From our friends at Equipped.org. Extensive article on using tarps to make shelters.
Equipped
Category Archives: oware tarps
Tarp Shelter Set Up Options
Super Tarps
“Hi Dave…
I wanted to share these pictures with you! These these tarps have been dubbed SUPER TARPS!!! They are working great. Thanks for your willingness to go BIG!
Cheers,
Aaron”
Custom sizes available
These photos show tarps 24X30 feet.
Largest made to date 70X90 feet.
Pyramid Tarp along the Pacific Crest Trail
Sam Ward sent these photos of an Oware mid he used along the PCT. He sent sent the tent back to patch some small holes in preparation for using it while hiking the Appalachian trail this summer.
Update:
David,
Just wanted to thank you for the repairs you did on a gray 8×8 pyramid tent recently (patching, buckle replacement). Everything looked great and the tent is back on the trail for its second thru-hike, currently somewhere in the 100-mile wilderness in Maine protecting two hikers from A LOT of rain their first week. My brother and his group hiked Katahdin June 1 and started the wilderness section Saturday June 2. Thanks again for your support of hikers.
Sam
Seam on cuben tarp
Cat Tarp 1.5 cuben fiber. Center seam photo. Felled seam, then taped.
Cuben Fiber and Silnylon pull test
Cuben Fiber .5 oz. sewn to Silicone coated nylon 30 denier and pulled to failure (42 lbs).
Tie outs were not reinforced but held while two rows of straight stitching on a lap seam failed
at the nylon, cuben AND stitching. This is 7 lb tensile strength thread.
Cuben Fiber pull tests
Cuben Fiber .7 oz sewn to Cordura 1000 denier nylon with 4 rows of straight stitch and to itself with flat felled and glued seam. Shock loaded to failure (body weight plus a jump).
Notice the tie out webs were not the failure point. Also that a flat felled seam with only 2 rows of stitching proved stronger than a simple lap felled seam with 4 rows of stitches. The glued seam did even better than that.
NetTarp Redux
An old favorite returns with some new improvements. Used by Utah river runners when the bugs come out.
A flat tarp with noseeum netting around the edges and ends.Floorless makes it lighter and more compact. Less issues with spills while dining underneath too. No zippers to break or fill with sand or salt, just leave one corner un-pegged and lift it to enter.
Two sizes available, sewn to order with several fabric choices. NetTarp5 (10×14′) and theNetTarp2 (8×10′). These now come with a cat curve cut into the hems for tighter set up and line loc3 cord tighteners on the 4 center tie outs to adjust headroom.
Poles available too, but many use hiking poles, trees, or paddles for the uprights.
Purchase stock one here
bivysack.com or call for custom fabrics and prices.
888-292-4534
Filed under backpacking tarps, flattarp, NetTarp, Oware Backpacking Gear, oware tarps
Cat Tarp, the original
CatTarp TM
Home of the backpacking tarp with the catenary cut to the ridgeline. And the first ones made of silicone coated nylons and Cuben Fiber TM laminates. We coined the term “cat cut” to describe and differentiate this new feature on our tarps from others on the market. By using this curve, it takes stretch and bag out of the fabrics and enables the tarp to be a “hummer not a flapper” with fewer tie outs and stakes in high wind.
Others may have copied the name, descriptions, even drawings from Oware. Not all tarps with “cat” in the name are made the same way or have 26 years of tarp making experience and goodwill behind them.
Dave Olsen
Oware
See them here
http://shop.bivysack.com/category.sc?categoryId=7
Filed under cat tarp, Oware Backpacking Gear, oware tarps
Foam Pads for winter, Line Loc 3’s option on tarps
Add a thick foam pad to your sleep system to insure a warm sleep as frost approaches.
http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=80&categoryId=3
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Also now, line loc’s can be added to existing tarps for those that like the convenience of adjusting
the tarp cords from inside or outside the shelter.
http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=94
Filed under alphamid, cat tarp, flattarp, oware tarps
Home
24 years of simple rugged value.
Instructors, Teachers, Ski Patrolers and Outdoor enthusiasts:
Since Fall1985 when I made my first10 large yellow pyramid tarps for Pacific Crest Outward Bound while working there as instructor, I have been building outdoor gear for schools and outdoor folks.
Outward Bound Schools have been my biggest customers so far, ordering tarps, tents, stuff sacks etc. which have stood up to daily year around use. I’ve 17 years experience working as an instructor for several outdoor schools including Outward Bound, so I understand the need for robust gear. Lately, through input from customers, there are many ultralight products offered too.
Famous climbers heading for Patagonia and record setting through hikers have purchased Oware gear, even though sponsered by other companies where they could get gear free.
I use simple designs to keep costs down and durability up. Thread is matched to the fabric type but is generally bonded #46 to #69 nylon which has a breaking strength respectively of aprox. 7 to 10 lbs. per stitch. Fabrics available include Cordura®, pack cloth, Polartech®, Goretex®, eVent®,Epic®, reinforced truck tarp vinyl, urethane coated taffeta, ripstop, and oxford as well as the new ultralight1.1 oz silicone coated nylon. I use lock stitch, bar tack, and over lock sewing machines as well as a shoe patch machine for tough to reach repairs.
Does your school, scout group, ski area, or retail store need something made to your specifications? I especially enjoy developing new products to meet your needs, (quantity orders for special designs keep costs reasonable).
Feel free to contact me about ideas you have.
Sincerely,
Dave Olsen
888-292-4534
do@owareusa.com
bivysack.com
skype too
Oware 