Do You Wipe?

[OneClick]

Ha ha, no sicko...your tarp!

After a rain or frost, I find myself trying to wipe down my tarp before putting it in my pack to get some of the water off. I can only wait so long for weather to dry it. I use a sil BMJ tarp. Silnylon in general has that sort of oily effect which doesn't allow water to just come right off when you hit it like a cheap blue plastic tarp. Nor does it wipe dry very well, instead more of a smear. From what I hear, this may be another benefit of cuben - can anyone confirm?

Anyway, what does everyone do before packing if letting nature dry it isn't in your agenda?

[dragon360]

I tend to wipe every time - after a rainfall or a misty morning. Again this if I'm starting out though. Sitting around, I may, but for no real reason.

[PapaSmurf]

Ha ha, no sicko...your tarp!

After a rain or frost, I find myself trying to wipe down my tarp before putting it in my pack to get some of the water off. I can only wait so long for weather to dry it. I use a sil BMJ tarp. Silnylon in general has that sort of oily effect which doesn't allow water to just come right off when you hit it like a cheap blue plastic tarp. Nor does it wipe dry very well, instead more of a smear. From what I hear, this may be another benefit of cuben - can anyone confirm?

Anyway, what does everyone do before packing if letting nature dry it isn't in your agenda?

I just give it a good shake and then put it away.
I always hang it in the workshop for a day or so when I get back home.

[Redoleary]

I hit it with a shamwow before take down if its wet.

[sturgeon]

yeah, what he said, dry it with a shamwow type cloth before hitting the trail. I carry a piece of shamwow just for that purpose, + another for dishes, and another as a washcloth/towel, all different colours, so I don't mix them up.

[Catavarie]

I tend to go over mine with a pack towel right after breakfast and before I do anything else. I may not get it completely dry, but it gets off the excess moisture and usually nature has in dried out by time I'm ready to pack it up, packing it last of course.

If it's still a bit damp, well that's why I like my mesh tarp skins, they let a bit of moisture escape. And I hang it in the yard for a few days once I get home to let it dry thoroughly.

[dac01]

Shake it a few times and then wipe. Then hang it up and wipe it down again when I get home. The pollen from the trees can grow some bad stuff on our gear if not put up clean and dry.

[pgibson]

I just give it a good shake and then put it away.
I always hang it in the workshop for a day or so when I get back home.

This is all I do. It's going into a sil stuff sack and if wet that gets packed on an outside pocket of my pack. At home it gets hung to dry and air out for a day or two..or when I get around to it

[doc]

I always wipe. But if I don't have a towel handy I use my hand

[fishbait]

I shake my tarp and then give it a quick wipe with my pack towel. I'll hang it for a couple days in the basement with a fan blowing on it to air it out.