Griz Beaks - gram-weenie question of the day

[MAD777]

Speculation here, but if you get blowing rain, and the nylon begins to absorb moisture, won't that add to you weight once you pack up? If so, this seems like a diminishing return. Save 1.5 oz now, carry 3 oz more later.

That is my unscientific observation.

Yes, this is the weak link in the perverbial chain!
If it's just wind, I win - If it's rain, I lose.

I may test some nylon in the sink and see how long it takes to dry. I carry my tarp in an outside net pocket of my pack, so.... back to the laboratory!

[BlackGoat]

I have built grizz beak clones out of regular ripstop and also ripstop that had a light DWR treatment. Both have worked very well in the rain and wind. I prefer the DWR treated ones because they seem to absorb less moisture. I use them so infrequently, and primarily in the winter months, so I could never figure out why silnylon would be required.

BG

[FLRider]

Are there plastic options out there that would be lighter (e.g.: plastic trash bags or thin polycro sheeting)?

It doesn't seem to me that the beaks would be under much dynamic load, even in a rough wind. Most of the load would be spread out over the majority of the surface area of the beak, due to the large contact patch with the tarp, I would think.

Sure, it might look a little redneck to have a plastic bag (or whatever it gets made out of) hanging off of your tarp end, but if the weight savings are there...

Oh, and you wouldn't have to worry about picking up moisture that would make them heavier, either.

Just a thought.

[jeffjenn]

Just use cuben & end the debate!

[GrizzlyAdams]

Just use cuben & end the debate!

ah, did that....no surprise... Less than 3 ounces if I remember correctly.

You know the drill here. You can have "easy on the scale", and "easy on the pocket-book", but it's tough to have both at the same time.

[Law Dawg (ret)]

Depending on their size, that's about 1.4 oz, AND it's FREE! No wait, better than free - nylon costs less than silnylon - this could be a FIRST!

Well heck yeah then! Why, that's extra sugar and powdered milk for my tea.

[MAD777]

Oh yes! I already calculated that I could do it with cuben for about 2 1/2 ounces.
I figured I would need 3 yards, so with tax & shipping, about $95. Whereas 1.1 ripstop would be about $15. I'd save a bit over 2 1/2 ounces .... that's $30 per ounce.

Yep! That's about where my costs to lighten up are these days. Years ago I started out spending about $10 per ounces to cut weight and I was cutting pounds - now $30 per ounce and I'm cutting grams.

Which, of course, leads me to the next logical conclusion which is to buy a new cuben tarp from HammockGear for $300 and thereby cut my total tarp weight in half (even with the built in doors) or buy cuben for doors for $100 but ADD 2.5 ounces to my total tarp weight.

I'm gonna lose sleep over this one

[TiredFeet]

No need to go for expensive cuban.

Nylon absorbs water hence the problem if they get wet.

Polyester doesn't absorb water. So if they get wet, the water isn't absorbed and can be wiped off before packing up. Even when the water gets through the fabric, it just runs down the inside or drops to the ground at the end of the hammock and not on the hammock and it will stop the wind from driving the water further under the tarp and wetting the hammock.

Just find some light weight polyester fabric. It doesn't have to be ripstop and it probably doesn't even have to be real strong since the only load will be wind load. Angle the Grizz Beaks and even the wind load will be largely shed.

[vinnya42]

I have a full pack that comes out to just over 15 pounds...I struggle with this Concept...If I lost only 5 pounds (80 oz) from my gut it would be free and make hiking that much easier...or spend hundreds of dollars to save 16 oz??

I struggle with spending my way into a lighter hike...I must just cut back on the food when not using my gear in nature. Just a thought and something I struggle with, not getting that nice Titanium cook set and saving 6 oz.

[MAD777]

Nylon absorbs water hence the problem if they get wet...

Polyester doesn't absorb water. ..

Just find some light weight polyester fabric. It doesn't have to be ripstop and it probably doesn't even have to be real strong

Thanks Tiredfeet, I was thinking about polyester but I can never seem to find any that is lightweight. I'm going to have to scour JoAnn's again. I believe you are right about it not having to be super strong.

Options, options, options....