Is tyvek strong enough?

“I've been wondering... Is Tyvek strong enough to make into a hammock??? I'm thinking like a 9 x 4 sheet with sheetbends at the ends.
Hmmmmm.

I may hit the tyvek motherlode and may get to play aplenty.”

“How much weight you putting onto it”

“Very interesting idea! Tyveck does have a strong tear threshold.”

“HPM would be a good one to ask.”

“under 200lbs”

“from my experience with tyvek, i would say no. while it is very hard to tear, it will pull apart. i think if you were laying in a hammock made of it and you were to concentrate your weight at one spot (lean on your elbow) you would create a weak spot that may be stretched or start to "pull apart".”

“HPM is offline until the 27th.”

“It seems to hold up well as a tent footprint. Creek Dancer used the same sheet for several camping trips, including National Forest Service campsite where we tented on gravel. Don't know how it would be if you put that weight in it though.”

“'Course, you could string it up low to the ground (you wouldn't fall far), test it, and report back to us.”

“Looks like I'll have to do the test and let you folks know. Yeah, Geo, stringing it up low the first few times sounds prudent!

I have a spare rain fly from an old tent, maybe I'll try that as well.”

“Why wouldn't you just buy an Amazonas traveller hammock, from Byer? Weighs 11 oz and only costs $19. Holds up to 250lbs. Tyvek does wear through eventually.”

“Good point Sass.”

“I\'m hoping to do a whole series with the Boy Scout Troop I\'m involved with on \"make your own\" BP equipment. I\'m hoping to show the fellas that it doesn\'t requiredeep pockets to have great (lightweight) fun.”

“man! whats with the slashes?”

“We try to do that with our scouts too, but they're a bunch of new gear hounds. I found that the earlier we start with making their own gear, the more interested they are. Two of our older scouts (one had just turned 18) got in a fistfight on a camping trip over which was the best stove.”

“no, it is not a good idea to put gromets into the material. anytime you place a hole in tyvek, you create weak points that will/could tear around the gromets. I purchased a 20x20 sheet to use as ground cloths and thats what the dude told me.”

“We've put grommets in tyvek with no problems. We roll/fold the edge of the material over 3 times, then put the grommet in.”

“You mean you all haven't gotten into a fistfight over who's stove is better?!”

“I have 1 stove.

HPM has 6.”

“stove envy, tree?


yesterday i was driving to a job and i came over the hill and saw a new apartment complex going upp...... at least 20 big 2 story units...all covered in tyvek.....i started doing the butthead laugh outloud....there has to be a scrap in the dumptster...”

“I only need one stove. If I want another, I'll make one. I'm in the process of making several pepsican stoves for friends in Tn.”

“oh yeah, i hear ya mang....i'm too poor to have more than one and i don't think i would have more even if i was rich....”

“Mang? Ah, you must be referring to the other Tree.”

“Tyvek will eventually lose it's waterproofness, right? I washed my piece of Tyvek once. It's much softer (more quiet) but it still repels water. Just wondering at what point it'll stop? Anyone know?”

“I don't think you're supposed to wash it in a machine. We just put ours out on a clothesline, hose it , and lightly hit it with a scrub brush where needed. No problems yet, and it's been almost 2 years now.”

“I use tyvek for its puncture resistance to protect my tent bottom more than water resistance ability.

About one year so far with no complaints.”