Waxed canvas tarp/wool blanket

I don’t have a floor in my small wall tent so I recently ordered a combination waxed canvas tarp with a wool blanket sewed to it. While it’s not an exact match to my tents floor dimensions, if I fold the sod cloth in at the bottom of the tent walls it will fit nicely and help keep out those pesky bugs and mice.
Since I don’t portage anymore and my two canvas tents, wall or campfire tent will be my main shelter, I’m good with the weight and bulk.
I also purchased a leather carrying rig for it, I can actually lay a Hudson Bay blanket inside the waterproof canvas tarp and when rolled it will keep both blankets dry during travel.
Yup, getting close to “glamping” but it keeps me from hanging out in front of the dollar store and saying inappropriate stuff to young woman.

Very nice Robin. Looking forward to the field test.
Jim

Robin - I don't know if she's still in business but there used to be a woman who had a website that went by the name, "Scarlet Scabbard." She sold lots of items to the 18th century living history crowd and one of the items I purchased from her was lightweight oil cloth. I picked up enough that I could use it to wrap my wool blankets in and then pitch it over me as a tarp shelter when night arrived. It's been very durable and multi-functional. I hope your new set-up works for you as well as mine has for me.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper

That's lovely. Thanks for sharing, Robin. I have a similar item.

My wife lived in Australia for a stretch and my father-in-law brought home a rubber-backed wool blanket that he handed down to me. It serves the same luxury function as yours and I love it. I've never seen one sold in the States, but an internet search indicates that they're still made in Australia:

Billabong picnic blanket is sold in Australia, looking at them on their website they stated that it was made in china. Well, what isn’t these days. I for one will not buy one but I have a friend that has an industrial sewing machine that works it for a fair price. I will be waiting to see how Robin likes his after a season of use.
A few years ago Murat had a post that show the simple way of rolling a tumpline and tarp. I’m thinking this might be an interesting traditional way of packing a complete bed.

Old ways are the best ways. I sleep with wool blankets every night at home with no sheets. I use the same blankets for camping. I have 3 Pendletons that are my favorites. The newer Yakima camp blankets are warm and have a little nylon in them. They drape and feel good to sleep under.

I have a canvas bed tarp. It is a very large piece of canvas with buckles and straps to fold it in several configurations. It keeps the dew and light rain off when sleeping without a tent. The traditional bedroll is made with it. Room for clean clothes, shaving kit, war bag. The cowboy suitcase.

Old time cowboy’s call their quilts, sougans

Boreal Birch said:

Old time cowboy’s call their quilts, sougans

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A bunch of years ago when I was young, I bought a moderately modern, cowboy bedroll from Beckel Canvas Company in Oregon. It’s the same place that I have gotten exceptional eena wall tents. My bedroll, like the tents are pale green #10 canvas. The bedroll is pretty big with a big toothed zipper that goes across the bottom and up the side, making it just like a big rectangular sleeping bag. The zipper may or may not be less fussy than Ppine’s straps & buckles on his bedroll. Everything I need for a good night sleep fits comfortably inside. A gigantic mega air mattress, two down rectangular sleeping bags, one slightly smaller, with less down than bigger one with lots of down, queen size sheet and a couple of Hudson Bay wool blankets and my regular pillow from home. Not something I would take on a canoe trip with portages, but for a season of field work in my former life, no matter if the season is spring, summer, fall or winter I would be comfortable no matter the accommodations. Works great for an extended truck camping trip or month long base camp fishing trip. Carrying it up to a camp site, It’s an armful, but rolled out it is pure luxury. I can sleep on top of everything with just the sheet or in the middle of everything with the thermometer in the minus-degrees I will be toasty. The sheet & canvas protects the sleeping bags & and blankets from dirt, grime, wear and tear. In its own “old timey way” kinda elegant too.

Robin,
It sounds real comfortable and on top of that, maybe I'll be able stop hanging out in front of the dollar store and saying inappropriate stuff to young woman.

Bob

Lots of good information/ideas for some classic bedrolls and covers. I was going to make my own waxed tarp and lay a lightweight rug over it but I went with the one I purchased. Having the wool blanket sewn to the tarp seems like it will stay in place better. Like a wood canvas canoe, entering the tent will require special care as far as footwear is concerned if I want the blanket to hold up.
I wasn’t able to find one similar from North America manufacturers, it’s from China.

Boreal Birch said:

A bunch of years ago when I was young, I bought a moderately modern, cowboy bedroll from Beckel Canvas Company in Oregon

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I have purchased a couple of items from Beckel Canvas in Oregon, they made a custom bug screen for my small wall tent, very accommodating company.

I use a bed roll, Egyptian cotton water proofed with a wool blanket or two inside. I got dirt from all over the US and Canada in them fibers. Canoe and hunting trips have seen the most use for my bed roll. I tump it over my chest like the old way people, or put it on a pack or wanigan to port it. Whenever I get my gear out to inspect it, like the bedroll, Jake gets pretty "birdy", his excitement is evident as he wiggles uncontrollably - letting me know he is ready to trip with me.

Good looking piece of Kit Robin. I look forward to a trip report or two with pics and a review on how well you like it.

@Bob B. - Where did you find the Egyptian cotton? That material is as scarce as hen's teeth! Many years ago (OK, like almost 60!) in "Boy's Life" magazine (I think) there were plans for making a one-person shelter and the material of choice was Egyptian cotton. At the time it was easily available so we purchased a bunch and we made ourselves solo tarptent set-ups. Wish I know what happened to mine as I loved the look, feel and lightweight of the material.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper

Nice photo of a classic bed tarp by Glenn.
I have been sleeping out more without a tent lately.
My bed tarp came from Tip's Saddlery in Winnemucca, Nevada.

snapper said:

@Bob B. - Where did you find the Egyptian cotton? That material is as scarce as hen's teeth! Many years ago (OK, like almost 60!) in "Boy's Life" magazine (I think) there were plans for making a one-person shelter and the material of choice was Egyptian cotton. At the time it was easily available so we purchased a bunch and we made ourselves solo tarptent set-ups. Wish I know what happened to mine as I loved the look, feel and lightweight of the material.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper

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Unfortunately I heard they don't produce it anymore. The main market for it was making boat sails and now they are made from synthetics. I have two identical tents, one is Egyptian cotton at 18 lbs. the other is the lightest substitute canvas that Churchill Outfitters could come up with. It weighs around 25 lbs.

A friend of mine with even wealthier client than I had apparently retooled a mill in Ireland the weave Egyptian cotton to make sails for the boat he was building. I tried to get some but the boat was going to take all they were making. I should ask again and see if they have done another run.
Jim

Snapper,

I will look to see if I can find any info and maybe some pics of my ground cloth that I use to waterproof my bed roll and as a floor in my tarp tent.

@Bob B. - That would be great. Thanks a lot!

Until next time...be well.

snapper

Snapper,

Well … I do not think I am much help to you and apologize. The link below is for Tentsmiths co. I purchased my oilskin drop cloth from them a lifetime ago. Seems there have been some changes since. My ground cloth is 7x7, with 2 seams and no loops sewn in. It is a terrific ground cloth for my CCS Lean One in camp and a terrific water resister for my blanket when rolled up together on a portage. Their cloth is a very tight weave of cotton, but I no longer think it is Egyptian cotton.

I think my ground cloth / tarp is pretty heavy, almost 7 pounds. They boast 3 pounds now, maybe not as durable as mine?

Sorry I was not more help.


Bob.

Bob - I have a 10'x10' oilcloth from Tentsmiths as well. My kids got it for me when I started doing 18th century events. I've spent a lot of nights under it and it's protected me from numerous storms along the Great Lakes, northern woods and even the Atlantic ocean. A great piece of kit but as you mention, a bit heavy. It goes with me when I paddle but I use the lightweight piece I mentioned in my first post here for trips that require walking.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper