Hoochie/Basha advice

[Bushpig]

Hi all, would appreciate quick reply on this, im off camping on saturday night..spot of fishing involved also and would like to get a basha/hootchie. I am looking for something mainly just big enough for me ( im only 5'6" ). Could anyone recommend one? I have seen these:

http://www.survivalschool.co.uk/Shop2005.htm

What would you recommend out of these, it seems size is the only difference. Are they reasonably priced and good quality or can you recommend somewhere else ?



Many thanks in advance



Booosh

 

[grumit]

hi bush i think you would find any of those tarps long enough it just depends on how much room you want under it to move around and store kit as to how wide you go i have an aussie hootchie and it is fine and i'm 6'1 johny is a top guy to deal with to hope that heps


all the best paul

 

[troy]

I think your on the right path with those tarps, but here's two other places for you to look at;

big and cheap, i.e £8.00

camo type, heavier, bit more pricey

hope this helps

 

[Bushpig]

Indeed Jonny seems like a top chap, did a course with them and it was top stuff, eager to return but wish to ground a few skills first.

Good point about kit though...im considering the smallest one because i always like the idea of going as light as poss. However 1.5m wide is ok to fit me under but when its triangulated it's even smaller and yes on a wet night my rucksack may be in danger of getting wet. Hmmmm


Booosh

 

[grumit]

i would go wider myself and for the kit take some bin bags they dont take much room and are great to cover your pack if it poors down

 

[Bushpig]

Just took a look at the ray mears eco sleep system of hootchie,mossie net and hammock..would be well good if only i had £230 lol. Think I will probably go for the 2.5m x 1.5m one on survival school. At £24.99 I am happy to buy it, use it and then will not feel begrudged at a later date if i deciede to get something more expensive.

Thanks troy aswell for your links, the cheap £8 ones dont mentin weight etc and have no pic so im dubious

Booosh

 

[Bushpig]

hmm I was almost decieded and you say wider!!! LOL hmm i start pondering again lol


Booosh

 

[grumit]

some of the guys have spoken highly of these people
http://home.freeuk.net/kathmandu/

 

[Bushpig]

Yes good stuff, I'm liking the look of the 2.5mx1.8 for £27.80 Dunno if it includes postage however I want one for saturday so will ahve to phone and ask for special delivery.

Thankyou folks for all your help. I'm eager for one as I've found an awesome secluded fishing spot in the woods on a tidal river teeeeming with fish! Not much space for ent but some overhanging trees and a space for a fire. Fun fun saturday nite!


Booosh

 

[bambodoggy]

Or you could nip into the local army surplus and pick up an old 58 pattern poncho...you can wear it by the river (if it rains) and then tie up the hood with the draw cord and set it up like a basha to kip under... shouldn't cost more than £15ish...

Re: your Bergen and kit getting wet; spend the money you saved on the (pricey for what they actually are) basha and hootchi's by buying the poncho... and buy a couple of proper canoe drybag type bergan liners, and use them always and religously and you'll never have to worry about wet kit again

Have a great time on Saturday... I'm out in the local woods myself and looking forward to it very much.

Cheers,

Bam

 

[Neil1]

Booosh,
I'll have mine along next week, if you can wait that long.
Neil

 

[leon-1]

I would probably go for a wider one.

Firstly it gives me more room to work under when it is pouring down.

Secondly if you use it to waterproof your pack when doing a river crossing you'll appreciate the extra size.

I know it weighs a little more and takes up a little more space, but it comes down to comfort and it can be annoying when the wind changes direction and drives rain under a tarp that if it had just been that little bit wider

 

[Bushpig]

Thankyou all for your advice, I have just ordered a 2.5 x 1.8m basha from kathmandu trekking. I need it for tomorrow and they were extremly helpful and acomodated my request for them sending it next day delivery( I paid for that service of course ). I shall report back as to what it is like, I also got some guy lines and some basha bungee's with it. It as going to be either Kathmandu or survival school...survival school weren't in when i phoned so no other reason for my decision other than they were there when i called!

Booosh

 

[Biddlesby]

I'm thinking about Kathmandu, so please tell us how it is. Quality of build, size, service....

 

[wanderinstar]

Hi,
Was going to ask if it would be possible to buy some material and make your own tarp, but the price from Allplas makes it hardly worth bothering. Can anyone see any disadvantages with using this type of tarp?
Ian.

 

[Bushpig]

Woooo I recieved my new basha in the post this morning. Kathmandu trekking were excellent in sending it out to me next day delivery and there service as excellent, there website is:

http://home.freeuk.net/kathmandu/


As for the basha it is 2.5m x 1.8m ( their large version, they have medium and x-large also ) and comes with a stuff sack that packs down to 8" x 4", I got free guy lines thrown in and also bought some basha bungee's. The basha has 16 eyelets on the edge and one extra on the very top for a centre line. It weighs 370 grams and the basha was £27.80.

I shall hopefully be out in it this evening, im very plesed with the product and the service. I have no experience owning any other basha's so admit I cant compare it but I am indeed pleased. I also have no experience using them so this evening should be 'interesting' lol


Booosh

 

[Bushpig]

Infact could anyone give me some pointers/tips on using basha's. So far I have 2 bungee's, and3 small lengths of guy rope. I think i need a longer piece though to run as a center line. I guess theres amny ways to do it ?


Boosh

 

[spamel]

I usually tie mine up with a ridge line between two trees, then simply peg the four corners out on guy lines. I then stick my hammock underneath. Of course, when I am on exercise, I use two bungees from the centre loops on the edge to fasten between two trees and then peg it straight to the ground, as a basha is kept low for obvious reasons.

There is a site, which at first glance looks like a lesson in origami, that shows a multitude of different ways of putting a basha up, but I like to keep it simple. I make a normal tent type affair between trees, a lean to against a large fallen tree or farm dry brick wall, and that is about it.

If you are after the quick release knots for tying ridge and guy lines, take a look at Rays' Bushcraft series, it shows the tying of them quite well. Failing that, somebody here will no doubt know a good website showing these useful knots.

 

[leon-1]

BushPig, have a look at this thread IIRC there are some good posts in this one two handy links one on page one and the other on page two, they should give you some ideas

 

[wanderinstar]

just been in touch with Allpas re. tarp material. Apparantly its made from polyethelene, would I be right in assuming that this would be rather noisy in a rainstorm? What fabrics are the commercially available ones made from?
Ian.