Can someone please tell me why people insist on saying that these old canvas bags, tarps and bivis are good when the modern fabrics are So much better !!
It astounds me !!
It astounds me !!
Old canvas Tat !!
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Personal preference. I prefer oldschool waxy jackets over ventile or goretex for example. I have a canvas tarp but use a cheap PU one, they both keep me dry though
It's a fetish. They're mostly harmless though, unless they try to get others to carry their kit for them.
Our oldest canvas tarp is now over forty years old, and it's still sound…..no spark holes, no snags, no delaminated bits, no tears that I fret over the mend strength, no stuck on patches, no rustling in the wind…..and that's despite years of use. It's heavy though, so unless car camping these days it's impractical for us to carry.
The nylon ones are only good for a couple of years or sometimes a few fires nearby
Canvas bags are robust and have an appeal that nylon and cordura just will never have.
Again, they're heavy though. That said, there's a simplicity about them that means they are uncluttered with a hundred differing straps and options, buckles and super alterable frames and the like. Often the canvas actually works out lighter
Bivi's ? They're quiet, you can hear the world around you with no hsssh, hssssh, hssssh noise of the wind and no worries about flames or stoves or too near a fire.
Each to their own.
Bushcraft has often been described as "Chill out asap"
M
The nylon ones are only good for a couple of years or sometimes a few fires nearby
Canvas bags are robust and have an appeal that nylon and cordura just will never have.
Again, they're heavy though. That said, there's a simplicity about them that means they are uncluttered with a hundred differing straps and options, buckles and super alterable frames and the like. Often the canvas actually works out lighter
Bivi's ? They're quiet, you can hear the world around you with no hsssh, hssssh, hssssh noise of the wind and no worries about flames or stoves or too near a fire.
Each to their own.
Bushcraft has often been described as "Chill out asap"
M
If you use a fire for cooking, light, warmth perhaps it's good to have kit that doesn't melt at the first spark or burst into flames rather than smoulder a bit. A lot of the older "modern" fabrics were also incredibly noisy especially if it was windy, that put me off at the time. Define better. The canvas my old macpac is made of has proved more robust and waterproof than the plastic stuff in my other Bergans, if its heavier then I've not noticed.
I've had a modern tent degrade just through extended exposure to light, colour faded and the fabric just weakened and eventually ripped. Mind you that was bak in the 90s so how modern that plasticky stuff was.
ATB
Tom
I've had a modern tent degrade just through extended exposure to light, colour faded and the fabric just weakened and eventually ripped. Mind you that was bak in the 90s so how modern that plasticky stuff was.
ATB
Tom
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Define better
Longer lasting?
Tougher when shoving through brambles?
More fire resistant?
Easier to maintain?
Are those the criteria you use when you say "better"? Or do you mean lighter? If so, say lighter. If lighter is a huge issue is it a fitness problem or are you in some sort of race?
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but every now and again, when Friday night arrives, you come across those people for whom alcohol consumption makes them tetchy and a wee bit aggressive... ?!? 😬
Only joking BR!
No, no, I'm not looking at your pint mate, honest...!! Please, just put that canvas chair down...!!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Only joking BR!
No, no, I'm not looking at your pint mate, honest...!! Please, just put that canvas chair down...!!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Was tempted to post "Do Not Feed the Troll" but went for the nice answer
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Oi!
However, whilst IF I were having a fire I wouldn't put a synthetic item near it, modern fabrics are massively lighter, smaller to pack, actually waterproof, far easier to maintain and don't take specialist care and 3 weeks to dry. They tend not to rot as well AND are usually cheaper. To each their own, and if you prefer lugging massive ( in every sense ) items about, go to it, don't let me stop you, I'm not the one carrying them.
I'm not sure I agree on the "easier to maintain" front. I would argue that, for example, a quality Frost River pack will be around much longer than a synthetic pack.
Sure canvas can weigh a few pounds more. If at a perfect BMI and ideal weight, at the peak of fitness and planning to cover huge distances, then using a lighter pack may be a good idea.
For many, I suspect five pounds off themselves may do more good than five pounds off their pack weight
Sure canvas can weigh a few pounds more. If at a perfect BMI and ideal weight, at the peak of fitness and planning to cover huge distances, then using a lighter pack may be a good idea.
For many, I suspect five pounds off themselves may do more good than five pounds off their pack weight
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