Share your bushcraft/camping innovations

[mountainm]

Have you got a good idea for any camping/bushcraft inventions you don't mind making public domain?

Mine is printed or woven in folding lines on sewn in groundsheets for big tents so you can always get them back in the bag. I tweeted it to Vango with no response...

[blacktimberwolf]

I hope someone comes up with an invention for getting a sleeping bag into it's undersized stuff sack in one simple gest.

[southey]

Do you mean stuff sent to companies? or just diy thingys?

[mountainm]

Do you mean stuff sent to companies? or just diy thingys?

Either - just good ideas that you aren't precious about sharing (ie. if Vango start doing my idea tomorrow I won't be chasing them down the street for cash)

[John Fenna]

If you fold proofed fabrics along the same lines all the time the proofing wears excessively and will fail there first ....

Hence "stuff" sacks ...stuff the fabric randomly into the bag and you get a more even wear on the proofing extending the life of the fabric

[southey]

Here's one of my current developments, I'm using it and modding it at the same time at the moment.

Hammock bag.

[mountainm]

If you fold proofed fabrics along the same lines all the time the proofing wears excessively and will fail there first ....

Hence "stuff" sacks ...stuff the fabric randomly into the bag and you get a more even wear on the proofing extending the life of the fabric

Groundsheets on big tents are a little different, my Khyam has a 4m diameter dome with 3 sleeping pods and a porch area- with an overall 7m x 9m footprint. Getting it back in the bag is an artform - stuffing it would simply not work.

[Whittler Kev]

Does my stuff count?
http://bushcraftinfo.blogspot.com/p/...-for-sale.html
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59168

[John Fenna]

Groundsheets on big tents are a little different, my Khyam has a 4m diameter dome with 3 sleeping pods and a porch area- with an overall 7m x 9m footprint. Getting it back in the bag is an artform - stuffing it would simply not work.

OK - point taken - it works for smaller tents though and the principle is sound...
I had one of the Khyams that sleeps up to12 people - it would take my 16' canoe as well - so I know what you mean!

[John Fenna]

As to ideas - I used to design for Craghoppers and Snowdon Clothing so mine are all out there somewhere....
Except the "Fenna Coffin" tent - basically a rucksack frame to which a bivi tent was rolled for storage but when deployed the frame was the support for the tent roof at one end. the door was at one side and you had a basic wedge shaped bivi tent.
It almost went into production but the advent of Goretex (essential for the tent to work) also saw the falling from favour of the external frame pack (also essential for the tent to work). I still have the copyright and blueprints...... somewhere!

[mountainm]

As to ideas - I used to design for Craghoppers and Snowdon Clothing so mine are all out there somewhere....
Except the "Fenna Coffin" tent - basically a rucksack frame to which a bivi tent was rolled for storage but when deployed the frame was the support for the tent roof at one end. the door was at one side and you had a basic wedge shaped bivi tent.
It almost went into production but the advent of Goretex (essential for the tent to work) also saw the falling from favour of the external frame pack (also essential for the tent to work). I still have the copyright and blueprints...... somewhere!

I like the idea - I had a similar one about 6 years ago for a "roofbox tent" along the same lines as a trailer tent. Then I saw one on a landrover.....

[FGYT]

Bushkey just a variation on the keyring gadget (or modern Flint striker) but for bushcraft/outdoorsy types

[Whittler Kev]

Bushkey just a variation on the keyring gadget (or modern Flint striker) but for bushcraft/outdoorsy types

Brilliant idea Duncan

[Everything Mac]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72573

[Martin-123]

Just discovered this thread (2006)

As to ideas - I used to design for Craghoppers and Snowdon Clothing so mine are all out there somewhere....
Except the "Fenna Coffin" tent - basically a rucksack frame to which a bivi tent was rolled for storage but when deployed the frame was the support for the tent roof at one end. the door was at one side and you had a basic wedge shaped bivi tent.
It almost went into production but the advent of Goretex (essential for the tent to work) also saw the falling from favour of the external frame pack (also essential for the tent to work). I still have the copyright and blueprints...... somewhere!

So, John, What would you suggest to someone who has a camping kit idea, believes it would sell in thousands, and wants to make money from it?
Would any of the kit manufacturers enter a confidentiality agreement with me before I disclosed it?

Martin

There's no substitute for experience.

[Nonsuch]

In Scotland, in midge season, make yourself one of these - weighs about 50% more than a tarp but WHAT A BENEFIT !

[Miyagi]

Nonsuch that's certainly a lot easier than building a crannog to escape the midges.

Once the summer holidays are almost finished, check all the shops when the "back to school" stuff makes an appearance.

Look for those stainless steel pencil sharpeners with the two holes, one big and one small.

I use "pencil sharpened" twig shavings as tinder instead of a feather stick as I'm kack handed.

Liam