Silnylon versus Boyscouts

Not with my scouts.

Boy Scouts should only be trusted with Tin cloth!

kidding. I think you should go with ripstop nylon on everything but the stuff sacks.

Joseph

Depends a bit on the kid. There were a couple in our troop who could rock lightweight fabrics, but only a couple. Interestingly enough, they were the two smartest guys in the troop; one ended up class valedictorian, the other is at a top-ten college. You're probably OK with the stuffsacks, and possibly the ponchos if you're someplace like CA where you don't actually use them much, but other than that I'd go with beefier gear.

1.3 oz silnylon has a higher tear strength than the average
1.9 oz urethane coated nylon. Abrasion resistant may be less
however.

So– depending on the application, silnylon may be suitable
for some scouts. I am thinking stuffsacks inside packs,
ponchos, tarps. For stuffsacks outside a pack, I would probably
recommend 210 denier or 420 denier.

Both the 1.3 & 1.9 will be ripstop and silicon coated.

For the stuff sacks, I'm worried about scouts putting their fingers through the stuff sacks when the edge is folded over their fingers (to make a "handle") and they are stuffing extra-hard. I've seen 1 blown out "regular nylon" stuff sack (the one that came with the sleeping bag). The fabric came apart next to the seam, but the seam was still fine.

For the poncho's I'm worried about the abrasion resistance since they'll get sat on at breaks, meals, and around camp. And also the puncture resistance, since they'll be walking through the woods around camp, and not paying a lot of attention if they are playing around with their friends.

For the tarps, I'm worried about the puncture resistance since they could get punctured by sticks when they spread them out on the ground and then they get slid around a bit while being put up. I'm also worried about the abrasion resistance since the tarps will probably also be used as "picnic blankets" to sit on & spread things out on when it's not raining, but the ground is still wet.

Anybody know if 1.3 silnylon is strong enough to be Ok in these applications ? Is 1.9 Sil strong enough ? Or do we need to use 210 denier packcloth ?

Please forgive my naivete regarding scouts. Are they not also carrying ground cloths? Can ground cloths (or sit pad, etc.) be required to be carried in an external pocket for use at rest breaks? Make it part of a pre-hike check?

Again, I may have a limited view. I hardly ever broke or lost precious objects as a child. I used expensive sunglasses by age 8 (and the cloth sleeve). I was shocked that classmates would actually leave jackets at school. I grew up to always use a coaster, seatbelt, helmet, condom, etc.

Edit: I was probably 4yo when given my first SAK. Simple saftey rule: I must be sitting on the ground when the blade is open.

Adding post to: "Silnylon versus Boyscouts"

Sil vs scouts Posted 02/03/2010 06:10:09 MST by John G (JohnG10)

Both the 1.3 & 1.9 will be ripstop and silicon coated.

For the stuff sacks, I'm worried about scouts putting their fingers through the stuff sacks when the edge is folded over their fingers (to make a "handle") and they are stuffing extra-hard. I've seen 1 blown out "regular nylon" stuff sack (the one that came with the sleeping bag). The fabric came apart next to the seam, but the seam was still fine.

For the poncho's I'm worried about the abrasion resistance since they'll get sat on at breaks, meals, and around camp. And also the puncture resistance, since they'll be walking through the woods around camp, and not paying a lot of attention if they are playing around with their friends.

For the tarps, I'm worried about the puncture resistance since they could get punctured by sticks when they spread them out on the ground and then they get slid around a bit while being put up. I'm also worried about the abrasion resistance since the tarps will probably also be used as "picnic blankets" to sit on & spread things out on when it's not raining, but the ground is still wet.

Anybody know if 1.3 silnylon is strong enough to be Ok in these applications ? Is 1.9 Sil strong enough ? Or do we need to use 210 denier packcloth ?"

—

I can't imagine "scouts putting their fingers through the stuff sacks". If they are that strong, they should be
able to carry cast iron stuffsacks.

Training is key to keeping things in good shape.
Would you let scouts walk on a climbing rope, or
a parachute?

Explain how to properly take care of gear. Then have
them drop and give you ten, or do the dishes, when they
forget.

If you can get a hold of 1.9 oz silicone coated nylon,
that would give you a 10 or 15% increase in tensile
strength and would likely be worth the weight penalty
if these items were group gear and needed to last
through many scouts.