A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:
Proof of Concept
Explorations that test ideas and functionality.
Functional Prototype
Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.
Appearance Prototype
Looks like the final product, but is not functional.
Design Prototype
Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.
Production Prototype
Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.
Prototype Gallery
These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.
A core principle of winter wilderness survival is managing heat loss and can be the difference between life and death.
Improvised Shelter
But you don’t necessarily have to know how to build a snow cave or debris hut to be prepared. Carrying a basic shelter with you, even a poncho (see rewards), can provide life saving protection.
The Pocket Super Shelter provides these advantages and more:
Compact and easy to carry
Simple and fast setup
Conserves energy
Protection from the wind and rain
Can be heated so you get warmer, faster
With few exceptions most of the emergency shelters available are made with cheap and fragile material. And while they can do a decent job at shielding you from the wind and rain, so can garbage bags.
Given the choice I’d choose a trash bag for their durability, however survival shelters all share the same limitation in that they only work to conserve body heat.
If you are injured, wet, exhausted, or hungry, your body may not be able to generate enough heat to avoid slipping into hypothermia despite having a measure of shelter.
The Pocket Super Shelter is the only emergency survival shelter that actively heats up and warms the occupant.
It works by trapping the radiant energy from a campfire, much the same way a greenhouse traps the sun's rays. The thermal reflective material used to build the shelter then directs that heat from the fire enveloping you in warmth and comfort.
Radiant Heat is Captured by the Pocket Super Shelter
In our test we managed to raise the internal temperature of the shelter from an ambient 24F to above 80F in less than 15 minutes, despite 30mph wind gusts.
The materials used to make the Pocket Super Shelter are much stronger than Mylar. Even though it is an emergency shelter meant for short term use, it will outlast any space blanket or tube tent.
Mors Kochanski with his Super Shelter. Image credit Masterwoodsman.com
The original Super Shelter was developed by wilderness living skills and survival instructor Mors Kochanski about 40 years ago, and it is still considered the "go to" improvised shelter for cold weather by bushcrafters and survivalists.
Love the outdoors but you are not into building your own shelter? That's ok! By partnering with HeatSheets I am now able to produce a simple and durable version of this wonderful shelter that fits into a tiny package.
The Pocket Super Shelter is made from Heatsheets proprietary Silver Lining™ Technology, based on radiant barrier science developed by NASA Engineers for the U.S. Space Program.
The reflective surface returns up to 90% of body’s radiant heat to the wearer, generating an envelope of warm air.
Heatsheets are not made from Mylar®. They are made from a recyclable LDPE plastic, which is a thicker, softer, quieter, and dramatically more durable than Mylar.
Heatsheets are wind and water proof, puncture-resistant and do not fracture or tear if the edges are nicked, as Mylar blankets do.
Manufactured from food-grade polyethylene resins, containing no BPAs or lead.
I'm excited and a good deal intimidated by the fact that the Pocket Super Shelter is intended to be a life saving device. This weighed heavily on my mind as I struggled for six years to make the Super Shelter pocket sized, durable, and easy to use even for the wilderness novice. It wasn't until I partnered with HeatSheets that was I able to find the right material for the job. It won't stop a Yeti, but it'll keep you warm until then.
In order to start production I need to meet a minimum purchase order.
Thanks to my wonderful backers I have three successful kickstarter campaigns. Each project has given me valuable experience I then applied to the next. I'm asking you to join me again and make this project the best yet.
Ferrocerium FireStarter
Ferrocerium (fer-oh-seer-ee-uh m) is a man-made metallic material that produces exceptionally hot sparks when scraped with a rough surface or a sharp edge. The shavings burn at an astounding 5000F. They are impervious to the weather and can provide years of service and thousands of fires.
Pocket Super Shelter
The Pocket Super Shelter will come with line and tent stakes, all neatly vacuum sealed in a package with instructions. Shelter Pictured is an abused prototype. Actual production shelters will be nicer.
UltraFlect Poncho
Ultraflect Poncho
Now this is cool! As an added bonus to the project HeatSheets is providing an incredible ultralight mid-length poncho made from their ULTRAFLECT™ fabric. These aren't your cheap disposable ponchos. Ultraflect™ is a reflective lightweight polyester woven insulation fabric featuring Heatsheets’ Silver Lining® technology.
Of all the gear you should carry in your kit a poncho is arguably one of the most important. It is a shelter you wear. This material feels almost like cloth, it is waterproof, it is durable, and it can be worn with the reflective side in to reflect body heat, or worn with the reflective side outwards to protect against the burning rays of the sun.
It is medium length so you can keep hiking or jogging even in the rain without fear of tripping. You should have one of these ponchos with you on every bike trip, hike, jog, or hunt. Keep one in your car in the event you have to change a tire in the rain. The quality and material can't be beat.
Add-ons and Extras
If we reach our funding goals we may have stretch goals available. In any case, Add-ons will be held until after our initial funding goal is reached. Then thanks to Crowdox, you will be able to customize and add to your backer rewards without the constraints of pledge levels.
For this project there is no tooling to build. Material is on hand and they are just waiting for the green light to start assembling the shelters. I've padded the delivery date a bit to mid May, just in case. But I anticipate we'll be shipping shelters before that.
Risks and challenges
I'm excited about this project because there are no tools to make, no molds, no dies. Everything is ready to go. All that we need are the funds to purchase the minimum order of shelters and Heatsheets will start assembling and packaging.
I've also teamed up with Crowdox once again to help me handle the surveys and backer rewards. Their tools make it not only possible, but down right easy to keep track of even thousands of backers and see to it they receive exactly the rewards and options they've selected.
Of course the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. In that case be assured that I will keep you up to date on all developments.
