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What bushcraft tarps are lacking

B

Bushman5

Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
9,833
PALS webbing.

what you ask? :eek: you drinking homebrew again Bushy? :D

yes to homebrew, and yes to being serious. Bushcraft tarps need PALS webbing. Not a lot, but randomly placed all over the tarp. Why? so those of us who want to be stealthy in the woods when camping can securely place plants and leafy branches into the PALS webbing to break up the outline of the tarp and camo it a bit better. Of course the tarp should be digicam as well..........say CADPAT for us beer swilling Canucks, and maybe ACU for the desert campers.....

:p:cool:
 
I have an idea what a bush tarp needs and am currently working with a popular gear manufacturer in designing one. You'll see soon hopefully.

As for the PALS webbing, can't a tarp act as a liner to a std debris A frame or lean-to? Won't all the excess sewing compromise the shelter with added sewing holes? Wouldn't tie down loops, used sparingly, be more utilitarian? There are more effective ways to be less noticeable in the woods.
 
Could use ultrasonic welding to fuse the PALS webbing on........

I just like the idea of throwing up a tarp and sticking vegetation on it to blend in and not look like 99% of the tarps/tents out there the general public uses that are bright "hey look at me" colors. I prefer to be one with the forest, not announce my presence with garish colors. :p If adding vegetation on the tarp to break up the silhouette makes my camp disappear, even better
 
Bushman5 said:
PALS webbing.

what you ask? :eek: you drinking homebrew again Bushy? :D

yes to homebrew, and yes to being serious. Bushcraft tarps need PALS webbing. Not a lot, but randomly placed all over the tarp. Why? so those of us who want to be stealthy in the woods when camping can securely place plants and leafy branches into the PALS webbing to break up the outline of the tarp and camo it a bit better. Of course the tarp should be digicam as well..........say CADPAT for us beer swilling Canucks, and maybe ACU for the desert campers.....

:p:cool:
Click to expand...

I think we may have been separated at birth!

I was thinking MARPAT or MULTI-CAM. But I agree otherwise.

I run with a green Silicone based rig from MN. But I always wonder why such bright colors. I used a Basha for some time for this very reason, but I like the extra versatility of the 10x10.
 
Not sure about the pal webbing but I agree 100% about nice earth tone colors. It agravates me to no end that a majority of the high end outdoor gear is in dayglo colors. Chris
 
I'd worry that it would affect the integrity of the tarp - stuff poking at the material from all over would degrade the waterproofing pretty quickly, and lead to leaks. It would also be more prone to rips/tears/snags.

If you really needed to make a ghillie suit out of your tarp, I'd suggest packing an equivalent sized piece of netting (similar to the mesh-type hammocks), suspending that about 6-12" over the tarp, and using that as a framework for camo. It would offer more, for a little more weight - could be used as a hammock, gear net, etc... when not being used as a blind.
 
I have several tarps, some green in color, and one in dark blue. Even the blue one is darn hard to spot if you have it up in the woods. I pitch my camp in and among trees and bushes.
Most folks can't find me, even when looking.
 
Flotsam said:
I'd worry that it would affect the integrity of the tarp - stuff poking at the material from all over would degrade the waterproofing pretty quickly, and lead to leaks. It would also be more prone to rips/tears/snags.

If you really needed to make a ghillie suit out of your tarp, I'd suggest packing an equivalent sized piece of netting (similar to the mesh-type hammocks), suspending that about 6-12" over the tarp, and using that as a framework for camo. It would offer more, for a little more weight - could be used as a hammock, gear net, etc... when not being used as a blind.
Click to expand...

i doubt it, its not like a guy would be jabbing sharp edge sticks into the fabric.....just inserting them into the loops. As for rips and tears.....not with ultrasonic welding of the loops onto the material.....no needle holes or stitching to fail....

i do like the netting idea but i prefer the use of local vegetation for concealment....
 
Bushman5 said:
I just like the idea of throwing up a tarp and sticking vegetation on it to blend in and not look like 99% of the tarps/tents out there the general public uses that are bright "hey look at me" colors. I prefer to be one with the forest, not announce my presence with garish colors. :p If adding vegetation on the tarp to break up the silhouette makes my camp disappear, even better
Click to expand...

I'm with Bushy on this. By both training and inclination I like to disappear into the surroundings when I'm out. There's little that's more disconcerting to me than to come across a nice outdoor scene with a jarring fluorescent tent or tarp in the middle of it: it just ain't natural. Long ago some people spent a lot of time teaching me to blend in, and that teaching took rather well. I like being unobtrusive.

+1 for camo tarps with loops.
 
Oh God, now I'm going to be trying to find someone to make me a Multicam tarp. Damn thing would probably be $500 for a 10' x 10'. . .
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Oh God, now I'm going to be trying to find someone to make me a Multicam tarp. Damn thing would probably be $500 for a 10' x 10'. . .
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I'm all for it (in MARPAT), but $500 would be way too rich for my blood. I'll have to wait for the $29.95 Wally World knock-off.
 
actually, re-interpreting Flotsams post about netting, i realized thats a pretty good idea too......a good fishing net with 1/2 - 3/4" spacing of the holes, drapes better than a tarp with stuff on it......... and one CAN stuff leaves and twigs etc into the net for concealment.

that being said its two things to lug around vs just a tarp with PALS.

everything should have PALS webbing!
 
I never understood the silnylon's plus and minuses until I saw one that was something like 8 X 12 compact down to the size of a tennis ball. I still don't have my own sil nylon but if one of you starts putting one out, put me down for an order.
 
Doesn't quite blend into your surroundings ... eh Bushman ?

tundra_multi-sm.jpg
 
That was my point - use the netting as the framework to place vegetation, suspending it above the tarp. Many thin nylon tarps (esp. silnylon) are prone to leaks if there is pressure (not necessarily a hole/tear/etc...) on the material that disrupts the surface tension of moisture on the tarp. Add in friction from movement, and even slight pressure from a small twig resting on the nylon itself can either cause a leak (where the moisture weeps through the weave of the material), or a tear (by the material being worn by the movement of the object touching it - it doesn't take a lot to abrade a small hole in thin nylon.

Brigade Quartermasters used to sell (not sure if they still do) an OD green mesh hammock that would work well.
 
I understand your dilemma, but I would also consider a piece of camouflage netting...it would add a little weight, but woud give you plenty of possiblities to add local foliage and avoid puncturing your tarp. Depending on what kind of tarp you are using, you could make your own using Shoe-goo or some other kind of strong, waterproof adhesive...just glue several pieces on and see if that would work.

ROCK6
 
I've only ever used issued kit so don't know any different. It's pretty decent at helping me stay less visible when out. This is what I use just now, it's 2.5m X 2.15m approx:
tarpbasha.jpg


As far as putting stuff on it, I try not to. I do build screens of vegetation in front so that gives me a windbreak and more cover from view.
 
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