Bibsoutdoors
Survivalist
Sadly, I've virtually no artistic ability at all. That is a truth. But moved by frustration I can get just desperate enough to try my hand at things otherwise left alone. For example, UCR's and Whoopie slings. They cost a lot of money and for what? A couple pieces of Amsteel weaved together. I purchased a pair of Whoopie slings for my Clark Jungle Hammock, actually two pair, one for my wife's hammock, for a cost of just under $100. I tell you that so I can tell you this. I watched half a dozen videos on Utube on making Whoopies and another half dozen on making UCR's, what I saw blew me away. I picked the videos I had the easiest time following, I purchased some Amsteel that was three times stronger then what they sell commercially and I played the video, paused it, did the work on my amsteel and in no time at all I had both Whoopies and UCR's at a tiny fraction of the commercial cost. As a matter of fact for twenty dollars I was able to make two pairs of Whoopies and two pair of UCR's with extra cord left over. Retail would have cost @ $180+ for the smallest Amsteel, the best part of this is I MADE THEM MYSELF! Me, the guy who can't make anything. I guess my point is, try it, especially since it is so much cheaper and so much better quality. Try it, even if you're like me, it will work!
This was so encouraging I did something equally as simply and enormously cost reducing as well.
I've never spent my summers in a climate that would be considered "pleasant." I've always been in heat.
Washing down or even synthetic sleeping bags is a pain.
So I made a sleeping bag sheet. An insert for the sleeping bag. This is not my idea, it's been around for ages. The cost is just hideous. You can buy them but why? Again, on Utube follow along with a video you find easy enough to follow and sew them. My wife and I have both a summer insert and a flannel winter insert. The added warmth the flannel insert gives is worth ever second spent at the sewing machine. Washing either one is so amazingly simple compared to your sleeping bags you'll wonder why you haven't done this all along. I've even used the summer insert as a sleeping bag replacement when it gets too warm for the bag.
People have been using and doing these things forever. (Making them themselves) Fear kept me far away from trying. Don't let yourselves get frustrated like I did, just give it a try and save yourself much money and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Not knowing me I have to adj you to trust me, if I can do it ANYONE can. Good luck and please share your success stories back here with the rest of us! Cheers, Bibsoutdoors
Bibsoutdoors
This was so encouraging I did something equally as simply and enormously cost reducing as well.
I've never spent my summers in a climate that would be considered "pleasant." I've always been in heat.
Washing down or even synthetic sleeping bags is a pain.
So I made a sleeping bag sheet. An insert for the sleeping bag. This is not my idea, it's been around for ages. The cost is just hideous. You can buy them but why? Again, on Utube follow along with a video you find easy enough to follow and sew them. My wife and I have both a summer insert and a flannel winter insert. The added warmth the flannel insert gives is worth ever second spent at the sewing machine. Washing either one is so amazingly simple compared to your sleeping bags you'll wonder why you haven't done this all along. I've even used the summer insert as a sleeping bag replacement when it gets too warm for the bag.
People have been using and doing these things forever. (Making them themselves) Fear kept me far away from trying. Don't let yourselves get frustrated like I did, just give it a try and save yourself much money and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Not knowing me I have to adj you to trust me, if I can do it ANYONE can. Good luck and please share your success stories back here with the rest of us! Cheers, Bibsoutdoors
Bibsoutdoors
