Most people wouldn’t think that a blanket offers anything more than useful cover when faced with cold conditions. But then again, they may not have experienced the Cloudstryke blanket from 5.11 Tactical. This deceptively basic blanket offers discreet amenities useful in numerous outdoor scenarios.
The 5.11 Tactical Cloudstryke Blanket
From keeping you warm, to stringing it overhead for shelter, to even transforming it into a useful poncho when storms roll in, its versatility will astound you. With the Cloudstryke blanket coiled under my arm, I ventured into the wilderness to test its surprising usefulness.
What You Get
The blanket came to me packed down and contained within its included stuff sack. In this form, the 54″ x 70″ blanket only occupied a 16″ x 7″ footprint, with a weight just under three pounds. Prior to getting my sample in hand, my first thoughts were how to carry a fairly large blanket on my treks outdoors. Noticing now its compact carry size, those worries quickly disappeared.
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I unrolled the Woodland Camo-designed blanket and noted both its softness (which everyone wants when resting outdoors) and its ruggedness with a notably durable outer shell and reinforced corners.
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Material and Construction
The Cloudstryke is not just an ordinary blanket that you would throw over your sofa at home, not by a long shot. 5.11 fabricates the blanket with an integrated 100D nylon and 50D polyester weave. This provides a good deal of water resistance (which I’ll test shortly), which is essential for outdoor use.
Additionally, its inner material is 100g PrimaLoft Silver insulation, which offers properties of superior heat retention and optimal drying rates. The Cloudstryke blanket is designed with both built-in snaps and reinforced corners. These allow you to use the blanket in ways other blankets can’t.
You can string the Cloudstryke blanket overhead to construct an impromptu shelter or wrap and snap it as a poncho. It’s an added plus that the blanket is machine washable. As mentioned earlier, it also packs down in its stuff sack for easy carry.
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As a Blanket
Anyone who spends time outdoors knows that the bare ground can sap the heat from your body. The Cloudstryke, I’ve found, is a viable barrier to reduce body heat loss. I placed the blanket on grass, on dry dirt, and on moist terrain, and all three times, I was comfortable with no notice of cold where I sat.
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Now, over time, this may change, but in the short term, it did insulate very well. The blanket had the perfect balance between comfort and durability. One without the other, while in the outdoors, would be highly impractical.
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Transforming Helper
An unexpected characteristic the Cloudstryke has is its ability to transform into a wearable poncho. Converting it is done by securing the integrated snap fasteners on the blanket, and within seconds, you have wearable protection from the elements. The conversion was easy enough after a few unsuccessful tries by myself, as I didn’t line up the matching fasteners at first.
As for its comfort as a poncho, it was surprisingly fitting and effective. Most ponchos don’t usually offer the thickness that this blanket does, and I suspected it would be bulky or bunch up as I moved. I was proven wrong. It offered easy mobility and a comfortable, thick barrier between me and outdoor conditions. With just a few well-placed snaps, the poncho offered added so much to the Cloudstryke’s worth as an outdoor must-have.
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Shelter Assembly
Finally, I tested the blanket’s ability to once again transform. This time, however, it was to aid in constructing an overhead shelter. As mentioned, the blanket’s design offers webbing loops that are used to secure the blanket overhead with attached cordage. These are located in each of the four corners, and upon a quick look, they appeared durable and well-stitched.
It was a simple task to secure cordage and string the blanket overhead. With a square footage just over twenty-six square feet, there was ample room underneath to protect me from both falling rain and intense overhead sunshine.
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Is it a Buy or Skip?
It would be an absolute mistake for you not to add the Cloudstryke blanket to your outdoor pack. You not only get a blanket that delivers when it counts, but you also have two other integrated features that I’m sure will come in handy at some point in your travels. When space is always at a premium, having this multi-functional item with you, pulling triple duty, is a no-brainer.
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Comfort, durability, compactness, and transforming amenities, the Woodland Camo Cloudstryke Blanket delivers much more than simple ground cover.
