Where to Practice Survival Skills

[gadgetgeek]

If you are using a cheaper tarp, a good way to get more life out of it is to ignore the grommets. Use a rock knot/ button knot, whatever you want to call it. make a small pouch in the corner, or wherever you want with a small rock in it (golf ballish) then clove hitch around the "neck" of the pouch. lets you distribute the load better, and avoids tearouts. And if you do blow a corner, its an easy way to keep it rocking for a while longer.

 

[neeman]

This is a DD Hammock 3x3 m tarp
19 web pull outs
Tough and not too heavy at 700 gms

I am in the Lake District Fells painting watercolors
Watercolors and rain do not mix
I have it set up for rain storms from the Atlantic
(excuse the sloppy set up)





This is my plein air set up to hike in the Lake District


I now carry a 9x9 sili tarp
I did not put middle tie outs , I did not know how useful they are
So it pitches like a tent in the same set up as with DD Hammock Tarp
This fold pitch is storm proof and is easy to set up and it needs a walking stick for the height (no sticks in the Lake District Fells)
I put bungee cord on the pull outs so the tarp can move in the wind
And most I can sit with my camera tripod and watercolor easel
And sit and paint
And would be easy to cook under
I have a photo somewhere...


I carry a poncho, an umbrella and a pack cover
Travelling I carry a folding umbrella
But in the hills I carry this big windproof golfing umbrella
It is a walking staff
And a rain jacket in my pack for then it really starts to rain

But with my foam sitting mat, the pouch and the umbrella, I could sit out a storm

I am enjoying using tarps, which is much spacier than using ponchos
I did a lot of hiking with a US Army poncho and an army blanket US
Cut a neck hole like a Mexican poncho
Wore it when cool and rolled in it to sleep

Tarps are so much more comfortable and no real weight gain

 

[neeman]

If you are using a cheaper tarp, a good way to get more life out of it is to ignore the grommets. Use a rock knot/ button knot, whatever you want to call it. make a small pouch in the corner, or wherever you want with a small rock in it (golf ballish) then clove hitch around the "neck" of the pouch. lets you distribute the load better, and avoids tearouts. And if you do blow a corner, its an easy way to keep it rocking for a while longer.

As above /\ /\

The grommets tear out on blue $5 tarps from REI
A small amount of pressure and they just pull out
What I have done is buy these plastic clip grommets
Fold back the corners on to the tarp and cut a small hole and push the grommet thru
Undo it and pour crazy glue where the triangle of the fold, and then put in the Grommet
The material will tear before the holes
I have a blue waterproof nylon groundsheet/tarp from the early 70s with these grommets in it

That said, for the $8 for the REI 9x9 tarp it is good money spent