Are snake skins worth the weight penalty?

[SilvrSurfr]

I think not. Three of these velcro bad boys are all I need to roll up the tarp and secure it.

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/HLWr...FY2Z4AodlysAWA

[sturgeon]

Looks like a simple solution. One question: Do they absorb water?

[GrizzlyAdams]

I think not. Three of these velcro bad boys are all I need to roll up the tarp and secure it.

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/HLWr...FY2Z4AodlysAWA

Mine's lighter! I girth hitch three 2ft lines of twisted mason line to the tarp ridgeline. Garth hitch is at the middle of the mason line, leaving two long ends dangling. Positioned on the ridge line at the same places you put your velcro cord wraps. When it's time to roll up the tarp, I position the tarp to be under the ridgeline, then roll it from the middle up to the ridgeline and tie it off. Repeat the rolling action under each of the other ties.

There is a bit more convenience to skins, but in the space of lighter weight vs convenience my preference tends towards lighter weight.

HYOT (hang your own tarp)

[SilvrSurfr]

Mine's lighter! I girth hitch three 2ft lines of twisted mason line to the tarp ridgeline. Garth hitch is at the middle of the mason line, leaving two long ends dangling. Positioned on the ridge line at the same places you put your velcro cord wraps. When it's time to roll up the tarp, I position the tarp to be under the ridgeline, then roll it from the middle up to the ridgeline and tie it off. Repeat the rolling action under each of the other ties.

There is a bit more convenience to skins, but in the space of lighter weight vs convenience my preference tends towards lighter weight.

HYOT (hang your own tarp)

That sounds like a better solution, Grizz. Thanks for sharing. I started rethinking snake skins after I got a cuben fiber tarp. I just couldn't see using snakeskins since it seemed against the whole UL principle of buying a cuben fiber tarp in the first place.

[Trambo]

Mine's lighter! I girth hitch three 2ft lines of twisted mason line to the tarp ridgeline. Garth hitch is at the middle of the mason line, leaving two long ends dangling. Positioned on the ridge line at the same places you put your velcro cord wraps. When it's time to roll up the tarp, I position the tarp to be under the ridgeline, then roll it from the middle up to the ridgeline and tie it off. Repeat the rolling action under each of the other ties.

There is a bit more convenience to skins, but in the space of lighter weight vs convenience my preference tends towards lighter weight.

HYOT (hang your own tarp)

Sounds like what a sailor would do

[Gresh]

That sounds like a better solution, Grizz. Thanks for sharing. I started rethinking snake skins after I got a cuben fiber tarp. I just couldn't see using snakeskins since it seemed against the whole UL principle of buying a cuben fiber tarp in the first place.

...and here I was thinking that people bought cuben fiber tarps just to be elite.

Regardless, I had snake skins on my first tarp (and briefly on my Kelty 12) and found that a smallish stuff sack does me just fine. Probably just a hair lighter than a set of skins, but still likely more grams than a legitimate gram weenie might want to carry.

[SilvrSurfr]

I was using 1.75 mm Zing-It instead of velcro until recently to tie up the tarp. The velcro is a bit more convenient, but I I like the idea of having the tie-ups permanently attached to the ridgeline, as Grizz suggested.

[Gresh]

Weight-wise, I really like the idea. Were I anything but a gear fatty, that's 100% what I'd do.

BUT, I'd worry about my tarp being protected. Neither your nor Grizz's idea address some sort of cover to protect a tarp (particularly one as lightweight as cuben fiber) from the errant sharp pinecone. Would a stuff sack or snakeskin protect that? Maybe, maybe not...but peace of mind weighs nothing.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Weight-wise, I really like the idea. Were I anything but a gear fatty, that's 100% what I'd do.

BUT, I'd worry about my tarp being protected. Neither your nor Grizz's idea address some sort of cover to protect a tarp (particularly one as lightweight as cuben fiber) from the errant sharp pinecone. Would a stuff sack or snakeskin protect that? Maybe, maybe not...but peace of mind weighs nothing.

I'm 100% with you on protecting a multi-$100 cuben tarp investment!

I'm fond of packs with stretchy mesh front pockets, like the ULA's and my new favorite summer pack, the Gossamer Gear Kumo. That's where my tarp and raingear go, sometimes other things, but nothing sharp. Provides the protection from sharp things inside and outside the pack.

[Mountnman]

Grizz do you have a vid on how you do this? Seems like I remember seeing one