Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#158812 - 12/16/11 01:49 PM Prototype Hammock Hex Tarp
Ffej Etaps Offline
newbie

Registered: 12/14/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Montreal, QC Canada
I am working on an idea for a light weight low cost hex tarp. So far I have been experimenting with two kinds of polyethylene (PE): High density (HDPE)and Low density (LDPE).

Obviously PE lacks the strenght of something like Cuban fiber or silnylon. To compensate for this weakness, I have been playing with a number of different tapes to provide the necessary load handling characteristics required to cope with tie out tension and the effects of wind pressure.

I have discovered a number of trade off issues that one must contend with: Tensile strength, Resiliancy, Opacity.

HDPE has greater strength to weight properties (higher tensile strength) than LDPE. Translation: you can use a lighter base material with which to construct your tarp. The downside of this material choice is that it has a lower resiliance coefficient than LDPE. This means that with less give, it has a greater suseptibility to puncture, or blow out under high load conditions. One could compensate for this short coming, in theory, by increasing the ml thickness (ex. .35ml to .7ml). Likewise, to get the strength of HDPE using LDPE one would need to use material as thick (in theory) as 2ml.

I like the idea of a see through tarp, to better comune with my surroundings in the deep dark piny woods. HDPE tends to be more opaque than LDPE. I would prefer a hex tarp constructed of light weight HDPE, but you can't see through it. So, I have decided to take the weight penalty for a better view with increased resiliancy.

Here is a link to show what I have done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgCUc_aUnb0&feature=related

Any thought or comments?



Top
#158836 - 12/16/11 09:59 PM Re: Prototype Hammock Hex Tarp [Re: Ffej Etaps]
Kent W Offline
member

Registered: 10/15/09
Posts: 607
Loc: IL.
I have posted prior I have done what you expearment with. The best tape is 1/2 inch strapping tape. It is fiberglass reinforced and almost can pull a 1956 Buick! Good luck. Happy trails

Top
#160702 - 01/20/12 01:40 PM Re: Prototype Hammock Hex Tarp [Re: Kent W]
topshot Offline
member

Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 242
Loc: Midwest
Strapping tape isn't UV resistant. The best is 3M 2120 (also sold as L520 I think).

OP, you should try polycro. Tougher than HDPE, and more tensile strength than LDPE.

Top
#160719 - 01/20/12 05:38 PM Re: Prototype Hammock Hex Tarp [Re: Ffej Etaps]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
That came out very nice!

If they made a fiber reinforced plastic like that tape we'd have something really cool to work with. Like you said, might not be any cuban in it, but at least a little fiber laugh
_________________________
--

"You want to go where?"



Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum