Snake Skins ????

[Bradley]

I finally see what a snake skin is, but I wonder why ???

It looks hard to get it in from one end to the other,
and I think it could be good because you would wrap it around your backpack while hiking ???

Not sure I have anything right, so what is up with snake skins ???

Thanks

[canoeski]

Snake skins are great.
They allow you you to keep the tarp or mannock contained until deployment. I use separate skins for each. For instance, you may set up the hammock but are not sure if you will need the tarp (I prefer an open set up when possible), you can rig the tarp, but leave it in the skins. Then at a moments notice during the night, if you sense weather coming, you can unfurl the hammock, place 4 stakes and go back to sleep.

Conversely, I will sometimes set up the tarp in foul weather but not want to deploy the hammock until I need it. This allows the hammock to stay dry and tidy, and leaves more room under the tarp to sit, cook, or socialize.

When packing up, the skins keep everything tidy by not allowing the hammock to touch the dirty or wet ground when untying form the trees. They also keep the possibly wet tarp contained so it does not moisten other items. The tarp and hammock can be strapped to the outside of the pack since they are encased (but I usually put them in a stuff sack anyway).

[canoeski]

Here they are skinned up:



Here the tarp was deployed because of heavy dew after a period of rain, but the following humid night there was a nice dry breeze (and sunrise the next AM) to take advantage of. You can see the skins retracted.:

[Bradley]

. . . you can unfurl the hammock, . . .

When you say unfurl, does that mean you would roll it around the ridge-line
like a for'sl of a sail boat with roller furling
and then skuttle the snake skin over it ???

Oh Thanks for the photos and explanation as well.

[canoeski]

When you say unfurl, does that mean you would roll it around the ridge-line
like a for'sl of a sail boat with roller furling
and then skuttle the snake skin over it ???

Oh Thanks for the photos and explanation as well.

..Zactly!!, but no need to be precise.

[Bradley]

Very Cool

Very Very Cool

[MAD777]

I recently began using snake skins for my tarp for exactly the reason explained by canoeski. I now love the idea of not fully deploying the tarp, but, having is ready at moments notice, if I predict the weather incorrectly.

[Bradley]

I can see now how great it is to deploy

but is there a quick way to wrap it up ???

[canoeski]

I can see now how great it is to deploy

but is there a quick way to wrap it up ???

Yup,
just roll it up, with the guy lines tossed in, and start pulling one skin towards the center. Be sure to squeeze out the air, or it will end up looking like a snake who swallowed a rabbit. Then pull the other end to the center, overlapping the first one. Detach from tree straps, fold from the middle into a size that's convenient to stuff, and wrap cords around to secure it. Viole!

[Scottybdiving]

I agree. Love the skins. My wife likes the tarp for privacy. I like it for "just in case". The snakeskins make it readily deployable.