Tyvek 1443r

[Jammer817]

I ended up with a few yards of this. Think Frogg Toggs or Dri Ducks type material. Anyone used it for anything DIY?

[Pheonix6579]

I know some folks have made tarps out of Tyvek

[Dutch]

I have some that I made a ground cloth for a tent with. Great stuff, It is soft like fabric.

[Violent Green]

Works OK as a groundcloth, bivy tops, etc. Anything where you need mostly waterproof and breathable.

Ryan

[ksbcrocks]

It will get water through it if you're laying on top of it all night with some wet ground. I made a bug bivy out of it and always have to put polycro underneath to keep my pad dry.



It also works pretty well as a light sheet in very warm temps. Which surprised me being that it is barely breathable. I wouldn't buy it for that use, but I had some leftovers and used it for that all summer.

[Sunndog]

I use some as a ground sheet in a tent vestibule. As said above it will wet through with presssure on it all night

[genixia]

Tyvek is a water resistant vapor retarder, one primary use being to help keep bulk water out of a building whilst allowing moisture in the framing to escape thus preventing mould. Its water resistance is highly variable by our standards - depending on batch 1443R could rate as low as 550mm hydrostatic head or as high as 1350mm HH. Its target HH is about 850mm HH. For reference, 1500mm HH is considered waterproof. Note that outdoor fabrics are usually tested both new and after significant cycles of folding and unfolding. I doubt that cyclic testing happens for tyvek because its typical use doesn't subject it to such rigor.

I have a tyvek groundsheet to stick gear on, and I've never seen moisture come through it from that use. If I had to go to ground it would be my primary groundsheet, with my presumably ripped hammock on top of that. I'd be layering as much stuff between the ground and my UQ anyway that I wouldn't worry about a little moisture coming through.

As a tarp, you could get a tyvek batch that was awesome, or you could get some that misted badly under heavy rain. You just won't know until you try it. The reality is that you can get moisture under a completely waterproof tarp for a number of other reasons anyway, so again it might not matter too much, but there are other lighter affordable options with more consistent HH ratings that I'd choose to build a tarp from first.

It should work well as an underquilt protector, pack raincover, diy rain poncho or kilt. Lots of uses.

[AndyG]

Awesome info, genixia!

I've seen tyvek tape at store. Is this or glue ideal for making a tarp, etc? I'm planning on making a fireside cooking tarp. Was going to use tape to put it together, including tieout attachments.

[AndyG]

And what are the lighter, more affordable and consistent options you mentioned for tarp making?

[oldpappy]

I love my soft tyvek sock - no sew (just tyvek tape from Home Depot). 3 full years of heavy camping.
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