Negative weight camp pillow

Can a helium balloon replace a pole to hold up the apex of a tent or tarp?

Sounds good about the new thread. I kind of hijacked this one on accident. As for the balloon as pole. That is a great idea. I think the problem there is the weight on the balloon. It would have to be a big balloon to do it, which would take space out of the tent itself, which would lead to needing a bigger tent, which would lead to a bigger balloon etc. It's a vicious cycle. It would be interesting to see if you can work out a balance. But boy, if that ONE balloon popped… Carrying a cannister of helium or hydrogen would be heavy. A GG LT3 weighs 2.9 oz. Why not just go that way? No intention of bursting your balloon bubble here, just saying. Blowing it up yourself is one thing, but having it be helium or hydrogen is another.

Bill Fornshell used one of the long ones as hoop on a bivy.

>"Can a helium balloon replace a pole to hold up the apex of a tent or tarp?"

The necessary bouancy would require a helium 5 to 10 feet in diameter. But could can inflated tent pole be useful?

Yes, a flexible bundle of tubes can be made rigid with a pressurized fluid. Most of the posters on this thread have direct experience with this happening at 90-110 mm Hg (about 2 psig).

I'd suggest, rather than bring a 2 psig pump with you, you design a tube about 20% too long and fold it up so as to pressurize it, or 10% too large in diameter and lace it up to increase the pressure inside. Lacing up something like a blue tarp or Tyvek with latex party balloons inside could give you a very capable pole that is both cheap and light.

ROFLMAO!!! SO HILARIOUS!!! I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING.

In all seriousness, though, that was a nice lacing/folding idea, David. But now my mind has forever tied it with the other… thanks!