Out of the package: It comes with its own compression bag. After the blanket is inside the compression bag, the flap covers the opening to keep out debris.
The fabric: The fabric is as described (gotta love accurate seller descriptions.) One side of the blanket is shiny - that's the water repellent side. The other side is dull - that side is not water repellent but is soft to the skin. Please watch the video to see the difference between the two sides. "Seeing is believing" as my mother used to say. Amazon would only allow me to upload one video per review.Because I do not know how to splice videos, you will only see the repellent side.
The filling: The Snugpak Jungle Blanket filling is 100 percent Resin Coated Polyester dries faster than cotton.
This blanket has a design logo which is almost invisible to the eye. In a flashlight beam, the shiny side bounces back light a lot - it shines and the dull side looks sparkly. I don't mind the sheen but some campers might.
The shiny side of this blanket shed that mist like water droplets. A quick wipe down cleared the water. A shower spray rinses away salt if the salt is bothersome. I washed the blanket at home. I avoided getting the underside wet. If the dull underside gets wet - it is cold to the skin but does not stick to skin like wet cotton.
For storage purposes, the blanket has a slight chemical odor upon arrival. Plan to air the blanket and store with a dryer sheet.
The word antimicrobial is documented in different places on the tags, packaging and elsewhere. That may be true, but I never trust mold and bacteria to stay in their places. The fabric may slow down microbial growth but - give it some help and keep it dry and aired out before storing it.
In the rest of the winter, we used it around the house for warmth. I recommend washing it first if you plan to use it with kids because of the slight chemical smell - or make a duvet.
If you have a quilter in your friends and family circle - ask for a duvet cover in a fabric style you like so you can use this blanket for home use. I plan to repurpose polyester as much as possible.If folded over several times and put into a duvet case, it could be repurposed into a pet bed. I hope you let us know how you repurpose this blanket.
A few drawbacks must be mentioned so you understand what you are getting and are pleasantly surprised with the usefulness of this blanket:
1) Although long enough for most people, it will barely cover the feet of most people over 6'1." I was thankful it was as long as it was. Be prepared to adapt it. I have attached a photo of the tags that show dimensions and more information.
2) The compression bag: The compression bag is called a Snugpak. The blanket itself is called a Jungle Blanket. The attached photo shows the buckle and how the blanket looks when stuffed into the Snugpak after restuffing and before compression. Stuffing the blanket into the compression sack took some time and effort. Another poster commented on the ineffectiveness of the buckles to quickly compress the blanket - and that review is true. I have attached a photo of the compression sack.
3) Someone asked about flammability. It is probably flammable by federal standards until its website or tags say otherwise. Resin Coated Polyester creates a toxic gas when it is being manufactured and creates a toxic gas when burned. Keep away from open flames and use baking soda or dirt/sand to put out its flame.
4) The blanket has a little chemical odor upon arrival, so air it out first before using (see #3) especially if you or your loved ones have asthma. Several weeks later - I did not smell any odor.
5) Washing: After one washing, the filling did not shift. The quilting stitches are very widely spaced. I suspect that the filling will shift over time. If this is important to you, add more quilting stitches and waterproof the stitching.
6) One side of the fabric is shiny and waterproof - the other side is dull and not waterproof. I am repeating myself on purpose. I do not want anyone caught off guard in near freezing weather thinking that this blanket is 100 percent waterproof and protects in freezing weather - no it is neither.
If the inside of the blanket gets wet, it will be damp. The dull side will wick away the moisture, but the blanket will be damp. Consider how you will keep the moisture off the dull side of the blanket. On a cruise, this blanket worked outside just fine. I am from a warm climate and cold, windy, misty air chills me to the bone. Consider how you will protect yourself from the elements. Other reviewers gave some wonderful camping tips. Kindly read them.
7) In windy weather, this blanket will block much wind - but not all of it.
8) Insulation: If you like being warm under the covers and there is a cold wind - you will need another layer of protection between the Snugpak Jungle Blanket and your body. On a cruise ship, a pool towel or two will work as another insulating layer. Hiking out in the wilderness - take another layer. For me - I would need another layer if the temperature dropped into the 50s.
9) For campers: I like the freedom of being able to quickly exit from a sleeping blanket, but others like to be mummified - mummifiers will take a sleeping bag and throw this Jungle blanket over the top. I do not like sleeping bags because I can't get out fast enough to go potty so - I use blankets. Blankets are heavy.
Ultra light campers - this blanket works and is lightweight - but you may need a better compression bag for it.
I would recommend this Jungle Blanket in a hammock tent where the body is off the ground. I would recommend the Jungle Blanket for traveling, on a plane or train, for an emergency blanket in the car, car camping, RV traveling, sports game, and for pets only if it is aired and washed first.
I would not go out into a rainy day with just this blanket as a replacement for a poncho. There may be a way to waterproof this blanket but I am not putting that much effort into it. If the water does not bead up and roll off - its not waterproof. I am not an Army - military - anything else - but they are in my family. They hate camping because of their wilderness experienced. One spent 2 tours in Vietnam and the other trained in Colorado winters. I would not give this blanket to either of them and expect them to be warm in 40 degree weather or 100 percent dry in wet weather using the product as-is. Both would have to make modifications.
Thank you to the reviewers whose reviews helped me decide to try this product. The Snugpak Jungle Blanket worked okay for my needs as a traveler going on a Winter cruise and at home as a warm wrap. Please read the reviews of the hikers and campers because they gave some great tips for modifying the use of the Jungle Blanket.