Tag Archives: tent

Light Inexpensive Multi-Use Hatchet


Backpacking where frozen ground makes pounding in tent stakes tough, a small hammer or hatchet is useful. If one is in an area of excess wood, campfires, wood tent stakes and poles might be part of the trip. Then a hatchet can be good to have.

Marble makes a small hatchet which weighs 13 ounces and I found for $17 plus shipping. Small enough it fits in my back pocket. It does a good job at pounding stakes, and is useful for light wood gathering. I like it for tapping away fire starting pitch chunks from the “cat face” of a pine tree, quickly limbing off the small dead pencil size “magic sticks” at the base of trees, making shavings and getting at dry wood in a dead stump. It is smaller than the usual hatchets, so won’t be up to larger tasks like felling anything more than a sapling. You won’t be splitting rounds with this, but for wood gettin’ I find it better than a pocket knife and sometimes better than a saw. I made a small leather sheath that leaves one side open for driving stakes and weighs 1/2 ounce. It came sharp enough for most tasks but if you like to whittle, it needs a bit of work with a stone to be shaving sharp. The wood appears to have a light varnish, but if you like could be sanded and tung oiled.

Pictures follow

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Setting up a Pyramid Tarp, Printable Directions


Pyramid SetUp

PDF on directions to set up Pyramid and to lash two trekking poles together with provided web straps to make tall tent pole.

Buy pyramids here.

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Pyramid, Customer Photo


In the San Juans in Colorado. 

-Russell Biser

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Setting up a pyramid


Correct sequence for quick and easy Pyramid Tarp set up.

Zip and buckle door.

Stake out four corners in a perfect square.

unzip door and put up pole till fabric taut.

zipe and buckle door

add additional tie outs if needed for wind or snow.

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Add a tarp tie out point with just a piece of cord


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/

 

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Durability success-70 denier nylon with silicone/polyurethane blend coating


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.

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.

shower cap inside

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.

http://shop.bivysack.com

 

 

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Bartack vs ZTack in silnylon


Same weight nylon thread. 42 stitch Bartack vs 42 stitch Ztack. Bartack failed by pulling out of 30 denier silnylon at 30 lbs.Bartack vs ztack OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Same weight nylon thread. 42 stitch Bartack vs 42 stitch Ztack. Bartack failed by pulling out of 30 denier silnylon at 30 lbs.

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Grommet in webbing vs sewn loop for tarp tie out


grommet held while hem tore at stitch line. Unreinforced 1" web tie out with top of stitching past hem stitch held.

grommet held while hem tore at stitch line. Unreinforced 1″ web tie out with top of stitching past hem stitch held.

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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”

Scott's mid 1 IMG_20150213_143424866

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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.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Mid floor

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