tarp -> tent

[matt kirk]

I thought I'd share a re-purposed gear project that may be interesting. Perhaps it may inspire others to dust off an old gear item and give it a new life. Basically, I converted a simple homemade 10'x10' sil-tarp from yesteryear into a roomy Double-Rainbow-esque tent that can be set up using trees or hiking poles.

Background: so as a wedding gift for a couple of friends back in Fall of 2009, I built them a tarp. I liked it, so I built my wife and myself one as well. Here's a pic of the tarp being used on the Skyline-to-Sea Trail back in winter '09:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pJ2CL1oa_PY/SzMTLzy8v2I/AAAAAAAACyQ/zrV_b22S0a8/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg

When it started getting buggy out one spring (I think 2011), I decided to add some netting around the side and simple A-frame set-up doors. The great thing is that the doors could be tied back and the tarp could retain its versatility for other configurations. Oh yeah, I also added two guy-out attachments. Here's a pic circa 2013 of the palace:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvgeBF0x5NY/UF4nL5SP-aI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/g_-cNfnfGpY/s1600/2.JPG

Fast Forward to now: as expressed in another MYOG thread,

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=103062

I'd been pondering a tent build. My favorite tent of all time is still the Double Rainbow I used on my AT hike 2007. After heeding the forum's advice to forego expensive cuben for the build, I thought I might as well try re-purpose the aforementioned tarp. Results:

Here's a pic showing the front. Lots of room for two people and dog. Background shows our more permanent MYOG "tent" (that one took a little more effort to build)

Here's a pic of the side:

I used cordlocks to adjust awnings along the guy line:

Total weight with eight stakes, extra cord (for rigging between trees) and stuff sack: 34 oz.

It's not pretty, it's not perfect. But one thing I've learned: it doesn't need to be. It was a fun and challenging project to convert tarp to tent. Maybe one day I'll start from scratch…

[Gary Yelland]

Looks great, a good size too, nice to recycle old material, onwards and upwards :)

[Jon Holthaus]

Granted its summertime, the praise in the myog section isn't what it used to be. Beautiful job very well done.

[Robert Alexander]

Bravo!

[Roger Caffin]

Rather neat and clean.

Cheers

[James Marco]

Looks great, Matt! Reusing old stuff can really keep the price down, and add a lot of functionality. I never really cared for the side doorways, simply because they seem to let in so much wind and rain. How is that working for you?

[matt kirk]

Thanks for the kind words. James, will let you know RE side doors. Haven't had a chance to test the tent in the rain yet. The original idea that I was tossing around ( http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=103062 ) was to integrate a DWR splash door to mitigate this concern. I guess that could always be added later? I mailed this tent up to my dad who will be the first to test it out. Hopefully he stays dry on an AT section hike. Repurposed AND shared. Sweet deal.

[Jerry Adams]

I've made tents with side doors

Problem was, when it's raining, and I open door to get in or out, water drips down onto my sleeping bag

Better to have empty area directly below door

There'll be rain drops on the outside of the door. When I open the door, it's unavoidable that some of that water drips down.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

That looks really nice.

I also liked the tarp with mesh doors in the previous iteration. I have an 8×10 tarp that I never get to use. I wish I could figure out how to put a bug net with door in it. But I probably should just sell the tarp. I have way too much stuff.

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