Tarp packing

**gunn parker** · 08-27-2007, 22:35

HI All
I am wondering how everyone packs a wet tarp?
and do those that have the neo 9x9 just stuff them into a sack?

But if you have a wet tarp and your going to stuff it into a sack the inside of the tarp will become wet as well, so if your camping in a new spot the next night you will have moisture on both sides of the tarp.

So is there a secret to keeping the inside dry or does it not matter?
Thanks
Gunn

**angrysparrow** · 08-27-2007, 22:46

Originally Posted by gunn parker

HI All
I am wondering how everyone packs a wet tarp?
and do those that have the neo 9x9 just stuff them into a sack?

But if you have a wet tarp and your going to stuff it into a sack the inside of the tarp will become wet as well, so if your camping in a new spot the next night you will have moisture on both sides of the tarp.

So is there a secret to keeping the inside dry or does it not matter?

One method: Use mesh snakeskins secured to the outside of your pack. This will allow the tarp to dry while you are hiking. A mesh bag would work just as well.

Getting the inside of a tarp wet doesn't matter much to me. Once it is hung taughtly, I can usually just give it a good shake and most of that moisture will fall off before I hang the hammock underneath it. JMO

**gunn parker** · 08-27-2007, 22:55

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

One method: Use mesh snakeskins secured to the outside of your pack. This will allow the tarp to dry while you are hiking. A mesh bag would work just as well.

This is on my to do list or maybe a BB style stuff sack similar to the hammock sack but made from netting.

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

Getting the inside of a tarp wet doesn't matter much to me. Once it is hung taughtly, I can usually just give it a good shake and most of that moisture will fall off before I hang the hammock underneath it. JMO

Ah ok thats easy then.
Thanks

**wamyteipen** · 08-27-2007, 23:11

If it is no longer raining when I pack up or only raining lightly, I use my packtowel to wipe my tarp down before packing. If it's nice weather in the morning I give it a shake and let it air dry while I eat. If it's pouring rain when I break camp, then I just pack it up as best I can and move on. If it clears up later I may pull it out during lunch and let it dry a bit. I like the idea of mesh skins and plan on making a pair in the near future.

**FanaticFringer** · 08-27-2007, 23:20

My mesh skins are pretty cool. I have my SG 9x9 in them. Hav'nt used them in the field yet. Super easy to make.

**schrochem** · 08-27-2007, 23:24

Hammock Engineer made a comment about mesh skins and a wet tarp in his TJ. I think he basically said it didn't work. It would just dry the exposed parts. Makes sense...

**FanaticFringer** · 08-27-2007, 23:37

Originally Posted by schrochem

Hammock Engineer made a comment about mesh skins and a wet tarp in his TJ. I think he basically said it didn't work. It would just dry the exposed parts. Makes sense...

That's what I was thinking.

**Cannibal** · 08-28-2007, 09:25

I read that in HE's journal too. Still, you're going to have wet spots if it's stuffed anywhere. The key is not getting the rest of your stuff wet; I carry my tarp in the outside mesh pocket of my pack. No worries.

**stoikurt** · 08-28-2007, 15:09

At least with mesh skins the inside of the skins can dry out. The inside of silnylon skin will still be wet and probably won't dry as easily even when set up.

**headchange4u** · 08-28-2007, 17:15

I wonder if rearranging the tarp inside the mesh skins ever so often would help the tarp dry better throughout? We are in the middle of a drought so I have not had the occasion to test out my mesh skins with a wet tarp.

Truthfully, I am really moving away from skins period. A small stuff sack is a lot easier to deal with than a 12 foot hammock or tarp "burrito". I have already switched from using skins on my hammock to a BB sack. I know Blackbishop mentioned that he was working on a a BB sack for a tarp. I don't know what he has come up with (hint, hint

) but my basic design would be basically a BB sack made from mesh, large enough hold my tarp.

One of my more radical designs I have been thinking about is something like this:

Basically it would consist of the mesh stuff sack sewn to the ridge line seam of the tarp, and would be on the underside of the tarp when it is set up. It would work like a BB sack it that when setting up you would tie one end of the tarp to the tree and then walk to the next tree pulling the tarp out of the sack as you go.

This design gives you a stuff sack that you can't misplace, a small storage area in the well protected peak area of the tarp, and it's mesh so it would allow some drying of the tarp once if it's wet