>>137449>I put the space blanket in backwards. It was reflecting the heat of the fire away from me and allowing my heat to escape. As far as I know, space blankets are two-sided. They are only good at reflecting radiant heat, though and can't retain heat, though. That's probably why you got cold. Your actual insulation was just a wool blanket and it was obviously inadequate.
>I was wearing a t shirt and a sleeveless vest (Vest is pictured in the OP). I woke shivering multiple times throughout the night.It sounds like you got cold. Bring a real sleeping bag and pad (you need both) next time and you should be fine. Insulation happens when warm air is retained close to your body. Wool blankets are pretty mediocre at keeping drafts out, so warm air is held in the thin spaces between the fibers; then it blows away. Sleeping bags are wind-proof, and have several inches of loft to keep the warm air from dissipating.
>Do You guys usually pack a pillow? Rolled up rain gear in a stuffsack usually works for me.
>Would you suggest getting a sleeping bag AND sleeping mat? Yes!!
>Can I use my space blanket again and again? Just don't use a space blanket. This is not real camping gear. It's emergency gear that doesn't do much to begin with, and does almost nothing if it's windy at all.
>Misc questions:Do you ever have problems with insects and critters getting in your tent? Most people use a double-wall telt or a mesh bug bivy to keep the bugs out. With a plain tarp, there's not much you can do.
>I urinated a circle around my tent to claim my territory. I can only assume you're joking because this does nothing.
>How much water? 2 liters for hiking, and then re-fill along the way (for instance, you camped by a river, you could have refilled) by treating the water with a filter or aqua mira.
>Do you usually leave the fire going when you are asleep?No. If you use matches or a lighter, getting a fire going takes like 2 minutes.
