hey just wondered what you guys would be using to hang a tarp when pitching up in open areas with no trees. we pitched up last week on a little open area so not to disturb the woodland. we did saw down some big dead branches and beat them into the ground so we could hang up the tarp and get a little cover for the fire. what do you guys use?
hanging tarp with no trees.
- Thread starter Bear mears
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I've never needed to drive sticks into the ground - generally just prop a stick under the necessary corners and guy down. 'Bivvi poles' or 'basha poles' commercially sold are a man made adjustable alternative to ye olde stick.
Being a saddoe who uses a pair of Leki sticks I use them with a couple of lengths of hootchie cord and 4 extra twizzle pegs ( could just use sticks or anything ). Only had to do it a couple of times as there's usually a wall or something.
i will admit to having once bought ( I was on holiday and wasn't thinking straight ) 2 telescopic poles made be the same company who made the basha sheet I was buying on a whim. I've used them twice, on the beach and in the garden of the cottage we were at. They really saw me coming!
ATB
Tom
i will admit to having once bought ( I was on holiday and wasn't thinking straight ) 2 telescopic poles made be the same company who made the basha sheet I was buying on a whim. I've used them twice, on the beach and in the garden of the cottage we were at. They really saw me coming!
ATB
Tom
Aye Up,
Or - carry two/three sets of shock corded fibre glass poles (minimal weight and space) and some bungies.
You can set a tarp up as shown in the image without them but if you add internal sleeves to the underside of the trap to slide the poles through (and waterproof the stitching) it makes things more secure (and the tarp more versatile).
The sleeves don't have to be continuous (better if not actually - a short section on each edge and a short section in the centre will hold the poles in place.
You can set the height of the shelter to your preference by adding extra pole sections to each hoop and use cordage to extend the reach of the bungies .
Or - carry two/three sets of shock corded fibre glass poles (minimal weight and space) and some bungies.
You can set a tarp up as shown in the image without them but if you add internal sleeves to the underside of the trap to slide the poles through (and waterproof the stitching) it makes things more secure (and the tarp more versatile).
The sleeves don't have to be continuous (better if not actually - a short section on each edge and a short section in the centre will hold the poles in place.
You can set the height of the shelter to your preference by adding extra pole sections to each hoop and use cordage to extend the reach of the bungies .
Canoe paddles, cut saplings, lots of rope between trees, Wolfcraft extension pole, bamboo canes. None need to be buried in the ground. Rather the opposite, its is a royal pain if they start sinking. Tarps work with tension, you need something to resist that in a vertical direction. All horizontal tension needs to be balanced.
Aye Up,
Or - carry two/three sets of shock corded fibre glass poles (minimal weight and space) and some bungies.
You can set a tarp up as shown in the image without them but if you add internal sleeves to the underside of the trap to slide the poles through (and waterproof the stitching) it makes things more secure (and the tarp more versatile).
The sleeves don't have to be continuous (better if not actually - a short section on each edge and a short section in the centre will hold the poles in place.
You can set the height of the shelter to your preference by adding extra pole sections to each hoop and use cordage to extend the reach of the bungies .
View attachment 44115 View attachment 44112 View attachment 44113 View attachment 44114
That is a sneaky idea! Here in the boreal forest I can't turn without hitting a tree. But I might do this to one of my tarps for versitility.
Thanks for sharing!
Keep Your Tinder Dry
Chekmate
The whole idea with a tarp is to minimize weight?
if you need to carry poles, bungee cords and spikes you might as well take a tent.
if you need to carry poles, bungee cords and spikes you might as well take a tent.
Spot on Jenne I've never carried a pole in my life and always managed to find something , Fence, Fishing Rod, Pack, but normally I use driftwood.
Hi copper head , right on, if you got it use it
Aye Up,
The whole idea of carrying a tarp is to minimise weight Janne?
And theres me thinking that the whole idea of carrying it was to provide shelter and at the same time enjoy the open aspect and open fire possibilities of lean-to configurations. (Not forgetting water collection, bundle-carry of materials etc )
Whilst improvisation (with available natural materials and/or those which you already carry) is a key aspect of self-reliance/bush-crafting, so is being appropriately prepared!
The whole idea of carrying a tarp is to minimise weight Janne?
And theres me thinking that the whole idea of carrying it was to provide shelter and at the same time enjoy the open aspect and open fire possibilities of lean-to configurations. (Not forgetting water collection, bundle-carry of materials etc )
Whilst improvisation (with available natural materials and/or those which you already carry) is a key aspect of self-reliance/bush-crafting, so is being appropriately prepared!
Aye Up,
The whole idea of carrying a tarp is to minimise weight Janne?
And there’s me thinking that the whole idea of carrying it was to provide shelter and at the same time enjoy the open aspect and open fire possibilities of lean-to configurations. (Not forgetting water collection, bundle-carry of materials etc…
Whilst improvisation (with available natural materials and/or those which you already carry) is a key aspect of self-reliance/bush-crafting, so is being appropriately prepared!
Well, before a tent there was a tarp..
A tent can do everything a tarp can do, open it and enjoy the closedness to the fire while watching nature. Use the outside part to create a lean to.
Collect water and carry stuff too.
Plus, one thing only a tent can do. Block flying insects getting a meal.
Of course, reversing the thought, a tarp can do most of the things a tent can do. Except the insect bit. And is lighter.
What is a tent?
A modern tent is a (shaped) waterproof tarp with an inner insect blocking part.
An oldfashioned tent is a tarp with added walls so it resembles a small house or hut.
Had you lived in Scandinavia the insect blocking aspect would be very important.
I use a tarp made from an ultralight material in coastal ( mozzie and gnat free) environment. Have one pole which is my walking support. It weights less than 300 grams and has very generous space for two people if pitched tent like, including cover for both back packs.
Then I have a custom made tarp made from oiled/waxed heavy duty canvas, which I used to use as a long term / basecamp shelter in a wood when I lived in UK and used for a couple of years when I trained my son in the ways of the outdoors. Heavy, about 4-5 kilo.
Yes, for me the main benefit with a tarp is the weight saving.
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If you're not against walking sticks, it's a great way to stack functions. There are some tent kits that use waking sticks as the only tent poles, but you could just as well use your own tarp.
You can set up a tarp without any trees with lots of different pieces of kit - just think about what you have already and look around at the ground you get to.
If you have a rucksack, pitch the tarp straight over it and I'm sure you will gain enough room to sleep underneath, I've used this before, as well as large rocks, drystone walls, fences, as others have said deadwood. The whole ethos behind a tarp should be flexibility!!
I have carried walking poles before, and if I have them with me then I can create lots of different set ups. I'd argue that although one of the cited reasons some say they choose a tarp is to make it lighter, once you add guy lines, pegs, ridgeline (if carried) possibly a ground sheet of some kind, bivvy bag, mossy net etc. it can soon all add up to the same as a lightweight tent. If you just take a sheet of lightweight material, just big enough to sleep under, use natural cordage and pegs or even the lightest 2mm cord to aid the tarp set up, you could be lighter, but you could soon find yourself carrying enough weight to match a lightweight tent (1kg).
Jay
(Self-diagnosed tarp maniac, tarpologist at heart)
If you have a rucksack, pitch the tarp straight over it and I'm sure you will gain enough room to sleep underneath, I've used this before, as well as large rocks, drystone walls, fences, as others have said deadwood. The whole ethos behind a tarp should be flexibility!!
I have carried walking poles before, and if I have them with me then I can create lots of different set ups. I'd argue that although one of the cited reasons some say they choose a tarp is to make it lighter, once you add guy lines, pegs, ridgeline (if carried) possibly a ground sheet of some kind, bivvy bag, mossy net etc. it can soon all add up to the same as a lightweight tent. If you just take a sheet of lightweight material, just big enough to sleep under, use natural cordage and pegs or even the lightest 2mm cord to aid the tarp set up, you could be lighter, but you could soon find yourself carrying enough weight to match a lightweight tent (1kg).
Jay
(Self-diagnosed tarp maniac, tarpologist at heart)
I've just bought a 3x3 multicam tarp from DD first one I've ever had can't wait to try it out this weekend
Some examples from trips.
DSC_4478 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
img_0472 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
Littletarp2 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
PICT1828 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
DSC_4478 by Last Scratch, on Flickrimg_0472 by Last Scratch, on FlickrLittletarp2 by Last Scratch, on FlickrPICT1828 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
