rticle submitted by John Fenna
Magazine: BCUK
Working Title: Snugpak: All Weather Shelter
Subject Area: Reviews
Rights Granted: Text: Copyright John Fenna. First British Serial Rights only.
Photographs: Copyright John Fenna. Single use, non exclusive,
UK editorial rights only.
Date: 3 November 2011
SNUGPAK: ALL WEATHER SHELTER
A new product in their new “bushcraft” range, the Snugpak All Weather Shelter is a versatile tarp with some useful features.
Measuring approx 305cm x 305cm and weighing about 1kg, the All Weather Shelter is made from tough waterproof 210T nylon ripstop (UV resistant) with taped and sealed seams. There are reinforced webbing peg/guy points along each side (2 per side) as well as reinforced webbing peg/guy loops at each corner which also incorporate grommets. Along two of the opposite sides there are plastic snaps which allow the tarp to be turned into a tube bivi if wanted, or to allow two or more all weather shelters to be joined.
Unlike most tarps, the Snugpak All Weather Shelter is cut on the diagonal with a ridgeline of a little over 4m with 3 hanging loops externally and internally. This provides a tarp that is extremely versatile, but difficult to pitch in the ever-popular equal sided ridge – unless you pitch the tarp over your ridgeline cord, which puts a lot of wear on the tarp in high winds.
Other pitches are easy to achieve and the All Weather Shelter comes with 8 lightweight alloy tent pegs, four guy lines, stuff sacks (which proved almost impossible to get the soaking tarp back into quickly on a wet, muddy, windy morning) and come in a useful mesh-backed carrying case.
A little different to most tarps on the market, the Snugpak All Weather Shelter is fairly compact, versatile and tough, not too heavy, very practical for bushcraft activities, and costs around £53.95.
The Snugpak All Weather Shelter is available only in Olive.
For more information visit
www.snugpak.com