Tarp, poncho & rain chaps

[Two Speed]

Hoping for a little input here . . .

Due to a job change, I've got the chance to hit the AT for nearly a month, and this seems like a great time to make some serious gear changes.

I've been using a SD Lightyear, and think it's a great tent, but I'm revolving around transitioning to a tarp. I know this is a hammock oriented site, but I intend to train a pup I've got for a trail dog eventually, and don't see how I'm going to train him to jump into a Hennessy Hammock, as tempting as they are. Next, saying I could train the little SOB to jump in the hammock, that's a little too much "closeness" to a dog, particularly after a long day of slogging it out in the rain and mud. Somehow, I don't see that as a good idea.

I'm thinking about using a silnylon tarp (no kidding, huh?), poncho and rain chaps for shelter and rain gear. While my sewing skills are up to minor field repairs, I'm not up to sewing this kind of gear for myself, and don't have any friends or family that I could ask to do this sort of thing for me.

My question is this: can anyone point me to a gear manufacturer that would have this sort of thing on the shelf? I've got a request into Moonbow, and am still hoping they can help me out, but some alternates would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to keep the cost under $250, but given a tentative April 8 - 9 departure, I may be suffering from the "Budweiser budget, champagne taste" problem.

[jimtanker]

Go with a silnylon poncho and use it for your tarp too. A nice inexpensive one is found on campmore at:tarp (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=9996339&memberId=12500226)


4.8X7.5 feet

[bearbag hanger]

http://www.trailquest.net/store.html#tarps

They have lots of tarps and, I think, could make one a special size if you need, but I doubt you'll need a tarp they don't have. Someone else recommended using your poncho as a tarp. Doable, but if you're not experienced, I think you'll want something larger. I'd recommend using the poncho as a ground cloth and a bigger tarp over you. Would recommend at least 8X8 or 8X10, about $75 - $80, 11 oz to 14 oz.

There are others, I'm just familiar with these guys.

[jimtanker]

I like those gram weenie rain pants they have on there. Might have to get a pair of those.

[GregH]

Have you thought about getting the dog his own hammock? You could a buy an Explorer Ultralight A-Sym for yourself and a Scout for your dog! Everybody is happy and we don't have to kick you off the website! :biggrin:

[MalTheElder]

Well, my cat likes to join me when I hang the hammock. We've come to an understanding that I have to have a quilt spread so she doesn't accidentally puncture it, but she's pretty gentle. She also has lots of practice avoiding my twitching legs at night, so we get along OK.

Of course, she's only seven pounds, and her claws retract . . .

I'm waiting for my iguana to decide to join me. He's about 5 1/2 ft.,, and his claws do not retract!

[Two Speed]

Have you thought about getting the dog his own hammock? You could a buy an Explorer Ultralight A-Sym for yourself and a Scout for your dog! Everybody is happy and we don't have to kick you off the website! :biggrin:
Maybe I should have been a bit more specific on the input I was asking for. :damnmate:

I'm making life a little harder than it needs to be because I'd like to place one order for all the gear (all silnylon, I'm already sold on that) from a "small house." I've got a silnylon clothing bag and a silnylon pack cover made by Etowah Outfitters, and they simply can not be beat for utility and weight. Problem on that front is that I am unable to find a direct method of contacting them. Dancing Light looks pretty good, and the articles written by Brawny and Rainmaker have really impressed me, but I live in Georgia, which makes ordering from them a problem, due to state tax issues.

Have run across Moutain Laurel Designs, for those of you that are interested in the same sort of gear, but they don't quite provide what I'm looking for.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/

I guess my next step will be to call up to Walasa - Yi and see if I can get in touch with Etowah Outfitters through them.

Anyway, thanks for the ideas, and particularly the chuckles.

[peter_pan]

Nice silnyl tarp that works for general purpose and excels for hammock use, if you make the switch later can be found at www.jacksrbetter.com. but then I'm biased. :biggrin:

[Two Speed]

Tarp looks pretty good. In point of fact, I'm interested and am darn nearly sold. Now, what about a poncho to go with that?

Shoot me a PM if you think you can help me on the poncho score, and thanks for your interest, either way.

[Sgathak]

If I had someone willing to make my designs.........

[Major Slacker]

If I had someone willing to make my designs.........
I have a friend with a commercial sewing machine who is looking for extra income. She's waiting for me to get off dead center on some of my designs, so for now she's not busy.


…given a tentative April 8 - 9 departure…Dude! I'm heading to Springer Mt. April 6/7 and walking out April 13/14. Gotta be back in Richmond the 16th. Hope to see you out there.

P.S. Check out the photo in my avatar. That's a Campmor Extended Poncho.

[Sgathak]

Slacker, if you would, please send me a PM with her hourly or per peice rates. Im stil in prototype stages and need to be able to put a decent approximation of what Im planning on the scale and in the field - without that info, no body cares how cool the design is.

Does she know how to sew silnylon?

Thanks!

[Two Speed]

If anyone gives a hoot, Six Moon Designs has some Luna shelters on clearance. Not exactly what I was looking for, but close enough and will let me bring the pooch inside (without having to train him to get in his own hammock :biggrin: ). Won't be able to order from one supplier, but I do get to indulge my taste for gear built by a "small house," as opposed to North Face, Sierra Designs, MSR, etc. Should be a definite upgrade from my SD Lightyear, as the Luna has more floor space, a usable vestibule and is about half the weight. If anyone's interested, I'll post a brief review when I get back in early May.

For those of you who haven't tried some of this stuff out, I've got two pieces of silnylon gear sewn by Etowah Outfitters and have recently upgraded my mess kit with stuff from Anti-Gravity. All of it works like a charm, didn't cost any more than gear from Campmor or REI, and I had the simple pleasure of getting to chew the fat with TinMan. Short version: some of these small houses are building some awesome stuff. I'm finding that as I get more experience, I like the gear built by the small houses better than any gizmo put out by REI, etc. I heartily reccomend considering them when buying gear. Don't forget that Sgt Rock is working on some interesting stuff, and certainly has put the effort into the research required to build a superior alcohol stove. I'm a Trangia dweeb personally, but maybe if the Sgt had gotten hold of me before my personality was deformed, I might have turned out better. :dancing2:


. . . Dude! I'm heading to Springer Mt. April 6/7 and walking out April 13/14. Gotta be back in Richmond the 16th. Hope to see you out there . . .

Major, I'm picking up my section hike just south of Roan Mountain, and hope to wind up in/near Pearisburg. Don't think we'll see each other, unless you are one awesome hiking machine, in which case I couldn't keep up anyway.