MYOG/DIY - Making and modifying your own kit
Some of the kit that you can buy is stupidly expensive for what it actually is. In America you will find some companies charging the large part of $200 for a rectangular 'Tarp' that is nothing more than a few square metres of sailcloth with edge reinforcements and loops. You can buy the cloth yourself for a lot less and then a few hours with a sewing machine will allow you to have a complete tarp.
On this page I will write up some of the various projects that I have done in the hope that it might inspire you to get outdoors more, have more fun and save some cash.
What's really useful is that by making your own kit you can work out what you REALLY want out of your equipment. When you are making stuff yourself a lot of 'features' that are 'essential' do not make it.
Ultralight Shelter Projects
- £10 Tarp project - Try tarping on the cheap
- Make a short tarp pole or a long tarp pole
- Make a Carbon Fibre Tarp Pole Set
- Ultralight Solo Tarp - about as small as you can go
- Ultralight Micro-Tarp - very small for use with a bivy bag
- Pimp my tent - shed the pounds from your tent
- Make a Bivi Bag - from ultralight to ultra-durable. You may also wish to take a look at Bivi Bag Design
- Make a lightweight bomber Gore-Tex Bivi Bag (easy-sew project :-/ )
- Ultralight tent - Part 1/3 - Overview
- Ultralight tent - Part 2/3 - The bathtub floor - A bathtub floor (for tarps as well)
- Ultralight tent - Part 3/3 - Flysheet - The flysheet / Tarp
Light Shelter Projects
- Army Bivi Bag Diet - An Army Surplus Bivi Bag is the cheapest 100% Gore-Tex Bivi Bag that you can buy. Buy one and put it on a diet and you could end up with a much nicer 600g 100% Gore-Tex Bivi Bag which is ideal for rougher and tougher trips.
- Seyntex Army Bivi Bag Review and Makeover. A £10 army Bivi bag looks like a great easy project to create a lightweight bag for tarp or summer camping.
Luggage Projects - Modifying your Pack
- Ultralight MOLLE - regain control of pouches and accessories by using a modular luggage system
- GoLite Jam Extreme Make-Over - Add a frame, and more
- Add a Quick Release Trekking Pole Carry to a Pack
- Make a Padded Hipbelt for your ultralight Pack
- Make an Easy-Sew lightweight Chest Pouch/ Front Pack
- Make an Ultralight Chest Pouch / Front Pack
- Add Gear loops to a pack
- Add Trekking pole loops to a pack
- Add camping mat loops to a pack
- Add an Internal frame to an ultralight pack for less than 5g!!!
- Make an Ultralight Backpack Mk1 - design ideas and features
Luggage Projects - Make your own
- Make an Easy-Sew lightweight Chest Pouch/ Front Pack
- Make an Ultralight Chest Pouch / Front Pack
- Make a No-Sew Ultralight Day Pack / Assault Pack (Mk1)
- Make an Easy-Sew Ultralight Day Pack / Assault Pack (Mk2)
Clothing Projects
- Make a Fleece Jacket - I wanted a casual jacket that fitted and so I made one
- Make a Micro-Fleece base layer - keep warm, be fashionable
- Ultralight Walking Kilt - Keep cool in the summer
- Ultralight Waterproof Kilt - Dress like a Roman!
- Ultralight Waterproof Kilt Mk 2 - Kilt and Groundsheet combined
- Ultralight Waterproof Kilt Mk 3 - Slightly lighter and simpler Kilt and Groundsheet combined
Accessories
- Lightweight Ranger beads - 2g!!!
- Ultralight Potty Trowels - 28-65g
Cooking
- Ultralight Alcohol Stove (16g)
- Ultralight Multi-Fuel Stove (23g) - A pot stand for the alcohol stove that will also take Esbit/Hexamine tablets
Articles
- Ultralight Design - outside of the box there is no box!
- Is Weight Evil - Should every gramme be shaved?
Suppliers
Ever wondered where to buy things?