A Few New(to me) Ideas.

looking forward to umbrella/hammock spreader description

A stick is effective against dogs.  Or other animals.  Or a trekking pole.

A stick is effective against dogs. Or other animals. Or a trekking pole.

You got any pictures of a stick being effective against a trekking pole?  :-)

if the stick was bigger than the trekking pole it would probably be effective : )

Really don’t want to focus on this. But I hope I never face a motivated pitbull with a stick or trekking pole, or at all ever again.

Weighted monkey fists are illegal in a lot of places. If I remember right, it was because sailors would often use them as weapons when they came to port. They are savagely good at producing force. I would 100% rather take a point blank golf drive to the ribs than take a 1oz monkey fist swung hard.

I just like tying them and they are a cool way to make a fat knot for the soft shackle of a hammock suspension. I made my dog leashes out of 1/4″ amsteel with big rare earth magnet spheres in a monkey fist for the grip. Tie a quick loop about a foot down the rope and soft shackle the human end of the leash to whatever. Pretty slick. Plus the magnet means I can toss the leash against the fridge by the door and it stays there. So that’s why i had one handy when my dogs got attacked. Never intended the weapon part, but I bopped myself lightly once, it hurt, and i thought hey that could be useful…. Then tested further by bashing holes in 1/2″ plywood. No joke.

I thought the monkey fist was brilliant for that particular gnarly dog because it almost definitely broke some ribs but didn’t “finish the job”. That’s a hard line to walk. I just smashed 5 of my ribs last year and it’s a memorable learning experience.

ANYWAYS. Not the point of my post, AT ALL. My main worry where I am is murder kitties (mt lions), and I rarely see them, and only their fleeing hindquarters. If they decide it’s my day, I will do my best but I have actually gotten my ass kicked by their food (a deer). A house cat is a weapon at 5% of the weight lol.

A weighted monkey fist is formidable. A solid bet against dogs. Gotta be able to swing like your life is on it. Make one and try it, on non living stuff. But against anything apex, cmon. Monkey fist is just a fun, great skill and MUG tool for normal outdoor behaviors. Boy would I rather talk about honey or coconut oil.

Rodger, I didn’t intend to disagree. Absolutely waxing a dog if it doesn’t learn very fast. My experience was not fun. I’m proud that I dominated that fool quickly but it was generally awful.

So I don’t really know what we are talking about here, but it sounds like some kind of heavy weight that is tied to the end of a rope, to be used as a weapon. How is this relevant to the conversation for lightweight backpacking gear?

I have been clear from the start that this wasn’t my intent for this post. I was talking about a few ideas that I thought might be new to MUG. Honey, coconut oil, umbrella, disc. Using a monkey fist as a thumper was way down the list. This is where it went and i tried to steer it back. Sorry. Dang. I hope it’s clear that I stated a few times it wasn’t the point. Cmon Rodger you said “finish the job” lol. I’m talking about hammock suspension knot used a leash, bear bag, general rope business.

In recent years, I post here and I get nearly mocked. It’s like consumer insecurity….where people take another person’s preferred method as an affront to their purchase. Years ago we regularly said HYOH. Where’s that? Im just proud of my ideas and creations and posted them here cuz maybe it’s useful to somebody else. I don’t wanna whoop a dog with my hammock suspension, thats horrific. It’s MUG, it was always “Not that you would but you could”.

My OP was boring. Sorry. Nothing is sacred now. Not even discussion. So now if I don’t post a link to a way to spend money instead of presenting ideas, I should keep walking. Noted.

Nobody else packs honey, coconut oil, a frisbee, or maybe found another greater use for the structural part of an umbrella? Zero useful feedback. Let’s instead focus on fighting a pitty with a twig, yay. It was a side story. I genuinely had it just cuz it’s cool and it was useful in an unexpected way. That’s MUG!!!

I remember years ago we had dozens of posts on a thread about condoms on MUG. It was fun. But NOW, that’s potentially offensive and doesn’t work towards selling something, doesn’t represent the overall message of BPL.

To be clear, I HATE the conversation about self defense. I’m ashamed I played along. It’s a necessary one at times but there are threads here for that. If we focus on defense beyond the necessary, beyond the recommendations of informed locals, it’s just fear mongering. I am not trying to advise.

But I did get run over by a deer. And that’s funny.

I’ve taken honey before.  Good dense energy.

I wouldn’t take a Frisbee but it’s good if you enjoy it.  Don’t let negative comments bother you.  The internet is so funny.

I have had encounters with dog before, and when I had a stick, the dog stayed out of stick distance.

Once recently a dog came running at me, quiet, ears down.  I got my boot ready to be between me and it, but the owner yelled at it and it stopped.  Then he said I spooked it.  What? You’re blaming me for your misbehaving dog???  I just kept my thoughts to myself and continued on my way.  Too bad I didn’t have a trekking pole in my hand.

One problem with a ball like you described is it would likely take too long to get it.  Same with gun or bear spray.  You’d really have to have it immediately grabable.

Thanks Jerry. Yes. Dogs have become divisive. And here we are back on the wrong side of this convo. Feel free to start a thread about dogs. Sticks work fine most of the time, sure.

I genuinely feel like I can treat a most ailments for a few days with only coconut oil, leukotape, a bit of cotton clothing, and honey. That’s a huge part of my self-proven philosophy. I wouldn’t advise relying on it. But I do.

When I lived in hawaii I got humbled by infections. I learned new things. I had honey and coconut oil. Those things saved me. Where I live now, I can rub sun-baked dirt in wounds to seal and coagulate. It isn’t a rare occurance, I build houses by myself for a living.

Try coconut oil on burns, abrasions, cuts. Takes the sting right out of most things. And you can cook food in it. Or use as lube…ahem…on gear like flashlight threads. Also cures chapped lips, rather than causing them like chapstick.

Honey, aside from calories, seals a non arterial wound after letting it flush with some bleeding. For me it’s a full fix, for most, it could be a good way to get home and get antibiotics.

Hey I also hang a hammock with just the monkey fist 7/64 rope and no tree straps. Cuz trees here have a massive bark and their cambium won’t notice if you hit them with an axe. Straps are actually worse.

And back to the OP, if anybody has thoughts or experience on the sewing involved in umbrella construction, ide appreciate it. I am bracing myself for discouraging results. But I’m stoked. The design is different.

There are documentaries showing them constructing an umbrella. How It’s Made.  youtube.

An umbrella evolved to be able to collapse into a small volume.  I’ve thought about making something that would attach to my pack.  Maybe a perimeter of aluminum tubing with fabric going over it.  With aluminum tubing going down to pack attachment.  You can take the tubes apart for easier packing.

The point being not to let the design of a regular umbrella dictate your design.

Well this was meant to be a fun jumping off point for some ideas and turned into something idiotic. And half the comments got deleted to make me look like a raving arse. That’s really sad.

It seems like many conversations here go this way nowadays. Devolve into some pathetic display of consumer insecurity or instantly ramp off topic.

Where is a better place to share ideas and learn new ones? I’m almost 40, maybe I should get Facebook.

I didn’t notice anything being deleted, but then any “attacks” weren’t aimed at me so I would tend not to notice

I thought you made excellent ideas.

Out of the box thinking often has some ideas that don’t go anywhere, or don’t resonate with others, not to worry.

On the internet, one has to ignore the haters.  Not accusing anyone of being a hater : )

I am definitely capable of ramping off topic which can annoy people sometimes

It seems like many conversations here go this way nowadays. Devolve into some pathetic display of consumer insecurity or instantly ramp off topic.
Yep.
It’s the Internet.

Cheers

Using an HMG umbrella because of the handle shape, then some heavy grit sandpaper to sand down the bottom few inches, I was able to fit it inside a short carbon fiber tube from Ali/Amazon as an extension. I strap it on at different places. When I get to camp, I have an extra pole or a beach umbrella. The tube is about 1.6 oz. I found a plastic elbow on Ali so I can fold it, but that adds another two ounces. Overkill.

My umbrella project is a bit DOA for now. No time. I really don’t need any rain gear, just wanted shade for big range crossings. I wanted to try a simple new concept for holding the ribs up. Some day. But I did get my 39in and 29in hammock spreader bars down to about half the weight of the original aluminum ones. RutaLocura sells better, collapsible ones (theoretically in stock soon?). I’m going to keep mine full length and see how much I hate it. It’s killing me that huge carbon tube has basically one function. I will figure something out. It’s worth it, I sincerely look forward to bed time, that’s new.

Stepping in to say that yes, I have edited some comments in this thread. I step in when things get personal or elevated.

Please note the text by the green Post button that says “Argumentative posts, sarcasm, and negativity will be moderated in accordance with the Forum Guidelines” .

I like the idea of carrying honey but what would be best to contain the stickiness/ potential gooey mess?

Squeeze bottle. Tip it up like water and eat it straight out of the bottle. Bread bag in an.outside pocket where it’s handy.

I have heard of people bringing honey sealed in straws.  they heat seal one end, load with honey and then heat seal that end as well.  Hope that works.

I’ve brought packets of honey from a restaurant