Having purchased a new adjustable binding foot for my thread injectors I thought I’d give it a whirl.

The tarp is a square tarp 160cm x 160cm in the super light weight spinnaker material.

This is a shot of the new foot. £20 well spent

More here – http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=179

Finding it really good trying other bits and bobs out on the machine. A bar strap system will probably be on the cards very soon.

Whats the idea behind tarps. I mean I’m a camper, I like camping, but I can’t see a reason not to carry a 1.5kg tent? Surely it’s draughty and potentially wet?

Combined with a bivi I find the setup is as good as a tent.

One of my larger tarps (3m x 1.6m) weighs under 250g with pegs and guys, my bivi bag weighs in at 470g.

So thats less than half the weight of your 1.5kg tent.

Copied from the other thread:

That looks tidier than most commercially available stuff. What are you gonna use for the eyelets?

^ ditto.

Nice looking bit of kit for the machine.
Makes seaming easier does it?

For superlightness, I assume it makes sense to only fit specific anchor points to the tarp rather than riddle it with anchors for universality?

Not going to use eyelets, I’ll be using some more grosgrain for tie points.

I’m pretty fussy about my sewing and have even started inspecting the kit you can pick up in shops. On a bad day my sewing is often better than some of the big outdoor manufacturers.

Combined with a bivi I find the setup is as good as a tent.

SO why not just carry a tent??

I’m buying my kit ready for next year and want to know what’s the best option tent or bivvy? weight Isn’t much of a trade off It seems over comfort??

EDIT:unsponsored:Weight Plus Tarp?

Stoner – I agree. This tarp is a – “lets see if that works”. Its getting me ready far a catanary cut silnylon tarp in black.

I’m with coffeeking on the tarp vs tent thing though. For me I really don’t like the feeling of being too tightly enclosed so a bivi bag wouldn’t be my favourite way to catch some z’s. I don’t even zip up my sleeping bag unless it’s the absolute dead of winter.

This isn’t a criticism of the way you like to do stuff, different stroke and all that and I do love a DIY thread, nothing better than tailoring the kit to your exact requirements. Please keep the project threads coming.

loving your work. Keep us posted on the sil tarp.
as I mentioned in a previous thread its something Im interested in as a user of tarps and as dear mummy used to make them.

catanary cut silnylon tarp

huh?

catenary (sp!) cut is a tarp that is created in a form that is sympathetic to its hanging.

EDIT: here’s a nice one:

So aside from the bar strap is that just a regular sewing machine? I assume the Dyneema is pretty tough.

PS, whilst catenary cut tarps is nice for weight saving Im not a huge fan as it limits* the hanging configuration. A catenary cut is specific to one set up, not universal.

* as in the benefit of the curved cut is lost if you hang the tarp a different way, and you still get flapping/dripping.

But for uber weightweenie tech it’s nicely OCD 😉

I can see the appeal of the tarp, having done a few nights sleeping under the stars, and also appreciate the claustrophobia that goes with lightweight one man tents. However a well made tent in a storm is going to be a lot cosier (IMO) than a tarp and bivvy.

A decent tent can be pitched anywhere thats flat and offer good protection in foul weather, the tarp option requires more selective pitching choices in foul weather.

IMO if you know the weather will be ok then go for the tarp option, if not, take a lightweight 2 man tent assuming weight / cost can be afforded. If uncertasin…. 1 man tent? HTH

I use a one man tent as thats what I’ve got and will continue to use as I’m a skin-flint and have limited storage space – i’ve spent my money and will make it work for me 8)

Seriously, to get the best compromise costs a lot of money as we’re talking about very specialist stuff. Do you want lite, spacious, protective, cheap? pick 2

I struggle to spend time in my bivi & tarp when I have a voyager superlite, but those Hennessy hammocks look pretty cool. OP, have you tried making an all-in-one?

I think more setups should use the walking poles as part of the structure, but then again a purely mtb trip would be hindered by this!

So thats less than half the weight of your 1.5kg tent.

Well true, and I’m not being negative about this – I love the DIY creation of such things, but I just don’t see that 750g is worth the lack of comfort and predictability? I could lose more than that in a large bowel movement. Is this the sort of thing you get into when you want to prove (to yourself) how minimalist you can go? I’ve similar leanings in other areas so that’s not an insult, just curious what drives a tarp user 😀

Coffeking. I have a few tents as well and to be honest would use them over a tarp when I’m not on the bike. I have a MSR Hubba Hubba, but have owned a huge number of light weight tent over the years. As well as weight savings with the tarp/bivi the pack size is also important. I’m also not carry poles etc when the bike can double up as my transport and pole system.

In terms of comfort the tarp can be set up in a number of ways and I find it more comfortable than a small light weight tent.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

The dyneema was easy to sew. The extra white strands of fibre running through it were the sections that were difficult to cut. Its still a pretty light piece of fabric.

Tarps are great but for me only for use as a porch area with a conventional tent. Our current tent can be set up with just the rainfly and the footprint which with the poles weighs in at less than 2kg and will sleep 3. That’s as lightweight as I’m prepared to get.