Super Light Stealth Survival Shelter 

I call this the "SACK" stay alive cold kit, it works well. I drop my straight into my Metal mug to focus the heat upwards and it gives added protection to the poncho.

1976…. the year of the long hot summer…..happy times.

This looks like a good method that you could use even if you are injured. Too many of these sorts of "emergency shelter" videos require lots of material gathering and about half a day if you have not done it before. All of that is very difficult to do if you have injured a leg.

I love that book! I spent hours ramming candles down fountain pens and seeking tins for everything. The sister book is "Camping for young people". I found it in WH Smiths in Colwyn Bay, and got totally engrossed in it. I was actually reading it when I walked out of the shop down the street, then when I got home I panicked as I hadn't paid! Then I thought of going back to pay but then panicked! It sat on the shelf looking guilty for ages. Then I dug it out and started building candle burners and putting sheets and plastic sheets all over the lawn! My buddies got into it and we did a lot of back garden camping!

I love this! It's a variation of my method, though your use of the mylar blanket is more professional. However, I use 2 Uco tealight candle lanterns. Protects from accidents and they're great for standard use, a little light, protected from the wind. In a small survival kit, it's not much extra to carry. I didn't know there were 12 hour tealights. Also, a fantastic method, adding to or replacing tealights; a Curaheat pad. The ones used for aches and pains. Stick it over the baselayer. Lovely heat. Put it on the lefthand side, back. Aids the heart for pumping blood. A sit mat to pad out what you're leaning against.

The book that started a life long passion.

You could have the mylar blanket ready fasten to yor poncho that way if your in distress it's all ready for use and maybe some short lengths of cord on the corners of the poncho to tie some branches on if its windy.

On a longer trek i bring the poncho liner. That gives me two options using it as a liner with a similar setup as yours. Or turning the poncho into a plow point shelter with the cut open bin liner as a floor cloth on top of leaves and my liner as a sleeping bag. I don't like fire when i am sleeping in the army a kid got burned badly because he fel asleep with an Esbit cube for light and warmth.

In a pinch this is GREAT to have with you.

Here in the US, I believe it was retitled for the NA market. I remember getting to make a gradeschool trip to the city public library and checking out Greenbank's Book of Survival, which even at a young age got me thinking about what to do in various situations of survival. About the same time I also checked out the Little Golden Book of Camping from my Scout troop library. It had a one page write up about making a survival kit and carrying it in the metal tin that Band-aid plasters came in. That got me thinking about carrying survival kit in a tinnie. Some notes on your gear: UST made a mylar emergency poncho some time ago which would also fill the bill here and most tea lights I've seen in the States are the smaller ones, but the ones I've seen in USAF cold weather survival kits are the large size you show here. Nice video, cheers and all the best!

great idea, main thing i take from your video is using the mylar blanket as a poncho liner.

Invert a small, old tin over the candle - that will stop anything catching fire and give something to carry the kit in. Just remember to allow air to circulate.

Uh, learned it in the army, great that you showed it👍🇨🇭 Be very careful when wearing polyester clothing‼️

In my day Survival for young people involved doing your chores, not answering back, tidying your room etc etc :-p Edit, I was born the year you bought it haha!

Really like the color of that poncho. I’ve done a similar thing but I use a beeswax candle. I would caution against breaking wind, flatulence, passing gas in this situation or you may find yourself floating in the air like a balloon.

I think I heard somewhere the candle and blankets trick was used by frontiersman in America, but it's a good twist on an old Idea. Probably give some protection from thermal imaging cameras.👍 good idea.

This is the most complete instruction on using this shelter setup I have seen. Great Job.

This is one of the many reasons a poncho is right near the top of my list in order of importance. My version is minus the trash bag, and uses a candle lantern (UCO) instead of the tea candle. The candle lantern has a longer burn time, and allows me to pile more brush around myself safely (plus I like this size candle for helping me light fires in cold wet conditions). 👍

Great video, and great little emergency shelter option friend.

That's a nice simple solution for an emergency shelter with very basic kit. Good safety warning at the end. Thanks Neil.

I had that book ! Memories..

This is awesome. It's an amazing example of optimizing science in the bush. I'm really enjoying your uploads by the way

Cold weather training in the Marines- We built 2-3 man snow caves. One or two candles heated up the ambient air temperature to be more comfortable.

Nice kit. I’ve have a similar kit that has a SOL reflective poncho & one of there blankets also a cheap plastic poncho. I also use a UCO candle lantern sitting inside a GSI cup. My main poncho if I have it is a Wilderness Innovations HD. This can be a great combo & I like the garage bag as a seat with this setup, yes I normally have one or two depending on the kit. One thing people should play with is the candle setup, I mean I’ve set up & had the poncho tight to the ground & had the candle go out a few times. You need to find that sweet spot that lets in enough air for the candle but not to much.

When I was kid in Ireland during the ‘80,s- I believe I got the same book from the library and loved it, very inspiring book.

I bought that very same book aged about 11 or 12 back then, Got me interested in survival and I've never looked back. Lol Sadly long since lost after lending it to a mate back In the early 80s before I joined the forces. Along with my copy of stay alive with Eddie Megee. Both excellent books especially for young people. Thank you Neil for nostalgic trip down memory lane. Great vid too mate. ATB Rob 👍

Something better than the mylar sheet is an SOS bivy bag. Stronger and better coverage so no need for candles. Good video though.

I still have my copy of that book, bought new around 1976 too. Another informative and enjoyable video. Thanks

I have the same book from the same period. Great nostalgic video thank you.

Add some folded aluminium foil as a candle guard.

Good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !

Great set up, I like it.

Awesome idea Neil, I may have to do a search for the book :)

Good stuff...again. Keep going.

I've never read that book but as a kid I bought How to survive by Brian hildreth I read that book so many times and learnt so much.

Great little kit! Now I will have to find those larger tea light candles.

Brilliant video, thanks.

I'm glad you had a windy day to make a perfect example of what you were saying. I have very high blood pressure - so just my body heat would be enough for me in most cases. I don't have the book but have many others like Lofty's SAS Survival Guide. Some cadets and service gave me more practice. Thankfully unlike some places we don't have more interesting life forms that require us for food - even by the drop of blood. (I hate leeches even now).

Solid concept Neil. thanks Nate

Thanks Neal.good advice as always.

very nice video, thanks for scharing

Great video mate thanks go to make one of these because you never know

Well thought out, great instructions!

This time Light =/=Silent - every single move or small wind will generate rustling foil sounds.

Nice video greencraft

Great video as always.

Bottles and tins are commonly-found. I wonder whether it's possible to boil water in an old bottle? I would think so, if the glass is incrementally exposed to the heat; but, I've never tried it.

Like your videos find them useful.👍🏻 🙂 Question for you. As your job is full time in the woods doing bushcraft. Do you get paid? Do you get paid for teaching it to other people like ray mears did? You can live of the land as you have the skills. I know you make and sell things on etze. As for me my job is working in a warehouse 5 days a week for a pharmaceutical company. I get paid monthly. As you work and live in the woods. Are you self employed? Do you work for a charity? I know these are personal questions. But I know it would be tough for me , living off the land, having little money, and facing the elements everyday. We all need to earn a living. Takes a certain person to live that way of life. But that person is being true to themselves, following their passions, and living a true way of life. Most people cannot do that as they need to feel safe and not vulnerable. Unfortunately it's a material world. I don't see many female bushcrafters as women are material, need comfort, money, and security. These are my opinions and observations. I respect your way of life neil.👍🏻🔥🏕🌳🙂.

Just give my copy of this book away

Would wet leaves/vegetation still work for insulation inside the bag? I haven't had the chance to try it yet.

You totally forgot to mention a bottle of brandy or whiskey or something to pass the fuck out... What a miserable way to spend the night seriously! I hope I never need to sit on a bag leaves, with a poncho and candles but, thanks for making the video...😊

What’s the name brand model of that multi tool knife that shows in your video Preview? It’s a green color. Thanks

Sat on my pack and spent many nights like that apart from the candle.