Ray Mears - tarp criticism

[MrEd]

i fold mine in such a way that i can get it out quick if needed, i also taughten my tarp like this with carabiners and prussiks. The prussik will move if you push it in the same direction as the ridgeline but the when load is applied to the carabiner it will tighten the knot and prevent it moving. That way you can get the tarp taught with minimum hassle

(imagine all the lines are taught this is just an illustrative photo)

And then its nice like this

the prussik is round the ridgeline and the carabiner clips onto eyelets on the tarp, the reason i dont have the prussiks permanently attached to the tarp is cos i sometimes pitch straight and sometimes in a flying 'v' etc and need to pick and choose my attachment points.

with this setup i can get my tarp up and down quick in whatever combo i want without faffing with knots

 

[phill_ue]

Alpkit karabiners work well and are cheap if you want to recreate the setup described by MrEd.

 

[MrEd]

Alpkit karabiners work well and are cheap if you want to recreate the setup described by MrEd.

yeah its worth noting aswell that you dont need to use loadbearing carabiners for this. Climbing ones are about a tenner and the ones i use about a quid. i also use the same thing on my tarp underblanket. An alternative would be threaded climbing maillions. I dont untie my prussik ever lol, it just stays put on the line

ridge up, tarp over, clip on, taughten up, done. just what you need when its gashing it down

oh i fold my tarp so when i get it out and sling it over the line i can just clip it on then pull it out concertina style

 

[Graham_S]

I use prussiks too.
I tie my ridgeline between the trees, then i can adjust the tarp for optimum positioning.
It's a more flexible solution.
All my guylines are attached to the tarp by mini karabiners (5 for £2.50 from Alpkit last time I ordered) so I can remove them to adjust the setup as required.

 

[MrEd]

nice, i mainly use guylines, but i also have 4 30cm bungees i take aswell then like others i can use the cord for other things, i to take tent pegs aswell only 4 just incase. bungess are great if its really windy, they seem to control the flap a bit more, and if the wind gets underneath it just bobs up and down rather than snapping violently.

worth remembering with the bungees is the tension, i havent had one let go but i imagine if it did it could sting a bit lol

 

[Paul_B]

I pitch mine on the ground being a grounddweller and all. I'm a folder but I never seem to be able to fold it in the same way each time I get it out. Its a lightweight SIl-nylon job so is super slippy. In fact I have trouble even gripping it. A good one though. I use trekking poles and dyneema guy lines. The tarp has little bungee loops tied on around the edge at 16 tie out points. There are hanging loops 3 in the middle and one at each edge in the middle in line with the three. A lovely little tarp, 2.4 or 2.5m square. Kathmandu trekking one bought from Bison Bushcraft. They don't make them anymore as the company making them closed. I've only used it once for real though but have played with it as I'm new to tarping. Still need to practise some more as I need to work out the tortilla pitching style and a few others for really bad conditions.

 

[Badger74]

*Thread hijack*

Mike Ameling, I've sent you a PM, I hope, on historical tarp set ups. I have a couple of images that may or may not be of intrest to you. Send me your email address if you want them. Ta

*Thread unjack*

 

[Shewie]

*Thread hijack*

Mike Ameling, I've sent you a PM, I hope, on historical tarp set ups. I have a couple of images that may or may not be of intrest to you. Send me your email address if you want them. Ta

*Thread unjack*

PM sent Badger

 

[Andy2112]

*Thread hijack*

Mike Ameling, I've sent you a PM, I hope, on historical tarp set ups. I have a couple of images that may or may not be of intrest to you. Send me your email address if you want them. Ta

*Thread unjack*

you have pm

 

[Badger74]

Thanks for the PM's. I feel a bit of a heel now. Apologies if i've up set anyone.

 

[SimonM]

Thanks for the PM's. I feel a bit of a heel now. Apologies if i've up set anyone.

I'm sure no one was upset...how were you to know?

Simon

 

[MrEd]

Thanks for the PM's. I feel a bit of a heel now. Apologies if i've up set anyone.

huh why? i would like to see them.

why do you feel a heel?

 

[Badger74]

Mr Ed, Ive sent you the images.

Feel a heel beacuase I took no notice of the posted dates and then because it was mentioned, jogged my memory about seeing a thread passing the information on.

 

[Andy2112]

Thanks for the PM's. I feel a bit of a heel now. Apologies if i've up set anyone.

As said before, don't sweat it mate, you didn't know bud.

 

[MrEd]

oh i see, well no sweat its al good!

 

[Thoth]

Thanks for all the words of wisdom guys. Yes I am using prussik loops on the ridge. I've got a handful of Alpkit mini-karribiners too & had planned to use them next time I'm out. I was hoping to get some more from them at the Outdoors Show later this month but Alpkit don't seem to be on the list this year. Like Mr Ed I think flexibility is key and the little 'biners can help with this. I think I'm just putting too much tension on everything! I'll see what using bungees does for me next time too. I know what Paul B means about si-nylon tarps. I just stuff my Kathmandu tarp in a bag, but it is like holding onto an eel. Some of the tarp gets out for every handful that goes in! I'm saddened that the company has gone bust. The 2.m x 2.5 tarp is so light and packs real small.

 

[forestwalker]

For keeping the lines neat I have a good method.

1. Roll them up from the end towards the tarp. I use a technique where I alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise turns which keeps the tangles away. Stop when you are about 30-40 cm away from the tarp.

2. Take a few turns around with the line

3. Pass a loop of the free (i.e. tarp) end though the bundle, and pass it back over the bundle. Pull thight. The result will be a bit like a started larks head knot. I can look up the number in Ashley if anyone wants me to...

This will not come undone on its own, and will undo without tangles when you want it to.

I use step 2+3 for pretty much all lines I coil up, it works much bettetr than passing the end itself through.

 

[phill_ue]

Thanks for the PM's. I feel a bit of a heel now. Apologies if i've up set anyone.

I don't know who changed Mikes' title under his name, but like to think he is on a new journey somewhere, and that he is enjoying himself. He touched more peoples' lives then he'll ever know. Don't feel so bad, you weren't to know.

 

[BushDaddy]

I fold and then roll, purely for space saving. My DD 3x3 has gone from barely fitting in the bag it comes in (Stuffed) to being about the size of a 40oz klean kanteen. That is worth more to me than having to replace a £35 tarp every few years, not that mine has failed on me yet

 

[MrEd]

I fold and then roll, purely for space saving. My DD 3x3 has gone from barely fitting in the bag it comes in (Stuffed) to being about the size of a 40oz klean kanteen. That is worth more to me than having to replace a £35 tarp every few years, not that mine has failed on me yet

Haha I have given up on rolling mine, I just stuff it now and it’s the same tarp. Served me
Well over the last decade