Silnylon Hexamid Plus Copy with Pocket Net

[Monte Masterson]

It’s not to the exact same dimensions as the Hexamid Solo Plus, but pretty close. The tarp is actually made with a 30d dark olive green on back and front panels and a 20d olive drab on sides, however, the bright sun and cheap camera have distorted the colors. Weighs 11.3 oz seam sealed. I did the front a little different than ZPacks whereby I made the whole thing just zip to the top to allow for a much higher entryway, and I simply tie off to the peak.

When deployed, the back panel tieouts make the tarp very strong in brisk winds.

Here’s the tarp opened up with Pocket Net underneath.

This is the 4th (and final) iteration of the pocket Net I’ve been working on for awhile. Finally got the dimensions to match up with the Pocket Tarp.

The 8 inch underflaps on the net make it to where I can place my Tyvek bathtub floor inside and the innernet is almost 100% bug proof. Went with a #3 YKK L shaped zipper for entry and exit. Net weighs 6.5 oz. (without Tyvek)

I did however find out that the Pocket Net won’t pitch properly with tieouts attached to the mitten hooks provided on the ZPacks Pocket Tarp. But by using shock cord along with existing tarp stakes the net pitches fantastic.

[John E]

Wow, that is a masterpiece!  Well done.

[Jerry Adams]

yeah, well down.  Light weight.

“This is the 4th (and final) iteration of the pocket Net I’ve been working on for awhile.”

Until an idea inspires you to do iteration #5? : )

[Monte Masterson]

No Jerry, I finally got the Pocket Net where I want it, but I sure wish I could source a green 15d silnylon. I’d like to have another (lighter) go with at the tarp. None to be found in the US unfortunately, of any color, and trying to order a small amount from China would probably be impossible and/or cost prohibitive. Extremtextil has a 20d that weighs the same as most 15d silnylons, but it’s $11 a meter and it has to come from Germany with high shipping.

The front doors aren’t as taught as the rest of the tarp, and I was wondering if a slight cat cut along the lower perimeter of those pieces might help? Also, I put a 1.25″ cat cut on the 2 back corner seams, but none on the front seams. Maybe I should. Thoughts?

 

 

[todd]

REALLY nice Monte!

Will pack smaller than Dyneema too.

[Eric Blanche]

Pocket net is definitely not my style, but man, that fit came out very well!

You may have mentioned it elsewhere but on the pocket net did you use any cat cuts? I admire the near perfect outcome with the tarp. (at least in pictures, haha!)

[jscott]

I loved my Hexamid solo plus…except for the ‘beak’. I simply want the option to bring the front panel down to near ground level, exactly as the back and side panels do.

Your brilliant version also seems to leave the beak. I’m curious as to the rationale for this–possibly better air flow? My concern is with winds picking up and ballooning the tent.

[Monte Masterson]

Thanks for the encouraging words, but the tarp was really just meant to just be a first prototype. That’s why I made it with cheaper silnylons. As I stated in the earlier post, I can’t source 15d silnylons of ANY color and I want a significantly lighter material for my next attempt at the Solo Plus. Extremtextil has a very high quality 20d that’s as light as 15d’s, but they are out of the dark olive green color.

Good observation Eric, the tarp isn’t quite perfect and I think part of that has to do with not putting a cat cut on the 2 front seams. I did a 1.25″ cat cut on the back corner seams and next time I”ll do 1/4″ more, along with a 1.25″ cut on front seams. If you look at the back view of the tarp you see slight wrinkling at the back corner seams, but some of that has to do with the weight of DOUBLE reinforced (bonded) panel tieouts with 1″ grosgrain and 3/32″ shockcord.

As far as the front beak, I’ll do my next attempt a little more like ZPacks. For example, on the Solo Hexamid the front comes down 21″ before the beak or storm doors come into play. That has the effect of keeping things more taught. On my next tarp I’ll do about 15″ instead and then continue with the zippered beak the rest of the way down. It will diminish the entry height , but not by too much really.

jscott, I put 2″ cat cut on back corner seams of the Pocket Net, 1.5″ on front seams and 1″ on single back seam.

PLEASE seasoned DIY’ers  give me any insights and advice that you think might improve my next attempt. Thanks.

 

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