My IDK Tarp door/Jerry chair/pack cover/rain cape

**Gris** · 02-18-2012, 20:50

From the title you can tell that I don’t know what to call it. For the last couple of months I’ve been thinking about building some multi function gear. Last week I got my Mamajamba so I finally was able to set it up to take the final measurements I needed. I was trying to figure out a way to make a single door for the tarp, and after seeing the video that BearChaser posted I got the idea I could make a cut in the door that would allow me to use it as a pack cover/rain cape and allow the suspension to pass through the door. After seeing all lot of pictures of wearable quilts I got the idea that I could fold it around me as a cape with the hardware I use to hook it to the tarp. Thanks also to JerryW for the idea to make the chair. As soon as I saw his dimensions that he put in his post I thought I could just add wings to that to form the door. Finally thanks to USMCStang for the idea to use Tyvec. I had a couple of rolls of Typar lying around the shop from previous additions and houses that I’ve built. Typar in my opinion is much stronger than Tyvec, but it comes with a weight penalty as well. The weight right now is 9.9 oz. After testing this out today I’ve decided to cut about a 1 foot wide by 3 foot tall dart out of the middle. The original dimension of 6 feet is just too long. I don’t know how this will affect the weight but once I’m done I will post the new finished weight.

**joemcc** · 02-18-2012, 21:06

Looks great! Nothing better than multi multi purpose, did I say multi purpose?, gear. Also we have the same stand so plus one there!

**fish_n1** · 02-19-2012, 02:20

I love multi purpose stuff. Nice project. Great job.

**gargoyle** · 02-19-2012, 07:57

Excellent work. Nice multi-purposing!
Integrating the hood is really clever.
You got something here.

Sil would be slippery as a seat, but maybe a panel of pu fabric for the seat area and sill wings could do the task?..hmmm, off to the laboratory. mamwaahaha. One in cuben?

**Black Wolf** · 02-19-2012, 08:33

You're on to something there .. once refined it'll become a mainstay in a lot of packs .. I like the width of it as a chair ..gives one room to sit and placement for cooking/eating .. nicely done

**Gris** · 02-19-2012, 18:13

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Excellent work. Nice multi-purposing!
Integrating the hood is really clever.
You got something here.

Sil would be slippery as a seat, but maybe a panel of pu fabric for the seat area and sill wings could do the task?..hmmm, off to the laboratory. mamwaahaha. One in cuben?

I thought about Sil for material but I wanted something that could hold up abrasion as a pack cover/raincape. On the AT it’s not so bad around here but on some of the lesser used trails here in Pa the trail runs right through thick brush and briars.
Peace,
Gris

**Gris** · 02-19-2012, 19:45

I wanted to add a picture of it folded up to show how packs down. I still think after I use it over a couple of trips it will be easier to fold up and pack down to half its size right now. I’m on the fence as to whether to add the dart or not. I like the coverage it gives me as a pack cover and the dart would take away some of that coverage. After I have it out a couple of times in the rain I will make up my mind and post my results.

**Mancat** · 02-19-2012, 23:37

Really nice work! Though one of your pics reminded me of this from Holy Grail.

**Gris** · 02-20-2012, 06:18

Originally Posted by Mancat

Really nice work! Though one of your pics reminded me of this from Holy Grail.

LOL the camera was dying the light was fading and it was the only picture that halfway came out that showed how the IDK would clip together up front. Trying to hitch into town nobody would pick me up with a face like that

. By the way nice work on the Holy Grail reference.