Make serviceable tarps from just some coated fabric and cord.
Clove hitch
http://www.animatedknots.com/cloveend/
Barrel knot
http://www.climbing.com/video/triple-barrel-knot/
Make serviceable tarps from just some coated fabric and cord.
Clove hitch
http://www.animatedknots.com/cloveend/
Barrel knot
http://www.climbing.com/video/triple-barrel-knot/
Filed under Do It Yourself, Tips for the Backcountry

Shower cap made of 70 denier ripstop nylon with a .5 oz silicone and polyurethane blend coating.
14 years continuous use. Coating still waterproof. No fraying. The elastic needs to be replaced, the rubber wore out.
The fabric is used in tarps and tents for hard use applications. Outdoor schools, rentals etc. Custom made in small batches or seasonally available in stock. Current color is yellow.
Filed under backpacking tarps, Fabric, Oware Backpacking Gear, oware tarps, pyramid tarp
Same weight nylon thread. 42 stitch Bartack vs 42 stitch Ztack. Bartack failed by pulling out of 30 denier silnylon at 30 lbs.
Flat tarp 7×9 finished size. A solo tarp shelter for 1 person. 12 reinforced web tie outs around hem, and 1 tie out centered in ridgeline. Price includes shipping in the USA, and a stuff sack. 30 Denier Silnylon with stuffsack weighs 12.4 oz. Free shipping in the USA. Works great with a bivy sack for all weather protection. Notes- fabric is NOT flame retardant, keep away from heat and flame.
http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=107&categoryId=6
Filed under backpacking tarps, flattarp, Oware Backpacking Gear, oware tarps
Central Washington. A short, steep, 1 mile hike to the top for desert views from steamboat rock. Large reservoir with coots and geese. Very tidy campground.
Filed under Oware Backpacking Gear, pyramid tarp
Take a pyramid tarp, cut it in half and add an A Frame door and you have the Alphamid TM. Half Pyramid floorless shelter 4×8 by 5′ feet tall. 30d silnylon Weighs 13.5 oz A floorless tarp which is quick to set up, light and inexpensive. A favorite for winter campers, it can be set up over a snow pit for extra roominess. It includes a stuff sack. Use your ski probe poles, hang it from a tree limb or order the separate shock corded pole to set it up. Just clip the buckle at the bottom of the door, zip up the zipper, stake out the four corners evenly and put up the pole. Additional tie outs are on the center seams. The apex is reinforced , the zipper is a #5 coil. The taller steeper pitch sheds snow and rain much better than the competitors shelters as well a providing more headroom. Includes 1 oz. pole connector (3 webbing straps) so you can use two trekking or ski poles to make a height adjustable pole. Fabric is not flame retardant and will burn and melt when in contact with high heat or flame. Keep away from camp stoves, gas lanterns, campfires etc.
Great shelter for Search and Rescue-very light and you can set it up over a prone victom without
moving them. Current color is grey.
http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=39&categoryId=4
Now here. New bivy with side zip and room for a Neo Air pad along with a thick down bag and you.
Various fabrics.
http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=101&categoryId=2
Filed under backpacking tarps, bivysack, Oware Backpacking Gear
A better Tautline Hitch
From our friends at Equipped.org. Extensive article on using tarps to make shelters.
Equipped
“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,
Custom sizes available
These photos show tarps 24X30 feet.
Largest made to date 70X90 feet.