Cowboy Camp with Tyvek

[flywire]

I'm going to do the Larapinta Trail at end of May 16 (say). I have a 2.7m x 2.7m piece of Tyvek builders wrap which I want to cowboy camp with.

I've used a piece of 1.2m x 2.4m blue tarp over a bivy sack before and got sick of sleeping in a damp down bag, mainly because I packed it poorly. This time I expect to avoid the wet weather which I know is a risk.

What is the advice on sizes and how to configure it. I was thinking of a small groundsheet and another piece to just lay over the top or tie to the hiking poles as a tarp. I'll sleep on closed cell foam mat with an ultralight down bag.

[jakeyarwood]

You could cut a minimal 5x8ft tarp out of it, sew/tape on some tie outs and use the rest as a groundsheet?

Pitching ideas here:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/42675/

Edit: A little info regarding some trial and error for tie outs on tyvek:
https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/comments/ ... _in_tyvek/?

[flywire]

You could cut a minimal 5x8ft tarp out of it, sew/tape on some tie outs and use the rest as a groundsheet?

My thoughts too. I'll just use a sheet bend in the Tyvek.

[jakeyarwood]

My thoughts too. I'll just use a sheet bend in the Tyvek.

I like it, minimal effort required upfront and easy to setup in a pinch if you gotta!

[Bogong Moth]

I sewed on tie outs as per a regular tarp with heavy duty ripstop nylon reinforcements. Hasn't torn yet.
I think I saw someone on a forum using the rim and lid of a gatorade bottle and sandwiching the tyvek in between to form a tie out. I'm sure you could Google it.

[flywire]

The-G-tarp!-Tyvek-tarp-tie-out-mod!-PICS!

[Moondog55]

I have always thought that the idea of a cowboy camp tarp was that it used flat and square material and you got the protection from the way you folded it.
Folded into thirds with 1 below and 2 above
So just folding it and taping the foot would do it, Tyvek is thin stuff so a boxed foot is easy enough using tape if needed

[bluewombat]

Re the tie out points, I just put fold couple of strips of sports strapping tape (the brown non stretch stuff) flat over each point I want a tie off and then poke/punch a hole through. Thread some VB cord or similar through the hole for a tie off, if you need a tie in a weird place because that is where the tree root is you just put on another as you go. I have had tyvek up in strong winds with this set up and so far none of the tie offs have cut through. Beats drinking all that Gatorade and is a bit more reliable than the old sheetbend when you are tying off in the middle of the sheet
bw

[flywire]

I have always thought that the idea of a cowboy camp tarp was that it used flat and square material and you got the protection from the way you folded it.
Folded into thirds with 1 below and 2 above
So just folding it and taping the foot would do it, Tyvek is thin stuff so a boxed foot is easy enough using tape if needed

It needs to be open to stop condensation.

[Moondog55]

Tyvek breaths as did the old fashioned cotton duck and canvas. I have never experienced condensation inside my own Tyvek cover from TerraRosa or when using the building wrap as I describe above
My own experience with sewing the building wrap is that it tears easily along the stitch line

[Eljimberino]

Just hang your down bag out in the arvo/at lunch breaks, to dry. Otherwise get a synth over-bag.

[flywire]

Tyvek breaths ...

Well, not well enough on the Larapinta track in June 2016. A piece of tyvek was all I carried as a shelter but it was fine with one corner tied up.

Also, although it had been well scrunched it was very noisy.

[Moondog55]

Did you use building wrap or the clothing type, I use the soft clothing type I think you must have used the stiffer and heavier building wrap

[whitefang]

I put my Tyvek through the washing machine and it's no longer as noisy.

Last edited by whitefang on Thu 02 Mar, 2017 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[flywire]

Did you use building wrap or the clothing type ...

I was given a piece from the end of a roll at a construction site. It was light-weight and I agree that the softer one would have been a bit lighter but harder for me to get. I travel dirtbag and fast with super glue.