Wool blanket suggestions?

[firiki]

So, I've being looking at wool blankets for outdoors or emergency use. So far I'm inclined to get a couple of Italian Army ones http://www.amazon.com/Rothco-European-Surplus-Style-Blanket/dp/B005HMHW2A/ref=pd_sim_468_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41RlxnQMjmL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=072P7V7M3Y0DSVGEE8SH

There are others, accordind to the 'nets the Swedish or Bulgarian Army ones are pretty good. The reason I'm looking at the Italian ones is size/weight ratio, also price and availability.

Any thoughts or recommendations are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Etherealicer]

SWISS ARMY



13.840
Schweizer Armeedecke qualitätskonforme Repro der Schweizer Armee-Wolldecke, neu.
Decke besteht aus hochwertigen Kunstfasern mit folgenden Eigenschaften: warm, weich, knitterarm, zugfest, Feuchtigkeit absorbierend und mit bis 40 Grad waschbar.Masse: 205 x 140 cm, Gewicht: 1.7 kg

Available here

[firiki]

I've looked at that one, too. My knowledge of German is practically non-existent but I believe "Repro der Schweizer Armee-Wolldecke" means reproduction of the Swiss army's wool blanket, about which I read it isn't as good as the real thing, not enough wool in it if I remember correctly.

I'm sure the real deal is plenty good though

Edit: Spelling

[Gareth]

I've got nothing helpful to add I'm sorry to say, but I am interested in hearing what you go for and why.  A quality wool blanket is on my shopping list as well.

[firiki]

I've got nothing helpful to add I'm sorry to say, but I am interested in hearing what you go for and why.  A quality wool blanket is on my shopping list as well.

I hate it, having to buy without being able to inspect the items personally! I think a 80-20% blanket should be good enough for my needs. Hopefully, I'll get one by July.

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I've even looked at overcoat garments but the cost would be pretty high

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hard to beat the HBC blanket, prized by early traders in Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

Still available too.

Def

[kkokkolis]

Greek Army Blanket, gray with graphite band and yellow date, is a classic. I was sleeping on one dated 1936 and another med had a 1917.
https://colemans.com/shop/camping-gear/bedding/greek-wool-blanket/
We use around the house my baby blanket, an αριSτον pure virgin wool. I remember as one of my first memories, it should be made in the mid 60s and still going strong. It is a red tartan pattern and colors are still vivid. My wife loves it too.
I found an old ad of it, it is the same but mine is Clan Stuart like.

[Gareth]

Hard to beat the HBC blanket, prized by early traders in Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

Still available too.

Def

I'd love one of them but they're flippin' expensive.

[Syph007]

Hard to beat the HBC blanket, prized by early traders in Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

Still available too.

Def

I bought one for a gift for my wife as she is always cold, she loves it.  Very warm.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hard to beat the HBC blanket, prized by early traders in Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

Still available too.

Def

I'd love one of them but they're flippin' expensive.

Buy quality and only cry once.....   

A few years ago Feline vet had some surplus Swiss Army blankets but they were awfully bulky and so he restricted them to CONUS only because the cost of shipping them abroad was too much.  Too bad, or if have snapped one up.

I do have an HBC blanket with a Jeep logo on it.  It was a gift from a friend a few years ago, and it is warm as anything!

Def

[kkokkolis]

Greek cold is nothing like Canadian or Siberian cold, thankfully.

Do you consider cheaper options, like fleece blankets?

[jerseydevil]

I've got an OD US Army surplus wool blanket that's older than me. Love that thing, incredibly warm. It can be a bit itchy though.....

[SAK Guy]

So, I've being looking at wool blankets for outdoors or emergency use. So far I'm inclined to get a couple of Italian Army ones http://www.amazon.com/Rothco-European-Surplus-Style-Blanket/dp/B005HMHW2A/ref=pd_sim_468_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41RlxnQMjmL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=072P7V7M3Y0DSVGEE8SH

There are others, accordind to the 'nets the Swedish or Bulgarian Army ones are pretty good. The reason I'm looking at the Italian ones is size/weight ratio, also price and availability.

Any thoughts or recommendations are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

The Italians used to come in two grades Officers and Reg Issue. I still have an Officer's and it's outstanding!!! Thick and very heavy. The Reg Issue one was thinner but still no slouch....it was lost in the '06 fire.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That sucks.  Losing stuff in a fire really stinks.

Def

[kkokkolis]

Why should an officer have a warmer blanket? Soldiers do most of the fighting.

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[shark_za]

I'm grabbing another Lesotho blanket when I go race there next month.
Not cheap at around $60 but so warm.

http://maliba-lodge.com/blanketwrap/2010/lesotho-stories/the-history-of-the-basotho-traditional-blanket/

[Grant Lamontagne]

Why should an officer have a warmer blanket? Soldiers do most of the fighting.

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Because the wine bottle is cold when you take it out of the ice bucket. 

Def

[kkokkolis]

During my days in the army, we were given 4 gray blankets in the Medical Corps, two new and two older, but after basic training we prefered to sleep in our sleeping bags and keep the bed intact in case of inspection. In the Special Forces they were given just 2 (basic training) but in the Medical Station we had soft beds and thick beige blankets of a different kind, very warm and somewhat fluffy. Sleeping there was heavenly, unlike the Medical Station of Army Aviation Corps, were I was sleeping on the exam bed with my sleeping bag. I still have this sleeping bag, it was made in West Germany and now it is vintage but good as new.

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[firiki]

Thank you for your suggestions, gentlemen The search continues!

A Greek Army blanket would probably do well (excluding snow) if I could find one online. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to go scouring in surplus stores.

The Hudson bay blanket is a great choice but way too nice and pricey to be used as an emergency blanket. A bit too thick as well, I suspect.

I think a good wool blanket is better that a sythetic fleece, far superior in terms of size/insulation and it works even when wet. Synthetic materials on the other hand can be a deah trap when wet!

I forgot to mention this blanket is going to be kept in a bag so it needs to be relatively thin.

[firiki]

Hard to beat the HBC blanket, prized by early traders in Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_point_blanket

Still available too.

Def

By the way, here's what we colloquially call "capotes" around here nowadays  :



It used to designate a heavy, woolen overcoat with a hood that was usually worn by shepherds up in the mountains, though. 

[Gareth]

I knew it was a coat, but I didn't know it was one of them.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd never heard of that either.

Do they keep you warm as well? 

(Please don't answer that)

Def

[kkokkolis]

Heat is bad down there, ask your doctor.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Ever since "the incident" we aren't on speaking terms... 

Def

[Gareth]

Ever since "the incident" we aren't on speaking terms... 

Def

Yes Grant, that really was part of the examination and there was no reason to punch the doctor out.

[Gerhard Gerber]

I'm grabbing another Lesotho blanket when I go race there next month.
Not cheap at around $60 but so warm.

http://maliba-lodge.com/blanketwrap/2010/lesotho-stories/the-history-of-the-basotho-traditional-blanket/

Are they wool blankets?

Thanks to fleece and PEP Stores I doubt I've every even seen an wool blanket! 

[shark_za]

Are they wool blankets?

Thanks to fleece and PEP Stores I doubt I've every even seen an wool blanket! 

From the text,
"The traditional blankets differ from most modern blankets in that they are almost entirely made of wool (88% wool and 12% cotton), hence their rougher and firmer texture."

They are wool and cost a pretty penny, R800 - R900 is worth it. Have you seen the snow up there.

[JP]

I think you should grab two sticks and begin knitting. You have the choice of colour, weight and materials at your finger tips. You can felt the wool too.

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[Sea Monster]

I've got 3 wool blankets, 1 Australian, 1 New Zealand, and 1 Scottish,

They're all excellent (varying weights), and as it happens, I paid very little for any of them.

Of course I was never "in the market" for one, so I've had the last 30 years to collect them at my leisure as the opportunity presented itself.

I've recommended it before, and I'll do it again - Second hand shops, Garage Sales, and the like are your friends.

Old people love wool blankets, and old people also die reasonably often, so you can find this sort of thing relatively easy at the above mentioned sorts of places.

[Gerhard Gerber]

From the text,
"The traditional blankets differ from most modern blankets in that they are almost entirely made of wool (88% wool and 12% cotton), hence their rougher and firmer texture."

They are wool and cost a pretty penny, R800 - R900 is worth it. Have you seen the snow up there.

Snow?  What is that? 

I hope to visit that part of the world some day.......