Packing Your Tarp

[Tank]

what is the best way to pack your tarp?

is there a better way to pack it to extend its life?

the three meathods i have perviously used are
1. taking it down and folding it and putting it back into its bag
2. folding it on the ridgeline like uncle Ray and wraping the ridgeline around it to keep it together
3. stuffing it into its bag.

I currently use meathod 3, as my thoguhts are folding it in the same place would wear out the areas where the material is folded but stuffing it in the bag makes it random/overall wear on the tarp.

your thoughts please.

 

[dave53]

no 3 for me regards dave

 

[Badger74]

I've wondered, but if you use no.3 isn't it bulkier.

 

[Dreadhead]

iv been folding my tarp up hadnae even thought o that! think fae noo ill maybe roll it up tae avoid any folds etc. cheers for the tip

 

[Bigfoot]

I tend to use the second approach, including keeping all the guys attached . It rolls into a nice tight bundle, secured by the ridgeline.

 

[mountainm]

some peeps use snakeskins on tarps.. I fold at the moment, but think I'll try the rollin' on the ridge RM stylee!

 

[Paradiddle]

If you set up your tarp on a ridge line, uncle Ray's method seems pretty handy. Easy to set up and all.
But then having it in a snakeskin like a hammock may be pretty handy and compact too.

I'm a ground dweller so I fold and stuff depending on my mood

 

[Pierr]

#3 might be slightly bulkier but the shapeless bundle (if stuffed in a large enough silnylon stuff bag) allows to better use the pack space, filling in the random gaps.

 

[Gailainne]

When I bought my first decent tent, the lady told me never to fold it in the same place, as it causes creases and weakens not only the fibre, but the waterproofing, I loose fold and roll tents, and stuff tarps in a long and narrow stuff sack

 

[Biker]

Method 3 has it's merits but who would want to face the embarassment of an un-ironed tarp. I mean what if someone saw it and laughed? I'd just die

I think I'm having a camp moment here... more the feather boa than the tarpauline type.

Seriously though stuffing a semi rigid heavy duty tarp into a stuff bag will be bulky. The one I have is huge and very thin French Army issue 6m x 3m and that takes up the room of a bulky sleeping bag when random stuffed. I bet rolled up it'd be smaller. BUt where can I find a space big enough to roll it up neatly? Seriously thiking of trimming said tarp down to a managable size.

 

[Retired Member southey]

I have been using a long but thin tarp i bought from Jond, and even though I would normally stuff a tarp into bag just big enough, i find the fact it has a larger than normal stuff sack means that it has room to spread out and mould to the shape of the top of the pack, iv started changing my kit bags so that every thing can move around while packing instead of having a lot of solid compressed lump to try and fit together.

 

[bilmo-p5]

The TrueNorth Big Tarp won't fit into the supplied bag by the stuffing method; it has to be folded.

 

[lou1661]

I tend to use method B, the folds are never in the same place and it doesnt seem to crease like folding neatly does.

Cheers
Lou

 

[Teepee]

Always No 2 for me, by far the most efficient way of dealing with a tarp. I roll it up into a 2ft long stick and then wrap it with all the line. It keeps the tarp compressed and stops the line tangling.

 

[Silverhill]

Method 3 has it's merits but who would want to face the embarassment of an un-ironed tarp. I mean what if someone saw it and laughed? I'd just die

Good one Biker!

 

[shogun]

i have been folding it on the ridgeline like uncle Ray and wraping the ridgeline around it to keep it together...but if its chucking it down!! it gets stuffed into its bag

 

[Trunks]

Snakeskins every-time It takes no time to roll up and pull the skins over, and when you get it out next time, just string it back up & unravel, jobs a good un

 

[shogun]

Trunks is this the same skins used on dd hammocks?

 

[Retired Member southey]

Are your skins water proof Trunks? Really like that idea,

 

[Bodge]

Method 3 has it's merits but who would want to face the embarassment of an un-ironed tarp. I mean what if someone saw it and laughed? I'd just die

One could iron ones tarp with a large flat rock heated within ones campfire. I get my butler to do mine.