What's happening Now Gear Blog

How to seam seal a Hammock Tarp

3/5/2019

Many stress about seam sealing their tarps...How, where, how long will it take are all questions that many face when considering sealing their hammock camping tarp. First off, don't stress. Seam sealing is not something to be very concerned about. It's a pretty easy process and should only take 20-30 minutes of work.

Let's Break it down into several easy steps.

1. Choose a spot to do the seam sealing. The best option is a location that is flat, level, will get good air flow and be warm....60-80 degrees. It will be a spot where you can leave the tarp spread out for 6-24 hours undisturbed. If at all possible having a location where the tarp can be either set up or laid flat. Here in the shop, we use our 12-foot long x 7-foot wide cutting table. But assuming you don't have a table that large laying the tarp flat on a smooth floor will work. Some batches of silicone can have a strong smell if setting up indoors have some way to vent the smell...it will dissipate as the silicone cures but being able to open a window or crack an exterior door for a couple of hours is a good idea.

2. You will need a quality seam sealer to apply. We only use McNett Seam Grip + SIL to seal tarps in the shop and it's the only product we sell and recommend to use on our tarps. It's high-quality silicone that cures fairly quickly with minimal tackiness. It's formulated to self-level if you get it a little thick but no run everywhere.

$7.99

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3. Add tension to the tarp. We use weights at each corner of the tarp to pull out the ridgeline and guy out points to stretch the tarp tightly. If you are pitching the tarp with guylines and stakes pull it out tight. This does a couple of things for you. First, you want to take any stretch the tarp has to its max....if the tarp is relaxed you will be stretching the sealer when you hang it on trips. This can cause the sealer to wear off faster with use. And second, it will open up the stitching holes in the tarps sewing...you want the sealer to penetrate into the stitching to seal these small holes around the tread up. In the shop, we use hand weights attached to the Ridgeline and tie out points to stretch the tarp over our table.

4. Applying the sealer is best done with a foam brush...a small stiff bristled brush is included with the Seam Grip package but we find it is a bit small and cumbersome compared to using a foam brush. With the foam brush, you are able to get cleaner lines and it will spread the silicone in a smooth even coat.

5. Gather some paper towels. You will want some handy to clean up any drips or runs that you might have. It can also be hand to have a spot to set down the brush and tube of SIL as you work along sections.

Seam Seal Brush

$0.50

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6. With all of your supplies gathered and your tarp tensioned it's time to seal the seams and any panel pull tie out points. First, remove the cap from the SIL tube and using a fine pointed knife poke the sealed end with a small hole...no need to cut in a large opening. You want to work with a small amount of sealer at a time. Starting with the ridgeline squeeze a small bead along a couple of feet (what you can easily reach without moving) re-cap the tube and set it aside. Take the brush and smooth along the bead in long brush strokes. Work back and forth along the tarp's ridgeline smoothing the sealer along the width until you have coated the full ridge and have soothed the sealer in both directions. This helps to ensure that the sealer penetrates into the stitching holes and around the edges ridgeline. Reposition yourself and your paper towels as needed. For Panel pulls cover the full patch and any stitching with a generous coating and brush it smooth, working the sealer over the stitching in multiple directions to work it in as best you can. Once you have coated everything take a look along the length from close to the tarp perspective. This can help to spot any areas that may need more or were missed by catching the light along the sealer.

7. Clean up. Use your paper towels to clean up any drips. Rub across the fabric with firm pressure, moving to a clean section of the towel as needed. If you squeeze some paper towels around the foam brush you will extract most of the silicone from the brush and be able to use it again...be it for touch up or another tarp. Cap the Silicone tightly and squeeze the remainder to one end just like with a tube of toothpaste.

7. Once you have applied sealer to all of the ridgeline and any pullouts it's time to let it cure. A small amount of air flow will help the silicone to cure much faster so if your setting up indoors open a window or set out a small fan. Let the tarp sit for 6-8 hours before trying to move it...longer if possible. We like to leave them set with tension and good air flow overnight whenever possible.

And that's it. You have seam sealed your hammock camping tarp and it's now ready for your next trip.

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HexCam Close Up

12/10/2018

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Since we started offering HexCam Camouflage fabric recently for our line of hammock quilts it's been immensely popular. HexCam fabric comes in 5 patterns and each one is incredibly unique in color. Since we have very few close-up detail pictures of the pattern online we thought we would take a look at each pattern in detail. HexCam is by far the most detailed and intricate camo pattern we have ever come across. And while you will see some commonalities in each they also stand out individually. The Color pallet is unique in each pattern and individual hexes often vary ever so slightly from those around them. Shadow's, shading, scratches, and marbling create a depth and 3-D effect that make it feel like the fabric has depth. This also makes seeing the repeat of the pattern very difficult...a big advantage over camouflages that repeat frequently making them less natural.

Below we have posted close up pictures of each pattern along with a full view of the fabric in a finished Underquilt.

HexCam 5-Echo

5-ECHO is dominated by green tones but has accents of Yellow, Honey/Gold, tan, brown and Black. The green tones range from vivid to dark covering a wide spectrum of green hues. This pattern will kill in any lush forest environment to jungle conditions.

HexCam Wasteland

HexCam Wasteland features a dominate tan to brown color palette. But it's laced with rusty red's, gold, black and grey color as well. Wasteland would blend in in any dry grassy, wooded, or desert environment.

HexCam Adirondack

HexCam Adirondack takes a bold look at hunter/safety orange and urban grey camo with vibrant orange that bleeds from blaze to burnt. The grey hues start light and step all the way to black. If you want to make a bold statement and not just blend in Adirondack won't be missed.

HexCam Makalu

HexCam Makalu is not your mommas winter camo. Hues of white are prominent but shades of blue, grey, tan, and brass with just a touch of turquoise green. Be ready for winter with the Makalu HexCam.

HexCam Spectre

HexCam Spectre would be the choice of any modern ninja. Black and dark grey are in charge but copper orange, brass yellow and a touch of tan pull together Spectre.

Check out the Full offering of HexCam fabric for quilts in the
Hammock Camping Quilts
Section of the Store

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Just how Kick Ass are Kick Ass Quilts?

11/30/2018

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We received this report from one of our customers who has put a lot of use on his gear.

Of all the things I am upgrading this year, like hammocks, tarps and suspensions, there are two pieces of gear that will not be needing an upgrade; my Owyhee and New River quilts.

From the Kick Ass line, they really live up to their namesake. I am hard on gear, which is why I went with synthetic in the first place; and I have to say that these are tough pieces of equipment.

Just a few incidents:
I had my Owyhee blow out of the hammock and into the river, it was dry in about 1 hour or so and I used it that night.
I didn't put my tarp up when hunting and it rained, hard; it filled my New River up with water, I bet I had 30 gallons of water in that thing. I dried it out and used it that night.
Another time I also didn't put my tarp up and it rained I ended up using the Owyhee all night next to the fire, after I dried it out next to the fire of course.
They have blown out of boats, fallen off of four wheelers and been tossed out of truck beds (actually, that was the whole backpack, but they were attached).

My quilts have been my constant and faithful companions, keeping me warm without fail. I'm not sure but I think I have had them 4 or 5 years now, which is a testament to their toughness.

My Kick Ass Quilts will not be upgraded.

Climashield APEX synthetic insulation and water, hammock quilt, synthetic hammock quilt, synthetic quilt insulation performance,

And to quantify his comments above is a layer of raw Climashield APEX Insulation, the same that goes into every one of our quilt...this is right off the production line, with about a 1/2 ounce of water pooled right on the insulation. The Climashield APEX insulation is hydrophobic, so water does not actually absorb into the insulation fibers. While water could collect between the individual fibers it won't absorb into them so drying your quilt out, should you get into a situation like the customer above, will take very little time and you will still get outstanding performance back immediately.

Check out the Full Ling of Kick Ass Quilts

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Hammock Camping Chairs

10/6/2018

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The Bushman in the Bushman Chair we made for him.

One of the very first products that we offered in our line of hammock camping essentials was the Bushman of the Yukon Hammock Chair. We first saw the idea for the chair in one of the Bushman's youtube videos. He was experimenting with a small hammock chair to take on hikes. At the time is current version was made from a rice sack...yep, just an old 20 pound rice bag with a rope slung of each end. But it gave him a spot to sit and relax on day hikes and it gave us the idea to create a little larger chair to be able to kick back in. A few prototypes later and we had the first real hammock chair.

The KickBack Hammock Chair is our second design. It is wider, longer and provides a larger seat area for greater comfort. The KickBack is built with 2 layers of our made in the USA ripstop nylon fabric for added support and load rating as well as greater color variations.

Hammock Chairs are perfect for anywhere you need a light, compact hammock to make your break on the trail more comfortable. Be it in your day pack, your hunting pack, your fishing bag or your weekend backpacking kit a hammock chair lets you put your feet up in seconds.

Bushman Hammock Chair

$44.99

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Kickback Hammock Chair

$55.00

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Consider a hammock chair for your backpacking kit, its one of the essential pieces of our hammock camping kit.

Arrowhead Equipment Hammock Chair, Hammock camping and backpacking essentials,

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HexCam for Quilts

9/29/2018

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We have just made new HEXCAM® fabric available for our Hammock Camping and Backpacking quilts. HexCam is one of the most unique and inventive camouflage patterns we have ever come across. HEXCAM® patterns utilize nature's own honeycomb pattern, coupled with unique application of layers and shadows to create a 3D effect that provides the user superior camouflage both close-up and at long range. Very similar patterns are found on a variety of animals in nature, most prominently in reptiles and lizards.

HEXCAM® is currently available for most models of Kick Ass Quilts and Cub Pillows Plan for HEXCAM® quilt's to take 1-2 weeks in production. We offer every pattern of HEXCAM®...check out photos of each pattern below.