At a load of over 55 lbs, Hem with tie out no reinforcement patch
55 lbs
Bucket of weight
Failure at 72 lbs
Category Archives: Oware Backpacking Gear
Tie out Testing, Silnylon (72 lbs) and 1mm dacron cord (knotted strength, 50lbs),
Filed under Do It Yourself, Oware Backpacking Gear
Control those tarp cords
A simple coiling method to keep cord untangled until you need them. I learned this at Outward Bound. Firm Cord works best. I like to use 2mm cord on the most used tie outs and carry a bit of 1mm cord for long reaches to distant anchors.
Starting at the bitter end, coil around hand leaving a foot or two between the hand and tarp attachment point.
Wrap the remaining cord tightly around the first coil and then pass a loop, close to the tarp attach point, through one end of the now figure eight shape of the coil.
Loop this over the other end of the figure eight and pull. Reverse process when you need to use the cord to tie up your tarp/tent.
Customer reaction
“Amazing quality, Dave! This was my first ever pitch of a pyramid tarp and it took me only a couple of minutes. Looking forward to using this for multi day backcountry skiing, backpacking, river running, mountain biking, etc. Thank you, Scott”
Stinson Beach, Mt Tam, Point Reyes California
Great Hikes and nice beaches one hour north of San Francisco.
Stinson Beach
Sculpin at Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Getting through the surf to paddle board
Relaxing in the Sand
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Duxbury Reef Tidepools
Mt Tam above Stinson beach lagoon
Duxbury Reef Trail head
Bay Area from Mt Tam Coast View Trail
San Andreas Fault along the Estuary behind Stinston Beach
Coast View Trail, Mt Tam
Filed under Oware Backpacking Gear
Thoughts on Tarp Setups
Some of nylon’s stretch can be mitigated by how the fabric pieces are cut out. Curves etc. in seams and hems can help maintain shape. I far as I know, nylon is still the fabric of choice for shock absorption (parachutes, ropes) and does a good job for shelters suddenly loaded by wind or snow.
It does sag a bit at times from temperature drops or moisture. In something like a pyramid tarp, having a method for adjusting the pole upward to take up slack from within the shelter is nice. If your tarp pole is not adjustable, this could be as simple as having a stone handy to place underneath the pole. If you use outside shear poles, reaching under the hem and pulling the two pole bottoms inward can do the same.
Two wooden poles can be lasted to hold the tarp up from outside.
Be sure in any case or fabric type you stake out the hem in the right shape. On a symmetrical 4 sided mid, a diamond shape instead of a perfect square will produce saggy walls with any fabric. Floored shelters are easier to get the stake out pattern correct. On a floorless shelter you could tie tiny cords corner to corner to insure proper and repeatable layouts.
Thick Foam Pads Back in Stock, Stuffsacks for them too!
Plastazote Foam
Winter Thickness of 1/2″ (1.3mm)
Dark Grey
Closed Cell Foam Waterproof to a Hydrostatic Head of 3500 mm.
Will not go flat if punctured.
One of the lightest options for your PCT thru hike.
Add it to your summer pad for a winter trip.
R value of 2.
Without dimples or ridges that collect snow in your snow shelter or rain under your tarp and soak your sleeping bag.
Stuffsack (with strap loop for outside carry on your pack or on top of your bike panniers) available on some sizes. Drawstring has keeper mitten hook for outside carry of pad on pack. Stuffsack weight 1 oz.
Use the double wide in hammocks, for two people, or trim and layer for one person to extra width or cushioning.
Three sizes from two person width to torso size.
Torso size 20x40x1/2″ –weight 5 ounces
One person size 20x60x1/2″ –weight 7.5 ounces
Two person size 40x60x1/2″ –weight 15 ounces
Available in the USA only due to shipping costs on bulky items.
Free Shipping in the USA.
http://shop.bivysack.com/Foam-1-2-Thick-130mm-Sleeping-Pads-1FoamWinter.htm
Kettle Crest Nap
“There’s a nap for that.”
Best part of the day. Just before afternoon graupel.
Avalanche Dog lowering uniform
Prototype for the Squaw Valley Avi Dogs. Brook the coonhound gives a questioning look.
Filed under Oware Backpacking Gear
Bathtub floor for Pyramid Tarps
Silnylon floors for Pyramid Tarps.
This one is for the 10×10′ pyramid (8×8′ plus sidewalls) and weighs 17 oz.
Has 8 tie outs and tie ups around hem to maintain the bathtub type walls. Clips to mitten hooks inside tent. $120 shipped.
Filed under alphamid, Oware Backpacking Gear, pyramid tarp
Oware 
