WTB Snake skins

**Mustardman** · 01-06-2009, 18:29

I'm looking to pick up a set (or a couple of sets) of snake skins, but can't see myself paying 20 bucks a set for them. I'd sew them myself, except for the lack of a sewing machine.

I'm leaning towards narrower skins, with the idea of getting up to four of them - two for a pair of blackbirds, and two for the tarps that go with them. If you've got some you aren't using, or feel like sewing a couple sets up, please let me know.

As an aside, anyone know what size skin would work best with the blackbird?

**Mustardman** · 01-06-2009, 23:01

Bump.

For the price I'd spend on these things from HH, I could almost buy a sewing machine :-P

Someone has to have some lying around that they don't want, or be willing to sew some up for me for less than $20 a pop. You can call them worm tunnels if you're afraid of copyright issues.

**headchange4u** · 01-07-2009, 09:37

I may have a set I'll sell. Let me check my gear...

**Cannibal** · 01-07-2009, 11:00

Mustardman- I long ago switched to bishop bags for my hammocks, so I've got a set from my Expedition that I never use (assuming I can find them). Don't know if they'll fit the BB, but if you want them they are yours.

**Doctari** · 01-07-2009, 12:40

Donating mine to the raffle on the 24th.
I use the double opening Blackbishop bag. It holds everything but the tarp.

**Mustardman** · 01-07-2009, 18:18

Thanks guys, let me know if you find them! If anyone else has any more laying around, I could still use two more sets. Hammocking is expensive when you're buying doubles of all your gear...

**sniperbait** · 01-07-2009, 21:22

Sometimes it's a false economy to try to make something. It's usually better to buy the manufactured items than stuff about trying to save a few bucks. I have HH snakeskins and am pleased with them. It would be too much effort to try to buy the material, work out the dimensions, measure and cut correctly, find someone to sew them to a standard I would accept, just to save a few dollars.

**Schneiderlein** · 01-07-2009, 22:29

Originally Posted by sniperbait

Sometimes it's a false economy to try to make something. It's usually better to buy the manufactured items than stuff about trying to save a few bucks. I have HH snakeskins and am pleased with them. It would be too much effort to try to buy the material, work out the dimensions, measure and cut correctly, find someone to sew them to a standard I would accept, just to save a few dollars.

Unless you do not value your time, I cannot see how DIY gear could ever be good economy. DIY gear is not about saving money, at least not for me. I bought a $700 sewing machine because I love making gear and have no ambition to ever recover the investment in money saved vs. buying commercial gear. Yet, I consider the $700 spent on the sewing machine a really good investment, because it helps me to do something I really like to do. I just made a down jacket, about $120 in materials and 10 hours of my time. I could have easily bought a $300 commercial jacket and come out ahead financially considering my investment in time and DIY equipment. But where's the fun in that?

**Mustardman** · 01-07-2009, 21:31

For one set I might agree with you, sniper, but for four sets, that's a new sleeping bag worth of money blown on overgrown stuff sacks. I'm not talking about a custom quilt here, I'm talking about something anyone who took a home ec class could make. If I had a sewing machine I'd make the things myself - they don't gotta be pretty, just gotta work.

I seriously considered taking the 80 bucks I would spend on them, and buying a cheap costco sewing machine

**angrysparrow** · 01-07-2009, 21:43

What about a Bishop's Bag instead? I much prefer them over snake skins for both tarp and hammock.

You could easily make these yourself from on-hand stuff sacks.