Clearly, a cool tarp.

[Cannibal]

This was just for fun, but it turned-out kind of cool.

While paging thru the kite sites in search of that next new greatest thing ever (I tend to dream big) I found something called Norlam PX0.75. It is two layers of clear mylar with polyester scrim sandwiched in between. Well, that would be fun, I tell myself. Then I noticed the weight: "0.75oz"! Oh happy day I think. I should have learned my lesson about thinking a very long time ago, but not so much. I called the master gearmaker Brandon and told him of my find. He agreed to make me a tarp from it and here it be:



Here's Genuine Draft looking out:



This is Genuine Draft pouting because I won't let her set-up her BB yet:



From inside:



Pretty cool, huh? OK, so here are the problems. First of all, this stuff makes Spinn sound quiet! Holy Hannah, this stuff is so not stealth in sound. Second, it does not exactly pack down small, or easy. It barely fits into a SuperFly stuff sack...barely! I worked-up quite the nice sweat trying to get it back into its home. Third, the master gear maker dropped a straight edge and reported that it went thru the tarp like butter. Good news here is clear packing tape is the ultimate patch. It took me about 5 minutes to find the repair; very hard to see. Fourth, and this one just plain made me mad, the .75 oz/yard...that refers to sailmaker's yards aparently. I think I remember Brandon telling me it works out to about 1.3oz/yard.

I haven't thrown it on the scale yet, but it's a bit heavy. Still, I think it's a cool way to view the world from the hammock. I'm looking forward to taking it out on an overnight to see if it reflects all the moonlight and starlight. I was hoping for the ultimate stealth, we'll see.

Here it is in early evening. I'm concerned about the reflection.

[stoikurt]

Kinda hard to change clothes behind that.

[headchange4u]

That's AWESOME!

[sir White Wolf]

10 on the cool looking scale!
And yea I know how it sounds in the wind, a buddy had a bike cover made out of it and Wow was it loud

[Cannibal]

Kinda hard to change clothes behind that.

Yep, plan on putting Genuine Draft under this one when we go hiking.

That's AWESOME!

Thanks! Now to see if it lasts.

10 on the cool looking scale!
And yea I know how it sounds in the wind, a buddy had a bike cover made out of it and Wow was it loud

Oh, I was kind of hoping it would get less noisy as time passed, but apparently not.

[moski]

A cool, clear tarp.

[Ekul]

well you want miss a sunrise or a full moon night =P. neato none the less. Thanks for the details.

[Coldspring]

If you sealed in the ends, you could just grow your own fresh produce on a long distance trek.

Good thinking though, not being afraid to try new things is what advances the hobby.

[Cannibal]

Good thinking though, not being afraid to try new things is what advances the hobby.

If only I were so noble.
You kidding me? I just did it to be cool and to have a hope to say "I did it first ".

[froldt]

You kidding me? I just did it to be cool and to have a hope to say "I did it first ".

Coldspring didn't say that you did it for selfless reasons. If it had worked out like you had hoped, who knows how many people would be watching the moon rise through their tarps fairly quickly.