Best Emergency Blankets and Mylar Blankets for Earthquake Preparedness (2025 Guide)

Last updated: February 2025

Emergency blankets are one of the most underrated items in earthquake preparedness. They weigh almost nothing, cost next to nothing, take up barely any space — and they could keep you alive.

When an earthquake hits and you're forced to evacuate your home, sleep outside, or shelter in an unheated building, hypothermia becomes a real threat. Even in temperate climates, nighttime temperatures drop enough to be dangerous for someone in shock, injured, or simply unprepared. A quality emergency blanket or bivvy sack reflects your body heat back to you, blocking wind and rain, for the weight of a couple of energy bars.

This guide covers the best emergency blankets, mylar blankets, and bivvy sacks for earthquake kits, along with how they work, their limitations, and which type fits your needs.

Key Takeaways

• Mylar emergency blankets reflect up to 90% of your radiated body heat, weighing as little as 1–3 ounces.
• Basic single-use mylar blankets ($1–$2 each) are good for kits but tear easily and can't be refolded well.
• Emergency bivvy sacks ($8–$25) outperform flat blankets in wind and rain — they enclose your body like a sleeping bag.
• Keep at least one emergency blanket per person in your home kit, car kit, office kit, and go-bag.
• Emergency blankets don't replace real sleeping bags for multi-night outdoor stays — they're a survival tool, not a comfort item.

How Emergency Blankets Work

Emergency blankets — often called space blankets, mylar blankets, or survival blankets — are made from a thin sheet of BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate), commonly known by the brand name Mylar. This material was originally developed by NASA in the 1960s for spacecraft insulation.

The principle is simple: your body constantly radiates heat as infrared energy. Under normal conditions, that heat dissipates into the surrounding air. An emergency blanket's metalized surface reflects a large portion of that infrared radiation back toward your body, creating a warm microclimate between you and the blanket.

Most manufacturers claim reflectivity rates of 80–90% of radiated body heat. The actual effectiveness depends on several factors: how completely the blanket covers you, wind exposure, ground insulation, moisture, and whether you're using it as a flat sheet or as an enclosed bivvy.

What emergency blankets do well: reflect radiant heat, block wind, repel rain and snow, serve as a ground barrier, and work as a signaling device (the shiny surface is visible from a great distance).

What they don't do well: provide insulation in the traditional sense (they have no loft or padding), keep you comfortable for extended periods, work effectively if you're already severely hypothermic (you need to be generating body heat for them to reflect), or hold up to rough use (basic mylar tears easily).

earthquake emergency kits

Emergency Blanket and Bivvy Products Compared

Flat Mylar Blankets: The Basics

Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Blankets (4-pack)

Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Blankets (4-pack) — Standard-thickness Mylar blankets in a compact 4-pack. Each blanket measures 52" × 82" and weighs about 1.5 ounces. Individually wrapped in sealed packaging. Available in silver/silver or silver/gold (dual-side) versions. $8–$12 for a 4-pack. Best for: stocking multiple kits affordably.

Swiss Safe is one of the most popular emergency blanket brands on Amazon, and for good reason — the price-to-quantity ratio makes it easy to put blankets everywhere you might need them. At roughly $2–$3 per blanket, you can stock your home kit, car kit, office kit, and go-bag without thinking twice about cost.

The material is standard-thickness Mylar, which means it does what it's supposed to (reflect heat, block wind) but tears relatively easily. Once unfolded, these blankets are difficult to refold neatly and are essentially single-use. That's fine for a one-time emergency, but if you're looking for something more durable, consider the Titan or SE options below.

Titan Two-Sided Emergency Mylar Blankets (5-pack)

Titan Two-Sided Emergency Mylar Blankets (5-pack) — Slightly thicker Mylar blankets with different colors on each side (typically orange/silver). Each measures 52" × 82" and weighs about 2 ounces. The orange side can be used for signaling visibility, while the silver side reflects heat. $10–$14 for a 5-pack. Best for: better durability at a small price premium.

Titan blankets feel noticeably more substantial than the cheapest mylar options. The dual-color design adds practical value — orange is one of the most visible colors for search and rescue, so flipping the blanket to the orange side can help rescuers spot you. The silver side faces your body for heat reflection.

These can survive being carefully refolded once or twice, but they're still fundamentally disposable mylar. For earthquake preparedness, the slight durability improvement is worth the extra dollar or two per blanket.

Grabber Outdoors Original Space Blanket

Grabber Outdoors Original Space Blanket — A simple, no-frills Mylar blanket at a reasonable per-unit price. Measures 56" × 84" (slightly larger than many competitors). Weighs about 1.5 ounces. Silver on both sides. $3–$5 each. Best for: individual kit additions when you just need one or two more blankets.

Grabber Outdoors has been making emergency blankets since the 1970s, and their Original Space Blanket is as straightforward as it gets. The slightly larger dimensions (56" × 84" vs. the more common 52" × 82") provide a bit more coverage, which matters when you're trying to fully wrap yourself.

Same limitations as any single-layer Mylar: tears easily, loud and crinkly, condensation buildup on the inside. But at $3–$5 each, it's disposable by design.

SE EB122OR Heavy-Duty Emergency Blanket

SE EB122OR Emergency Blanket — A thicker, more durable emergency blanket with reinforced grommets in each corner. Measures 56" × 84" and weighs about 5 ounces — substantially heavier than standard Mylar but still very light. Orange on one side, silver on the other. The grommets allow it to be used as a makeshift tarp or shelter. $7–$12. Best for: shelter-building, ground cover, reusable applications.

This is the blanket you want if you need to actually do something with it beyond wrapping yourself. The grommets let you string it up as an improvised shelter, tie it to poles, or stake it to the ground. The thicker material resists tearing much better than standard Mylar.

For earthquake preparedness, the SE blanket works well as ground insulation when sleeping outside. Lay it silver-side-up under your sleeping area to reflect ground cold away from you and keep moisture from seeping through. The orange side doubles as a ground-level signaling panel.

At 5 ounces, it's too heavy for an ultralight go-bag where every ounce counts, but for a car kit or home kit where weight isn't a concern, the added durability and versatility are worth it.

Bivvy Sacks: The Upgrade Worth Considering

Flat mylar blankets work, but they have a fundamental problem: they don't stay wrapped around you. You have to hold them in place, they slide off when you shift position, and wind can blow them open. An emergency bivvy sack solves this by enclosing your body in a tube, like a lightweight sleeping bag.

SOL Emergency Bivvy

SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer) Emergency Bivvy — A sealed, tube-shaped shelter made from Mylar that reflects 90% of body heat. Measures 84" × 36" and weighs just 3.8 ounces. Sized to fit a person up to 6 feet tall. Bright orange exterior for signaling. Sealed seams to keep wind and rain out. $8–$14. Best for: go-bags, car kits, office kits — the best value bivvy for earthquake preparedness.

The SOL Emergency Bivvy is probably the single best upgrade you can make from a flat mylar blanket. At 3.8 ounces, it barely adds any weight to your kit, but the enclosed design is dramatically more effective than a flat sheet in wind, rain, or cold.

You climb in feet-first, pull it up to your neck (or over your head, leaving a breathing gap), and your body heat builds rapidly inside the reflective chamber. The sealed seams mean wind can't steal your warmth the way it does with a flat blanket.

The limitations: it's still essentially a disposable product. The Mylar material will tear if you're rough with it, and getting in and out repeatedly weakens the opening. Condensation builds up inside because the material isn't breathable — you'll be warm but damp by morning. For a single emergency night, that's an acceptable tradeoff. For multiple nights, consider the SOL Escape Bivvy.

SOL Escape Bivvy

SOL Escape Bivvy — A reusable, breathable bivvy sack that solves the condensation problem of standard Mylar. Uses Adventure Medical Kits' proprietary PolyFilm material that reflects body heat while allowing water vapor to escape. Measures 84" × 31" and weighs 8.5 ounces. Drawcord hood opening. $35–$50. Best for: reusable emergency shelter that actually lets you sleep.

The Escape Bivvy is the best emergency bivvy on the market if you care about actually sleeping in it. The breathable material means you wake up warm and mostly dry rather than warm and soaked in condensation. The drawcord hood lets you cinch the opening tight around your face, blocking drafts without suffocating yourself.

At 8.5 ounces and roughly the size of a water bottle when packed, it's still very packable. The higher price is justified if you plan to use it more than once — and in earthquake preparedness, "more than once" could mean multiple aftershock evacuations over several nights.

The material is significantly tougher than standard Mylar. It can be carefully folded, packed, and reused many times. It won't replace a real sleeping bag for comfort, but for emergency warmth it's the best compact option available.

How Bivvy Sacks Compare to Flat Blankets

The difference in real-world performance is significant:

Wind resistance: A flat blanket flaps open at every gust. A bivvy sack encloses you completely, maintaining the warm air pocket around your body.

Rain protection: Flat blankets can shed water if positioned correctly, but they tend to channel rain onto you rather than away. A bivvy's sealed seams keep water out entirely (though condensation is an issue with non-breathable models).

Hands-free: You don't have to hold a bivvy around you. Once you're inside, you can sleep, rest, or use your hands.

The tradeoff: Bivvy sacks are more expensive, slightly heavier, and can't serve the multi-purpose roles (shelter, tarp, ground cover) that flat blankets can.

Specialized Options

Blizzard Survival Blanket

Blizzard Survival Blanket — A reflective insulated blanket using Reflexcell technology — essentially a Mylar surface bonded to cellular insulation pockets. Measures 90" × 63" and weighs about 13 ounces. Provides genuine insulation in addition to heat reflection. Wind and waterproof. $28–$40. Best for: cold climate earthquake preparedness, extended exposure situations.

The Blizzard Survival Blanket is in a different category from standard Mylar products. The Reflexcell insulation creates dead-air pockets similar to how a down jacket works, providing actual insulating value on top of the reflective heat return. It's used by military forces and mountain rescue teams in the UK and Europe.

For earthquake preparedness in cold climates — Pacific Northwest, mountain regions, anywhere winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing — the Blizzard blanket offers meaningful protection that a standard Mylar sheet simply can't match. The weight and bulk penalty (13 ounces vs. 1.5 ounces) is justified if hypothermia is a realistic threat in your area.

Earthquake-Specific Uses for Emergency Blankets

Emergency blankets aren't just for warmth. In an earthquake scenario, they serve multiple purposes:

Warmth after evacuation: The most obvious use. If you're forced outside at night — during aftershocks, due to structural damage to your home, or while sheltering in your yard — an emergency blanket or bivvy provides critical warmth. Shock from the event itself can lower your body's ability to regulate temperature, making hypothermia a risk even in moderate weather.

Ground cover for sleeping outside: If you're camping in your yard or a designated shelter area, a flat mylar blanket laid on the ground creates a moisture barrier and reflects ground cold away from you. This is especially important on damp earth or concrete, which pulls heat from your body rapidly through conduction.

Improvised shelter: Using the SE EB122OR or similar grommeted blankets, you can create a lean-to, wind break, or rain shelter by tying the blanket between two fixed points. This is useful when you need shade during the day or rain protection at night.

Signaling for rescue: The reflective surface of a Mylar blanket is visible from significant distances in daylight. If you're trapped or stranded, spreading a blanket flat on the ground or waving it creates a highly visible signal for helicopters and search teams. The orange side of dual-colored blankets is specifically designed for this.

Shade in hot climates: In the immediate aftermath of a summer earthquake, you might need shade more than warmth. A mylar blanket strung up as an awning reflects solar heat, keeping the area beneath it significantly cooler.

Windscreen for cooking: If you're using a camp stove to heat water or prepare food after an earthquake, a flat blanket can shield the stove from wind, improving fuel efficiency.

what to do after an earthquake

Emergency Blanket Buying Guide

What to Look For

Material quality: Not all Mylar blankets are created equal. Thicker material (measured in microns) tears less easily and retains heat better. Budget blankets around 12 microns are fragile. Premium blankets at 20+ microns offer meaningful durability improvement.

Size: Standard emergency blankets range from 52" × 82" to 56" × 84". If you're over 6 feet tall or large-framed, look for the bigger dimensions. For bivvies, check the length — most accommodate up to about 6 feet comfortably.

Sealed packaging: Emergency blankets should be individually vacuum-sealed or heat-sealed in plastic. This protects them from moisture, UV degradation, and accidental unfolding. If the packaging is damaged, the blanket may have already degraded.

Color options: Silver/silver blankets are the cheapest but offer no signaling capability. Silver/orange or silver/gold blankets cost slightly more but give you a high-visibility side for rescue signaling. For earthquake kits, the orange side is worth the small premium.

Grommets: Corner grommets transform a flat blanket from a body wrap into a multi-use shelter-building material. If you want versatility beyond basic warmth, choose a grommeted option like the SE EB122OR.

What to Avoid

• The cheapest no-name bulk packs: Extremely thin Mylar that tears when you unfold it. If a blanket is under $0.50 each in bulk, the material quality is likely too poor to be reliable.
• Relying on a single blanket for cold weather: One mylar blanket provides meaningful warmth, but it's not a sleeping bag. In cold conditions, pair it with whatever other insulation you have — jackets, clothing layers, even crumpled newspaper between layers.
• Storing blankets in direct sunlight: UV exposure degrades Mylar over time, even through packaging. Store your blankets in a bag, box, or interior compartment.
• Expecting comfort: Emergency blankets are survival tools. They're loud, crinkly, don't breathe (except the SOL Escape), and cause condensation. They keep you alive, not comfortable. Set realistic expectations.

How Many Blankets Do You Need?

For comprehensive earthquake preparedness, the answer is probably more than you think — but they're so cheap and compact that there's little reason not to stock up.

Home earthquake kit: 2 per person (one for warmth, one for ground cover or shelter). If you have the SOL Escape Bivvy as your primary warmth layer, add 1–2 flat blankets for multi-use.

Car kit: 1 per person (a bivvy sack is ideal here for its compactness and wind protection).

Office kit: 1 per person (a flat blanket is fine — you're likely sheltering in a building, not outdoors).

Go-bag: 1 bivvy sack per person. The SOL Emergency Bivvy at 3.8 ounces is the best option for a bag you want to keep light.

For a family of four, that works out to roughly 12–16 blankets across all kits. At $2–$3 per flat blanket, the total investment is under $40 for the flat blankets, plus $30–$50 for a couple of bivvy sacks for go-bags.

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FAQ

Do emergency blankets really work, or are they gimmicky?

They work — with realistic expectations. A Mylar blanket genuinely reflects a significant portion of your body's radiated heat. In controlled tests, they measurably reduce heat loss compared to no blanket at all. But they're not magic. They work best when you're out of the wind, insulated from the ground, and wearing some clothing. A naked, wet person in a gale with only a Mylar blanket will still be in trouble.

Can I sleep in an emergency blanket for multiple nights?

You can, but it won't be pleasant. Standard Mylar blankets cause significant condensation buildup — you'll be warm but damp. The SOL Escape Bivvy with its breathable material is far better for multi-night use. For anything beyond a single night, pair your emergency blanket with whatever other insulation you can find: clothing, cardboard, newspapers, or other bedding.

What's the difference between a "space blanket" and an "emergency blanket"?

They're the same thing. "Space blanket" refers to the NASA heritage of the metalized Mylar material. "Emergency blanket," "survival blanket," and "Mylar blanket" all describe the same product. Marketing terminology varies, but the material and function are identical across these terms.

Should I buy a bivvy sack or flat blankets?

Both, ideally. Bivvy sacks are superior for personal warmth in wind and rain — they're the better choice for go-bags and car kits where you might be exposed to the elements. Flat blankets are cheaper, more versatile (ground cover, shelter, signaling), and better for stocking multiple kits in bulk. A good earthquake preparedness plan includes bivvy sacks for primary warmth and flat blankets for everything else.

How long do emergency blankets last in storage?

In sealed, undamaged packaging stored away from sunlight and extreme heat, Mylar emergency blankets can last 5–10 years or more. The metalized coating can degrade with UV exposure or moisture over time. Check your blankets annually — if the packaging is compromised or the material feels brittle or shows delamination (the metallic coating separating from the base), replace it.

Can emergency blankets be used for pets?

Absolutely. Wrap the blanket around or beneath your pet the same way you'd use it for yourself. Smaller dogs and cats in particular can lose body heat quickly. Be aware that pets may puncture thin Mylar with claws, so the thicker blankets (SE EB122OR, Titan) are better choices for pet use. A small bivvy sack can also work as a pet shelter, though most animals won't voluntarily climb inside.

Sources

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Build a Kit." Ready.gov. https://www.ready.gov/kit
• American Red Cross. "Earthquake Safety." https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake.html
• NASA. "Spinoff: Mylar Insulation." https://spinoff.nasa.gov/
• National Weather Service. "Hypothermia Safety." https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold