless sleeper so it would be impossible for me to sleep in that position for very long & can see it all coming undone several times in the night. Great idea tho keep up the good work 👍
if you can get them for a lot less, 50 and 70% wool blankets are still good for people on an extreme budget. im using a us army surplus 100% wool blanket. though most of the wool is recycled wool from other sources. its pretty big and i paid around $15 for it. it can wrap around me perfectly and im 6'2 and pretty well built with some fat on me.
Hey young Man, I'm a Survivalist and 1 thing I appreciate more than anything is Honesty. We all get jacked every now and then, But you came out and admitted it hoping to save someone else a Headache. You get MAJOR PROPS FOR THAT. Well Done young Man. And I Subscribed as Well Because Not only were you Honest , But your Comments were Spot On. God Bless.
What hell's wrong with you people, he made a joke and probably doesn't care if their is or isn't fucking bears in Denmark, morons you just have to show how boring you really are, so chip chip ya' bloody bastards.
Nice work on the vid. Many people don't realize just how warm wool can be. If you have your base layers already on you can get by very nicely precisely as shown here.
As someone who has actually slept outside in winter with just a blanket, you would FREEZE sleeping like that on frozen ground. Bank up 3' of leaves, curl up in that with your blanket, and that would be credible instruction.
So 3 inches of leaves is better than a compressed foam sleeping mat for insulation is it? He is clearly demonstrating the technique for folding the blanket and not anything else as he would do this within a shelter as well or at least also roll the tarp over himself. The fact is sleeping with a single wool blanket is sub freezing conditions isn't pleasant unless you are wearing appropriate layers within the blanket as well. Should a person also have time they can of course build an insulating base of leaves beneath their sleeping mat.
I have slept like this on cold ground, with no problem. Wool is an incredible insulator, and he's using it on top of an insulated sleeping pad as well. In my experience this is better than a pile of leaves.
very good idea to block out the cold i wish kids your age in the uk were getting out like you, most of them are on smartphones and x-boxes most of the time - so sad :( great video my friend darren
Nice one mate . Don't get caught up on the military blankets .. There are 100% wool blankets available on Ebay at lower costs and are much thicker . I have an old hospital blanket , 2 Scottish blankets , Yak wool blanket and an Italian wool blanket non military . I like to use them as an extra layer on top of a moderate sleeping bag .. Superb insulation . Thanks for sharing mate Luke
Also if you want to be really comfortable lay the coals from your hot fire along the ground and cover them with dirt. I mean enough dirt you will not burn your self. And you can sleep warmly on the bed of coals all night.
great job young man, This diamond technique looks like the best method for keeping your feet as warm as can be with the material that you have available, because if your feet are cold, it will keep you up all night....well done!
Why wouldn't you fold the tarp over you and tuck it in to retain heat? If it snows or rains, or even a heavy frost, it will shed it. In the military, we used ponchos and poncho liners for survival sleeping. Many times I added a wool blanket to this combo, and it was bearable, if not comfortable. Heavy tho.
i have slept in the back of my truck all of october and november here in denver. i have a futon mattress in the bed, and use 2 fleece blankets and a third one and i am good to below freezing.wear a hat, and a hoodie to add extra warmth. i wear my street clothes if they are not filthy to sleep in. no shoes and unbutton trousers. if you kick the blankets off you will likely wake up in an uncontrollable shiver.
I know that wool is stil gonna insulate well when wet, but most people wear their normal socks in the woods (Which is a shame), so i was just giving this advice. Thanks for letting everybody know with that tip man, it works really good indeed :)
I grew up in Canada's NWT and YUKON and my father was a airport foreman meaning he looked after all maintenance and cleaning of the runways and such also back In those days this meant that he was an employee of rhe federal govt in the ministry of transportation and rhat meant subsidized furnished govt homes and the blankets issued were great big thick grey 100%! Wool blankets and that's what we had on all our beds so I was raised using these wonderful wool blankets. I sure wouldn't mind getting my hands on 5 or 6 of those great blankets, I get my wool socks from Canada's department of defense ( i buy them when i can find them) great big thick white/grey 100% woolen socks. I'm diabetic so my feet and legs are always cold but not wearing these socks.
Like your video. Your exactly right man about getting a good wool blanket. I was actually going to buy a rescue wool blanket till I saw this video. I like buying the GI. I wish they made over sized wool blankets you could probably do more with it.Hope to see more videos of yours. issued wool blankets. Some surplus stores sell them between 20-30 bucks
They make them up to king size machine wash and dry at Faribault mill but just remember a 100% quality wool blanket is HIGH they make them for the military.
I think he is saying 'felted' but that is not wool. Buy a Pendleton 100 percent wool blanket made in the USA and you will never be sorry. Yes, they are expensive but worth it.
Interesting video, thanks for doing it. So I noticed there was snow on the ground and thus somewhat cold, so I have two questions about using a wool blanket. First one is how thick is your wool blanket; and second question it how low can the temps go and you still be comfortable?
A wool blanket has helped me on more than one occasion when my down bag got wet and lost a lot of its insulating rating and went flat on me.Bit by themselves they aren't too good in under the mid thirties.
While in the Army we had winter and summer maneuvers 30 days each. sleeping in two man tents and with our damn wool blanket and Army issue sleeping bag and a poncho. We froze our asses off No matter how you folded it. For 30 days we froze every year in the winter and the summer months were wet and hot. A wet wool blanket must have been invented in hell; I'm sure. I use two wool blankets at sea but sewed the bottom and up one side about 30 ". THE more space between you and the blanket the better. Don't wrap up like a sausage you'll freeze to death if its really cold. Use tree brush or ropes and make a tent. Do what ever it takes; to keep the blanket off you. Your body heat will warm up the air inside a well made shelter. You won't freeze if you are off the frozen ground and keep the blanket off you. I don't worry about my feet coming out anymore since I sewed the bottom and partial sides. I can also put other gear in there with me that needs to stay dry and warm and not end up outside filled with snow or rain.
The military quit buying wool back after Korea. Now, we use wool/polyester blends. If our supposed leadership would read their bibles, they’d know not to mix fabrics. 100% wool holds more heat than an 85% wool blend.
In a traditional bed roll there was an oilskin tarp as a ground sheet and cover. The outer layer offers wind protection so the wool blanket can be more efficient. This kid should have used the ground sheet as a cover also. A 100% wool blanket has an advantage over a sleeping bag in that you can also wear it as a match coat and it won't catch fire. Some modern gear is great and well designed, but most of it won't stand the test of time.
Pretty good! However, you might consider adding an element to have some kind of simple shelter overhead, as to protect from cold air descending upon you during the night, causing significant condensation and external freezing on your blanket. It also does the same to protect your boots from the elements. Also would like to recommend a Hudson's Bay blanket, the very best! Cheers!
This is one of the best ways, only you have to take into account the weather. If you know it's going to rain you'll have to choose a second option. You don't want to wake up in the morning with a wet head or body. There is always a chance to get overcooled. You can also make a fire to warm up.
Wool blankets rock. I had the luck to find two large 100% wool blankets in a charity shop. Got them both for €2. They seem a bit larger and thicker than the one you're using, and I generally roll into both of them, to be toasty warm all night.
I love my wool blankets, but my family doesn't. Now maybe I can convince them, since they talk about snow camping, how truly wonderful they are! lol You did a good job on the video.
I watch a lot of Dave's videos. I didn't see the one where he wrapped up in a blanket, but I saw yours. It happened to be information that I already had in my quiver, but the point is the more people that share useful information, the more people that are going to be able to use it. I seriously doubt that Mr Canterbury would have any objection to anyone posting the same information that he shares. I'll bet he would even applaud your time and effort to put this video together. I say thank you.
Several reasons in fact. 1. It's not very comfortable or cozy to sleep in your boots. 2. Your boots will not be given the chance to dry out the sweat from a day of walking. 3. A pair of dry socks and the blanket around my feet is more comfortable and much more warm/insulative than if i'm wearing the boots as well, cause the boots will just block some of the insulation from the blanket etc. Atleast this is my personal experience, which i trust fully.
If you ever slept in freezing cold, you would know to dig a trench build a fire in it to get the ground hot, then rake coals a cover trench with hot spoil, a cover layer of pine Bowes, or leaves. Then your ground mat, then pad, then blankets with poncho or tent cover if you got it. You can also crinkle up newspaper as insulation for your pants and shirt. Damn space blankets will not work in that kind of cold.
It's also good to know that your diagonal way was the best. But you should set it up diagonally on the tarp as well and you can fold the tarp the same as your blanket and it will keep falling snow or rain off of you also you should take two sticks and stab them in the ground and put your boots upside down over them so it will not rain or snow directly into your boots. There are a thousand ways to do things. But you must keep in mind how you need to do it if you are in bad weather other than just being cold. The way I described as the way Cowboys did it in the United States way back when. It worked for them and it will work for you. Those guys had to live outside for months on end. In all types of weather
I have a thick 1960s us army wool blanket, sat outside at 30 degrees wrapped in it and I was cookin. It prob weighs 4 lbs, but combined with a light bag, it's gtg
Wool blankets are nice but here in the US the good thick 100% wool blankets are expensive. The best ones all seem to be imported from the UK. I like to combine a medium weight wool blanket inside a sleeping bag.
I am really impressed by your videomaking skills as well as knowledge. I have seen a lot of bushcraft youtubers and especially for your age you are really ahead of a lot of them.
Id say Use two (bigger) blankets, and then wrap the tarp or canvas around you with the same method Pro tip, sleep ontop your fire after you shovel dirt onto it.
That blanket wont be enough when temps dip down below freezing. A good set of insulated base layers and heavy wool socks along with an insulated ground pad or thick layer of pine bows is critical. I know this video is just to show different methods of using the wool blanket but nobody should get the idea that you will have a good night sleep in cold conditions with that set up.
you said dry socks or none at all. I had wet merino wool socks and took them off to sleep in a winter camping situation. My feet got cold and in desperation, I put my wet socks back on. My feet warmed back up. So I guess wet wool socks are better than no socks. Great video on how to use the blanket
Hudson Bay, an American company, make large 100% wool blankets, but they cost around 850DDK + shipping. A good poly filled bag with a gortex bivy bag from British surplus would be all one needs for 3 seasons, maybe 4. .
Yep watched it all bud . Towards the end of September i was using the Elite 2 sleeping bag but felt the cold coming through mainly on top .. Nice wool blanket gave me a fair few degrees of comfort , an excellent barrier from the cold . Switched to the Elite 5 now but at a -20 rating im as warm as a flea on a dogs ball bag .
Funny how everyone still reacts with "Hey kid" given that this is 9 year old footage. My respect to you sir, that reminds me of the stuff my dad taught me some 20 years ago. We had no high-end gear and such. Love the passion for the outdoors.
Hey kid
This kid is solving problems, and getting some experience to solve problems later in life. Good for you young man .
Good on him, eh?
Hey Kid. I'm a former Green Beret that wants to give you a thumbs up for thinking out there and applying what you know. As you gain experience in the field you'll find ways to survive comfortably and literally be prepared for anything. Myself, I use to build a fire (if possible) and set large stones next to it and get them hot. Then dig out a small foxhole and place those stones deep in the dirt. Then make my hooch (Bed) over it. Always if possible, make a field expedient cover with a poncho or tarp in case during the night it rains. Also dig a trench around your sleeping area the redirect the water away from where you are sleeping. Very simple and worth the time to stay warm and dry getting a good night's rest. For safety purposes, always build your sleeping area next to and surrounded by trees so no one accidentally runs you over 4 wheeling. I was stationed in Germany and a soldier was in his fart sack unprotected and was ran over by a 13 ton 113 APC. Listen, I like that you are thinking Kid. That is the difference between life and death sometimes out there. Well done!
you have to be careful camping near trees, if it begins to storm out with lightning you could get electrocuted if you are sleeping near a tree, the lightning strikes the tree and travels down and out through the roots of the tree, and if you're sleeping on or near a root you're fried.
Good advice.
@Ryan Gagnon Ya id be more afraid of the tree's then a truck ... crazzy.
You are a condescending, arrogant Fool
Thoughts:
1. I can imagine that sometimes one woolen blanket is not enough.
2. Wool keeps you warm even if wet. Smart to have.
3. If you sleep outdoors, you still need some sort of shelter to protect from snow or rain.
4. If you sleep outdoors, you would be wise to have a gun.
5. This kid has an accent. Can't trace it, though. Danish? I'm actually surprised if it's true.
6. To sleep better in cold weather, wear a gator or scarf and cover your mouth and nose when you sleep. Helps to warm the air as you breathe and stave off pneumonia.
Camping in the wilderness is a GREAT way to teach kids (or learn for yourself) how to pay tremendous attention to detail, how to plan and how to organize. I respect the kid for what he's doing. That's a solid kid.
@studsupreme the channel is called danishbushcraft..... You may be on to something guessing that he has a Danish accent maybe 👍
In Denmark, you don´t need a gun 🙂 Maybe a tiny flask of mosquito repellant in the summer, and you are safe!
@@Kakker71 In America it's essential. Wildlife has recovered a great deal over the last 60 years. You can now find cougars (not the divorced/unmarried 40+ women in bars kind - the actual hunting cat) from California to Maine, and wolves have been seen as far south as Colorado and Arizona in the West. Also, there are black bear pretty much everywhere and grizzlies have made a comeback in the northern part of the West as well. I've never actually had to fire a shot, but there have been several instances where I was glad I had one with me.
Merica
Leave the kid alone.. at least he ain't sitting in front of a game console turning into a bowl of jelly. If it works for him, then that's great! What business is it of yours anyway? Don't like the video, then move along and keep your crap to yourself.
First you need to know something about what sheep the wool came off of!
hes a fucking joke
FelonBros and you’re a fucking jackass
@@felonbros3141 I don't see you making any videos fat boy and speaking of jokes look in the mirror loser
Been down this road many times on the AT, here in the states. A wool blanket, a reflective heat barrier, a tarp--can be all you need. And it works great in winter as an addition to a light weight bag...
For those wondering about finding straps to bind their wool blanket,I bought two boy's size belts from WalMart.You can always add holes with an awl or leather punch if needed
This video inspired me to go to the local thrift store where I found three WW2 wool blankets. After feeling you were cold in one blanket I sewed the three wool blankets together and made a sleeping bag with zipper around. I thought you would be warmer in mine but it weighs 10 pounds lol! If you had a sled you could easily take it with you in winter.
Great vid/ teaching. I'm a reenactor-1750s period. Woodsman had multiple layers of wool clothes on and often a deer or bear skin to go under to create a thermal sandwich when using a blanket. I was in the military and am a big fan of poncho liners and fleece. Lt wt and drys quickly. Excellent presentation.
Can't beat wool for insulation.
I have fond childhood memories of sleeping outside in my dad's army issue pup teen in Alaska with the Army green wool blankets for warmth.
I like the second method best as it gives you more layers on insulation. In addition, it makes a nice tidy jelly roll for the bears that might stumble across you during the night. lol
You need two QUALITY wool blankets to do it right. With two blankets and a good ground cloth, I've slept out at below zero F. People seem to forget that sleeping bags have not been around forever, and neither have modern, lightweight tents.
I say BS. Wool blankets alone, at below zero F? I'll need details, weights, pictures of this environment, the campsite. No way without details, how much you weigh, where was the site, etc. etc. etc.
Yes, and way back when people used to freeze their ass off, but they were used to cold and extreme hardship.
Freezing to death was not an uncommon way to die, even when your tough!
Wrapping yourself in the tarp to make a vapour barriet and then tbe blanket might be warmer.
@faultroy Okay, so assume he didn't actually do this at zero F. I would think most milder temperatures would be doable with a single wool blanket, say, temps above 32F, with a small fire and a tarp under the blanket plus some sort of leave/pine-bought bedding?
The only problem I see is that your boot are not covered for snow or critters. Being in the infantry in Germany back then we used our pup tents, sleeping bags rubber ladies as we call them with our boot as pillows under our sleeping bags. We slept with clothes on, and dry socks. It really got cold eary morning hours in the forest of Germany.
Once, when I was in the army, I had to go out into the field without a sleeping bag. I took two wool blankets with me. I laid my poncho down with one blanket folded in half under me. Then I folded the second blanket in half with me in the middle. The final later was half the poncho folded over on top. It worked quite well. In the morning I woke to ice and snow. I wasn't exactly toasty. But I survived without hypothermia or frostbite.
I sleep with a wool blanket over my military sleeping bag and bivy sack. You'd be surprised how many pin holes you get in your gear being close to a fire. alot of them are so tiny you could never tell they were there. best to cover your sleeping bag and back pack with a wool blanket
@faultroy wool is fire retardent. I.e the applications of wool carpet
The kids got grit & he's not brain dead like a lot of others out there.
you can sew the edges of the woolen blanket and make a sack with it (to prevent cold air from entering), and you can even sew over it a sack made with anti-sunlight solar curtain fabric (which retains the radiating heat or infrared)
But remember, you dont have to choose either sleeping bags or woll blankets, it depends on your mood...
If you feel like going traditional, grab the blanket.
If you feel like lightweight hiking, grab the bags...
Simple as that brother, just don't go out with anything that wont keep your butt toasty!
I've done this at these temps... not warm, even with a good fire. Still, better than nothing.
This is absolutely correct advice. I slept like a 100 nights outdoors in the army with this set. Brought back some memories.
I had seen this wool blanket folding method before, but had forgotten about it, so thanks for reminding me! Also, like the reuse of belts for strapping!
Yo your voice kicks ass!! You even have cool background music to go with it. I actually never had a wool blanket but I did just buy my first 100% wool coat.
Thanks for the video. I like the second way arranging the wool blanket better. Sorry you got a cheap wool blanket, I have no first hand experience, but folks I went camping with a couple of nights ago swore by the Italian wool blankets.
Good video, nice background music ;-)
I like the '15 minutes later'...."Did he fall asleep or is he frozen to death?" Truth is that a blanket could make that difference in emergency situations. If possible a simple shelter and fire should be made. I recommand a 'reflector fire'. Some years ago I slept that way at -12⁰ C and it felt warmer than my bed at home! But in the open air without fire I prefer my sleeping bag with bivi during the winter.
Thanks for posting this excellent video. Useful tips. It is one of the best I've seen on using wool blankets. I usually use sleeping bags and am thinking about purchasing a blanket. One advantage of wool over synthetics / sleeping bags is that they won't melt or catch fire from the sparks of a campfire.
I live in southeast Texas, USA. It rarely gets cold here -- but I plan to camp to other locations where keeping warm is important, Take care, Ken
Good stuff. Thanks for taking the time to put together.
Brother, no doubt this video is HEAVILY inspired by Dave, i'll give you that.
But it's not uncommon for boys my age to get inspired by older and more experienced folks.
If i make a video, where the subject is inspired by others, i always try to give my own input! I believe i did that in this video, with the other way of sleeping in it, and maybe with the more relaxed theme, which you don't see all that often with Dave.
To be continued -
I tried the Mark Baker thing...once. To be fairly comfortable, you need two good wool blankets with plenty of loft (US military blankets are among the worst) and a canvass tarp to go on the outside. Without the tarp, your body heat will escape and you WILL freeze. You also need some kind of insulation between you and the ground. A tarp alone will not be enough.
When I joined the Australian Army in 1977 we were issued a very thin wool blanket (called a horse blanket) and a nylon outer cover. It was fine until the temp dropped close to freezing and then even with all your clothes on it was cold. Then we got sleeping bags which were better, but not by much. It wasn;'t until about 1981 we were issued a much better sleeping bag. I still have my nylon outer but lost the blanket years ago. Great video and I wonder if you are still sleeping in the snow like that?
From the research I've done, I've narrowed it down to three blankets that are currently the best from what I've read. The Italian wool army blanket, the original vintage Swiss army blanket (not the re-production variant), and the Canadian Hudson Bay Company point blanket.
The former 2 are much less expensive, but harder to come by. The latter Canadian wool blanket is still currently in production in England but costs $400. That may be a lot of money for some and it may feel that it's more of a fashion statement than a tool, but from what I hear they last generations.
I used to use a wool blanket and military poncho... little or nothing more.
Eventually I "upgraded" and spent years with "better" gear...
Now I'm 43 and two weeks ago I bought a new wool blanket - because the fundamentals are always reliable!
I realize this video is 8 years old... hope you're still getting out!
Here we are, two months later, after I just came back from some dirt time using my alpaca king sized blanket. Throwing one over other cover is a grand idea, also... it covers two people easily with plenty left over to cover your head. It was cold enough to keep the wolves howling all night.... but I slept through most of it. THEY didn't have an alpaca blanket, though! LOL
Simple and neat, Thanks. Alpaca blanket - May be bought in Germany as LAMA (try in health-care section of Dept.stores). Size - look for the full under-blanket size. Sheep's wool blankets hand woven in Wales from Bryncir Woolen Mills snowdonia. Ever tried the "Utility" blankets sold during post-WW2 scarcity - may still be available - I have one still used regularly since late 1940s. All "Utility" stuff was well designed and made to be indestructible - the blanket is heavy !! Happy Camping !
In my opinion, the best part of your video is your comments at the end, thanks for telling. That's such an important thing...not all wool blankets are created equal, but who but the most curious/informed would know. Thicker weaves are great in my experience.
Correct. I would put it this way:
- moist boots suck all heat from your feet until all moisture has been evaporated
- both modern boots AND no-membrane leather boots WILL draw your heat
- even when dry, boots have little or no insulation and will effectively just add to the bulk to be kept warm by your feet
- boots even when loosened, will inhibit proper blood circulation in your skin and fat layer of your feet, when you are no more walking and active
I'm watching this sitting in a freezing draughty old farmhouse in Scotland, it's frosty and blowing a gale, I'm wrapped in many layers but my old (proper) wool socks that my mum bought me years ago are my favourite things (and the only part of me that is not cold! ;-)
Just a closed cell foam mat. This one was thin (6mm).
I recommend italian army wool blankets, Dutch army wool blankets and danish civil defence wool blankets.
Wool is great for surviving cold weather outdoors. You are correct that the short fiber blanket will not last with much use. It will also not insulate very well in severe cold but in a pinch it's better than nothing when you need something.
Wow. I had no idea that I didn't know how to sleep in a wool blanket. Good to know. Very informative. Thanks for the upload.
Great info. Nice to see young adults doing great and good things. Keep it up... You have a bright future ahead... God bless.
Well done young man .
Good on you kid I've only just stumbled across this channel as I've been looking for Wool blanket ideas.
Ignore the haters at least your trying & have the balls to do it.
There's only 1 problem I have with this set up is I'm a side sleeper & a very restless sleeper so it would be impossible for me to sleep in that position for very long & can see it all coming undone several times in the night.
Great idea tho keep up the good work 👍
9yrs ago. I can only imagine how much you've learned in that time. 👍
if you can get them for a lot less, 50 and 70% wool blankets are still good for people on an extreme budget. im using a us army surplus 100% wool blanket. though most of the wool is recycled wool from other sources. its pretty big and i paid around $15 for it. it can wrap around me perfectly and im 6'2 and pretty well built with some fat on me.
but it was surplus and used and had small fraying on the outside. im pleased with it, and after washing it a few times its softened up a lot.
only problem with 100% is its so damn uncomfortable. Id say go 70% unless your in the northern states haha
I'm in upstate new york so I definitely need the 100 percent.
Cole Duprey do yourself a favor and just move south...lol
o yeah this state sucks in everyway possible so i intend to once im done college.
Hey young Man, I'm a Survivalist and 1 thing I appreciate more than anything is Honesty. We all get jacked every now and then, But you came out and admitted it hoping to save someone else a Headache. You get MAJOR PROPS FOR THAT. Well Done young Man.
And I Subscribed as Well Because Not only were you Honest , But your Comments were Spot On. God Bless.
I find it hard to believe that skimpy little blanket will keep you warm even when there's no snow on the ground
"warm" is a relative term.
Gotta later it correctly but two is better. And yes it's relative
Your a good kid and I enjoyed your video. Young people like you give me hope for the future.
15 Minutes Later... A bear finds a giant green burrito.
instead it would be a Danish
Either Denmark is not good for finding bears, or, bears are not good at finding Denmark. Bears are not a problem in Denmark.
What hell's wrong with you people, he made a joke and probably doesn't care if their is or isn't fucking bears in Denmark, morons you just have to show how boring you really are, so chip chip ya' bloody bastards.
@@pedalsbeatlejuicelodermeie319
👍🤡😜🤣🤣🤣😂
I got it! Ha ha ha!!! 😃
I went to a second hand store looking for some straps, but ended up buying a raspberry beret.
Jared Gilbert If it’s warm I don’t wear much more...
Dude! The comment to end all comments! (wonder how many young folks totally missed it)
Jared Gilbert she wore a raspberry beret
Like the kind you find in a second hand store, if it was warmer that’s all that she would wear.
Personally, I got a beat up six string instead
Great! A tarp above the bed to protect you against snow or rain would be useful. Nice tips, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Nice work on the vid. Many people don't realize just how warm wool can be. If you have your base layers already on you can get by very nicely precisely as shown here.
As someone who has actually slept outside in winter with just a blanket, you would FREEZE sleeping like that on frozen ground. Bank up 3' of leaves, curl up in that with your blanket, and that would be credible instruction.
Indeed it would be a credible setup/instruction, but i never said what you mentioned at first as the best way to do Things ;)
So 3 inches of leaves is better than a compressed foam sleeping mat for insulation is it? He is clearly demonstrating the technique for folding the blanket and not anything else as he would do this within a shelter as well or at least also roll the tarp over himself. The fact is sleeping with a single wool blanket is sub freezing conditions isn't pleasant unless you are wearing appropriate layers within the blanket as well. Should a person also have time they can of course build an insulating base of leaves beneath their sleeping mat.
Assuming you have leaves.
I have slept like this on cold ground, with no problem. Wool is an incredible insulator, and he's using it on top of an insulated sleeping pad as well.
In my experience this is better than a pile of leaves.
Agree. That's what squirrels do to stay warm, they build nests out of leaves for insulation (called dreys).
great presentation thanks ! Many Boy Scout Hints used !! kudos !!
I love that famous sentence. I used it as part of my best man speech.
very good idea to block out the cold
i wish kids your age in the uk were getting out like you, most of them are on smartphones and x-boxes most of the time - so sad :(
great video my friend
darren
Nice one mate .
Don't get caught up on the military blankets .. There are 100% wool blankets available on Ebay at lower costs and are much thicker . I have an old hospital blanket , 2 Scottish blankets , Yak wool blanket and an Italian wool blanket non military . I like to use them as an extra layer on top of a moderate sleeping bag .. Superb insulation .
Thanks for sharing mate
Luke
The diagonal "burrito" looks good, thanks for that idea. Now show me how to sleep in a great kilt :)
Also if you want to be really comfortable lay the coals from your hot fire along the ground and cover them with dirt. I mean enough dirt you will not burn your self. And you can sleep warmly on the bed of coals all night.
If you can find large stones to heat, bury those underneath you.
Bill Randall f
great job young man, This diamond technique looks like the best method for keeping your feet as warm as can be with the material that you have available, because if your feet are cold, it will keep you up all night....well done!
Why wouldn't you fold the tarp over you and tuck it in to retain heat? If it snows or rains, or even a heavy frost, it will shed it. In the military, we used ponchos and poncho liners for survival sleeping. Many times I added a wool blanket to this combo, and it was bearable, if not comfortable. Heavy tho.
Too right
Nice descriptions. You sound friendly. Well done.
i have slept in the back of my truck all of october and november here in denver. i have a futon mattress in the bed, and use 2 fleece blankets and a third one and i am good to below freezing.wear a hat, and a hoodie to add extra warmth. i wear my street clothes if they are not filthy to sleep in. no shoes and unbutton trousers. if you kick the blankets off you will likely wake up in an uncontrollable shiver.
I know that wool is stil gonna insulate well when wet, but most people wear their normal socks in the woods (Which is a shame), so i was just giving this advice.
Thanks for letting everybody know with that tip man, it works really good indeed :)
I grew up in Canada's NWT and YUKON and my father was a airport foreman meaning he looked after all maintenance and cleaning of the runways and such also back In those days this meant that he was an employee of rhe federal govt in the ministry of transportation and rhat meant subsidized furnished govt homes and the blankets issued were great big thick grey 100%! Wool blankets and that's what we had on all our beds so I was raised using these wonderful wool blankets. I sure wouldn't mind getting my hands on 5 or 6 of those great blankets, I get my wool socks from Canada's department of defense ( i buy them when i can find them) great big thick white/grey 100% woolen socks. I'm diabetic so my feet and legs are always cold but not wearing these socks.
Ahhh...a little bear burrito! LOL! This is a really good idea, though. Shame that I am to big to do it right!
Thoughtfully presented.
You could use the tarp as a shelter if you expected bad weather, so your sleep setup is flexible.
Like your video. Your exactly right man about getting a good wool blanket. I was actually going to buy a rescue wool blanket till I saw this video. I like buying the GI. I wish they made over sized wool blankets you could probably do more with it.Hope to see more videos of yours. issued wool blankets. Some surplus stores sell them between 20-30 bucks
They make them up to king size machine wash and dry at Faribault mill but just remember a 100% quality wool blanket is HIGH they make them for the military.
Well done, just got a couple good wool blankets, hope to give them a go this winter.
Greg.
Never thought of that diagonal method just subbed!
I know, this was just a demonstartion of how to sleep in the blanket itself :)
I always wear insulative clothing, preferably merino wool.
i was actually wanting this video to last longer just cause of the music.
You can also use that tarp to wrap your self up, to hold the heat in as well. Ty for sharing
I think he is saying 'felted' but that is not wool. Buy a Pendleton 100 percent wool blanket made in the USA and you will never be sorry. Yes, they are expensive but worth it.
Interesting video, thanks for doing it. So I noticed there was snow on the ground and thus somewhat cold, so I have two questions about using a wool blanket. First one is how thick is your wool blanket; and second question it how low can the temps go and you still be comfortable?
A wool blanket has helped me on more than one occasion when my down bag got wet and lost a lot of its insulating rating and went flat on me.Bit by themselves they aren't too good in under the mid thirties.
While in the Army we had winter and summer maneuvers 30 days each. sleeping in two man tents and with our damn wool blanket and Army issue sleeping bag and a poncho. We froze our asses off No matter how you folded it.
For 30 days we froze every year in the winter and the summer months were wet and hot.
A wet wool blanket must have been invented in hell; I'm sure.
I use two wool blankets at sea but sewed the bottom and up one side about 30 ". THE more space between you and the blanket the better. Don't wrap up like a sausage you'll freeze to death if its really cold. Use tree brush or ropes and make a tent. Do what ever it takes; to keep the blanket off you.
Your body heat will warm up the air inside a well made shelter. You won't freeze if you are off the frozen ground and keep the blanket off you.
I don't worry about my feet coming out anymore since I sewed the bottom and partial sides. I can also put other gear in there with me that needs to stay dry and warm and not end up outside filled with snow or rain.
I use couch throws as blankets for beds. They are made of polyester.
Polyester makes you sweat. Polyester dries faster than wool.
Lot of effort foe a shit sleeping solution. Here's an idea go buy a sleeping bag. They are light, take up less room and will keep you warm in -20.....
The military quit buying wool back after Korea. Now, we use wool/polyester blends. If our supposed leadership would read their bibles, they’d know not to mix fabrics. 100% wool holds more heat than an 85% wool blend.
In a traditional bed roll there was an oilskin tarp as a ground sheet and cover. The outer layer offers wind protection so the wool blanket can be more efficient. This kid should have used the ground sheet as a cover also.
A 100% wool blanket has an advantage over a sleeping bag in that you can also wear it as a match coat and it won't catch fire. Some modern gear is great and well designed, but most of it won't stand the test of time.
Really thanks it’s clear and simple.
It’s the good way to teach.
God Bless
Pretty good! However, you might consider adding an element to have some kind of simple shelter overhead, as to protect from cold air descending upon you during the night, causing significant condensation and external freezing on your blanket. It also does the same to protect your boots from the elements.
Also would like to recommend a Hudson's Bay blanket, the very best!
Cheers!
This is one of the best ways, only you have to take into account the weather. If you know it's going to rain you'll have to choose a second option. You don't want to wake up in the morning with a wet head or body. There is always a chance to get overcooled. You can also make a fire to warm up.
Wool blankets rock. I had the luck to find two large 100% wool blankets in a charity shop. Got them both for €2. They seem a bit larger and thicker than the one you're using, and I generally roll into both of them, to be toasty warm all night.
Your so adorable. Thanks for the helpful hints. Keep up good work
I love my wool blankets, but my family doesn't. Now maybe I can convince them, since they talk about snow camping, how truly wonderful they are! lol You did a good job on the video.
This video should be named: "How to become a green burrito."
No but seriously, thank you for sharing. :)
I watch a lot of Dave's videos. I didn't see the one where he wrapped up in a blanket, but I saw yours. It happened to be information that I already had in my quiver, but the point is the more people that share useful information, the more people that are going to be able to use it. I seriously doubt that Mr Canterbury would have any objection to anyone posting the same information that he shares. I'll bet he would even applaud your time and effort to put this video together. I say thank you.
Forget that guy. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
Several reasons in fact.
1. It's not very comfortable or cozy to sleep in your boots.
2. Your boots will not be given the chance to dry out the sweat from a day of walking.
3. A pair of dry socks and the blanket around my feet is more comfortable and much more warm/insulative than if i'm wearing the boots as well, cause the boots will just block some of the insulation from the blanket etc.
Atleast this is my personal experience, which i trust fully.
Thanks for the tip and good on u for admitting your faults... we never stop learning. 👍👍😁🇺🇸
If you ever slept in freezing cold, you would know to dig a trench build a fire in it to get the ground hot, then rake coals a cover trench with hot spoil, a cover layer of pine Bowes, or leaves. Then your ground mat, then pad, then blankets with poncho or tent cover if you got it. You can also crinkle up newspaper as insulation for your pants and shirt. Damn space blankets will not work in that kind of cold.
It's also good to know that your diagonal way was the best. But you should set it up diagonally on the tarp as well and you can fold the tarp the same as your blanket and it will keep falling snow or rain off of you also you should take two sticks and stab them in the ground and put your boots upside down over them so it will not rain or snow directly into your boots. There are a thousand ways to do things. But you must keep in mind how you need to do it if you are in bad weather other than just being cold. The way I described as the way Cowboys did it in the United States way back when. It worked for them and it will work for you. Those guys had to live outside for months on end. In all types of weather
I have a thick 1960s us army wool blanket, sat outside at 30 degrees wrapped in it and I was cookin. It prob weighs 4 lbs, but combined with a light bag, it's gtg
Wool blankets are nice but here in the US the good thick 100% wool blankets are expensive. The best ones all seem to be imported from the UK. I like to combine a medium weight wool blanket inside a sleeping bag.
Look up DoD Auctions or a local military surplus shop and buy one for $25-$45
I really liked the diagonal method, never thought of that. Keep up the good vids, ignore the trolls.
I am really impressed by your videomaking skills as well as knowledge. I have seen a lot of bushcraft youtubers and especially for your age you are really ahead of a lot of them.
Id say Use two (bigger) blankets, and then wrap the tarp or canvas around you with the same method
Pro tip, sleep ontop your fire after you shovel dirt onto it.
When I go backpacking I always take a wool blanket along with my sleeping bag. Wool blankets alone get very cold in sub freezing temperatures.
That blanket wont be enough when temps dip down below freezing. A good set of insulated base layers and heavy wool socks along with an insulated ground pad or thick layer of pine bows is critical. I know this video is just to show different methods of using the wool blanket but nobody should get the idea that you will have a good night sleep in cold conditions with that set up.
you said dry socks or none at all. I had wet merino wool socks and took them off to sleep in a winter camping situation. My feet got cold and in desperation, I put my wet socks back on. My feet warmed back up. So I guess wet wool socks are better than no socks. Great video on how to use the blanket
yes, u need a little bit thicker wool blanket and use the extra tarp to wrap your self to avoid any moisture dew in the morning.
Hudson Bay, an American company, make large 100% wool blankets, but they cost around 850DDK + shipping. A good poly filled bag with a gortex bivy bag from British surplus would be all one needs for 3 seasons, maybe 4. .
Yep watched it all bud .
Towards the end of September i was using the Elite 2 sleeping bag but felt the cold coming through mainly on top .. Nice wool blanket gave me a fair few degrees of comfort , an excellent barrier from the cold . Switched to the Elite 5 now but at a -20 rating im as warm as a flea on a dogs ball bag .