Tarp For Minimalist Setup

I have used a 55 gallon trash bag once. They can be hard to find. Their are cheap and can be used for emergency rain gear.
I cut the end and crawled in. I used my gore-tex jacket to cover my head. It works fine if it is not too humid.

Lester
 
FwdHO said:
Have you ever actually tried to use one of the space blankets? I gave it a whirl and hated it with a passion - too small, tore easily and made the most horrendous crunching noise all night. I tossed it and went to an 8x10 siltarp and have not looked back.
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If you click the link in my first post, the space blankets we are talking about aren't the same thing. This one is much more heavy duty and durable the the traditional fold up in a little bag single use things.
 
lpwang said:
I have used a 55 gallon trash bag once. They can be hard to find. Their are cheap and can be used for emergency rain gear.
I cut the end and crawled in. I used my gore-tex jacket to cover my head. It works fine if it is not too humid.

Lester
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I might try one of these sometime, but I think I'd bring a back up the first shot. Actually, that's probably a good idea for trying any shelter out for the first time.
 
"Back in the day", the emergency survival shelter was the old red vinyl tube tent. I used one on a section hike on the Appalachian trail, mostly because it was light and cheap and I was a college student operating on a shoestring. I guess they are still made, and probably from better, stronger and lighter materials these days. Anyone ever use one?
 
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These guys? Couldn't seem to find the weight but I'd be surprised if it was lighter than a big ripstop tarp or hammock. Although it sure has them beat in cost. I'd be willing to pick one up if I saw it in a store somewhere though.
 
2.5 mil polyethelyne, 17 ounces, 8' long, including cord. For about five dollah. Cheaper and more room than a poncho, but fits in the disposable catagory. Still better than a trash bag though.:p
 
That's lighter than I figured. I'd for sure like to try one out some time, I try not to use a lot of disposable stuff though. Next time I'm out and about I'll look for one.
 
siguy said:
In general, if I have a pack I try to make sure I have enough layers to be comfortable during any of the projected temperatures and weather conditions for the next 24-48 hours. In the summer this means a long sleeve wool baselayer, or a lightweight jacket. In my corner of the world, I can make a leaf bed and be fine for a night out with just what I have for clothing most times.
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Simon nailed it on the head. When it's colder, I'll add additional layering that I can stuff in or strap onto my bag. With cover from the rain/wind and a good reflective fire, you can actually be comfortable overnight despite the cold/wet conditions. I would really vote for a quality tarp (siltarp for weight reduction and the most compact) as it's the fastest thing out there to get set up, especially when the weather is turning bad fast. You still need to improve thermal protection with natural materials, but to quickly get out of the cold wind or rain, a tarp is the best option; this also allows you to focus on insulation and plenty of fuel for your fire. I like debris shelters, but they take time to put up and not every location might have enough cover readily available.

As added insurance (as they are really for limited use and wouldn't last with repeated use), the AMK Heatsheets and Bivi's are compact and could really retain heat and provide additional protection if the conditions turned more severe. I've used one for additional insulation (my son used it), it held up well and has been repacked for future "emergencies".

ROCK6
 
Simon and Rock have it right. Your clothing is your first line of defence. After ,a tarp or poncho would be my choice. That being said, an AMK Heatsheet can be VERY effective is used properly. Reflective sheets are useless next to your body. You need space between you and the surface so that the heat can be REFLECTED back. Anytime your body comes in contact with it, your body heat gets conducted through the material. Anytime you have a space blanket under you, you should try to get a layer of space creating insulation between you and the sheet. I have never understood why folks put water barriers against their bodies and expect them to be effective insulators.

Rick
 
Rick Marchand said:
...I have never understood why folks put water barriers against their bodies and expect them to be effective insulators.

Rick
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Because they are only thinking about keeping outside moisture from getting in, not about letting inside moisture out. I have seen amature home builders make the same mistake with disastrous results. In order for a structure to stay dry inside, it has to be able to breathe. All the insulation in the world won't help if it is raining from the inside.
 
Codger_64 said:
"Back in the day", the emergency survival shelter was the old red vinyl tube tent. I used one on a section hike on the Appalachian trail, mostly because it was light and cheap and I was a college student operating on a shoestring. I guess they are still made, and probably from better, stronger and lighter materials these days. Anyone ever use one?
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I have one. Haven't tried it out yet. The one i have actually seems fairly heavy for what it is.

I've got that and a couple of cheap tarp options. I've been planning to try them out, maybe do a thread about it, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
 
Wow. Weird. I had tarps on the brain already today before discovering this thread.

Another inexpensive, sort of non-disposable option would be to use something like 6 mil 10' plastic sheeting, such as this 25' roll sold by Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053. I've also found this plastic sheeting in black, if you're interested in sun protection.

You can make maybe 3 usable tarps of varying sizes out of that roll linked above. You can use tarp tape or duct tape to reinforce areas for the installation of grommets. An 8' x 10' plastic tarp is a little longer and a little narrower than a 32 oz Nlgene bottle. Here's one of mine (before grommets were installed):
4milTarp001.jpg

4milTarp002.jpg


To give you an idea of how I did the grommets, here's a laminated isothermal blanket that I added grommets to:
Blanket003.jpg


Cheap, easy, not too heavy, and durable enough to last a while. The only issue I have with the plastic tarps is that it is more difficult to rig up a monkey fist attachment point than it would be with a nylon tarp. But it still can be done.



I'm not sure it would meet your requirements for a lightweight and compact emergency shelter, but since I discussed it this morning with another BF member, I'll throw out the 'larger tent footprint tarp shelter' emergency shelter:
Footprintshelter01.jpg

Footprintshelter02.jpg


Tent footprints are usually coated and are waterproofed to a degree. This can be improved upon if need be with varous products. The tent footprint pictured above is for an REI Base Camp 6. The footprint measures slightly less than 8' x 10', and it weighs about 2 lbs (ugh!). But, it could certainly work if press into the shelter roll.
 
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for dayhiking (and even minimalist backpacking) a poncho/tarp combo is tough to beat- lots of different pitch options and you have your rain protection rolled into one piece of gear

@ 10 oz (under 12 w/ guys/stakes) and smaller than a pop can, it doesn't take up much room

idponchotarp.jpg
 
Dude Hikeeba!

I have a painter's drop cloth tarp with duct tape reinforced corners too!

I thought i was brilliant and had come up with a new idea, been intending to show it off for a while...
 
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