Convert your own gear to 'Silnylon'.

[mountain arctic warrior]

I don't know whether this has been covered so I apologise, to the original poster if it has. In my time in the forces weight has been an issue, not wanting to carry too much mainly. We always had Survival Packs drummed into us and a smally 'bug out' kit on hand.
Cut a long story short a few of us used remnants of Parachutes as a make shift Bivvy, to carry in the kit. I was doing something in the 80's one time and another guy there had a Parachute covered inside with this flexible waterproofing stuff. I had one that just kept the wind off you! Anyway I got talking to him after the exercise and he explained what he'd done. Basically he had made a Parachute type Tarp and covered the inside edge with sylicone from a DIY Shop. He mixed it with 'thinners' and painted it on and the thing was waterproof. It made for a much more comfortable 4 days on the Brecons than I had!! I came back and did a few experiments, eventually I ended up using a Garden Sprayer and spraying the stuff all over the inside of a Parachute. Worked for me and my make-shift Bivvy was in my 'bug out' bag for years, although it had to be changed now and then due to peeling.
This was in the early 80's and I notice now everybody wants this type of thing. Wish I had patented it....lol.

 

[ged]

Great tips, thanks for that!

The other day a few of us were talking about using white spirit as a thinner for silicone, what thinners did you and your mate use? Any idea how much weight it adds to the 'chute?

 

[mountain arctic warrior]

I am talking about a section of Chute just big enough to get under, 6ft long but in a long triangle shape, no idea about exact weights, but I sprayed on two coats. The type of thinners a Car sprayer uses, just a big enough Tin to thin out and enable you to spray on using the sprayer. Make sure there are no globules of Sylicone left, you want a solution. I tried a few things to thin the stuff out, but the best was the paint thinners, in my opinion. Like everything, it is better to spray a few thin coats on than a couple of thick ones. Allow to fully dry between each coat and make sure the Tarp is hung up and stretched out, no stuck together creases.

 

[Old Bones]

If you want to make one from precoated fabric (or find it cheaper/easier than getting hold of a chute), the Point North website sells Silnylon (or Silicon coated ripstop nylon as they call it) at £5 http://www.profabrics.co.uk/snap_sub_product_search.php?search=true&category=Fabrics%3E%3EMarine%20and%20Outdoor%20Fabrics&termsx=Fabrics%3E%3EMarine%20and%20Outdoor%20Fabrics a metre .

There's a thread on OM about it here http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages.asp?v=1&urn=5&utn=1099&umn=, and there's a mention of Pennine Outdoors http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/catalogue.asp?sID=3 & Fabrics n Stuff http://www.fabrics-n-stuff.co.uk/index.php?cPath=46&osCsid=k0ndjt95f3p9b6dbchmhnhji92

Of course, if your like me and can't sew for toffee, perhaps something premade might work out cheaper, sturdier and neater.

 

[mountain arctic warrior]

Thanks for the info 'Old Bones', back in the early to mid 80's these Fabrics were not readily available. The other side of it was to have the smallest and lightest 'grab bag' or 'bug out kit' you could have. Doing 150 miles in 4 days and having 'cat naps' makes you think about weight....lol. My info was for those who like to make their stuff. You can buy Blanket Coats, but nothing better than making and using your own design and efforts.

 

[tomongoose]

A couple of diy videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UTZPllgqSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzR9-HASSIA