I had one of those EUREKA moments earlier on.....
I keep dabbling with my modified Ogripod design to get it to perform better, no matter the weather. One of my latest problems was that of air leakage.
Let me explain - My Ogripod is now a glorified underblanket that has the ability to velcro together from a footbox upwards over the occupier and become a hammock pod. It sounds great and mostly during cool seasons, it does reasonably well. My problem comes from the difficulty with which I have, in preventing warm air rising to a point where it finds a hole, escapes and introduces cold air - causing draughts.
Now I trial most of my designs in the garden, a garden on top of a (albeit junior) Cambrian mountain where it tends to get a little breezy!
I've been racking my brains recently to develop an "all encompassing" shell, that would keep the wind off the underside as well as help seal in the warm air above, without becoming a condensation trap. I have tried various tarps, wrapped in all manner of patterns, all of which felt distinctly humid. Today was the step forwards that might lead a little closer to Hammocking heaven.
Simply put its a >6 - go on, write one in the air - thats how the shell wraps around you - if the wind is from the direction of the arrow. From a ridge line, underneath on the windward side, up on the lea side and tucked in between you and the first section.
It is made from the canopy of an old garden gazebo which I often use as a tarp anyway - but this, to me, is a major step forward in its capabilities. The spare material can be tucked around my head so I can breathe cool air whilst sealing in the air already warmed.
I must admit that I haven't tried it out properly yet, but it feel as though it should work well.
The whole issue is no lightweight - its still bulky enough to fill an 80 litre dry bag, though it will compress down from that and I'm just adding to it by including all these modifications. My ultimate goal is to develop it into something that will fit into a tobacco tin and be light enough to require a ground anchor.
I know that some might say " why not use a top quilt?" but I really don't want to be using the extra bulk/weight when it has the pod capability as it stands.
Anyway, thanks for looking, it might lead someone down an avenue that they hadn't been expecting.
ATB
Ogri the trog
I keep dabbling with my modified Ogripod design to get it to perform better, no matter the weather. One of my latest problems was that of air leakage.
Let me explain - My Ogripod is now a glorified underblanket that has the ability to velcro together from a footbox upwards over the occupier and become a hammock pod. It sounds great and mostly during cool seasons, it does reasonably well. My problem comes from the difficulty with which I have, in preventing warm air rising to a point where it finds a hole, escapes and introduces cold air - causing draughts.
Now I trial most of my designs in the garden, a garden on top of a (albeit junior) Cambrian mountain where it tends to get a little breezy!
I've been racking my brains recently to develop an "all encompassing" shell, that would keep the wind off the underside as well as help seal in the warm air above, without becoming a condensation trap. I have tried various tarps, wrapped in all manner of patterns, all of which felt distinctly humid. Today was the step forwards that might lead a little closer to Hammocking heaven.
Simply put its a >6 - go on, write one in the air - thats how the shell wraps around you - if the wind is from the direction of the arrow. From a ridge line, underneath on the windward side, up on the lea side and tucked in between you and the first section.
It is made from the canopy of an old garden gazebo which I often use as a tarp anyway - but this, to me, is a major step forward in its capabilities. The spare material can be tucked around my head so I can breathe cool air whilst sealing in the air already warmed.
I must admit that I haven't tried it out properly yet, but it feel as though it should work well.
The whole issue is no lightweight - its still bulky enough to fill an 80 litre dry bag, though it will compress down from that and I'm just adding to it by including all these modifications. My ultimate goal is to develop it into something that will fit into a tobacco tin and be light enough to require a ground anchor.
I know that some might say " why not use a top quilt?" but I really don't want to be using the extra bulk/weight when it has the pod capability as it stands.
Anyway, thanks for looking, it might lead someone down an avenue that they hadn't been expecting.
ATB
Ogri the trog
