Homemade for a hike: interesting ideas. Homemade equipment

Are you going on vacation? Nice business! Especially now, when there are a lot of devices that make outdoor recreation easy, comfortable and interesting. Let's get acquainted with some of them.

1. The most important thing is that things for travel are light and do not take up much space. This car cover is what you need! It is much more practical and convenient than traditional models. The secret is that the cover is inflated, thanks to which the car can be placed under a tree without fear of falling branches, cones, pebbles and even hail!

1. The car is securely packed, so you can worry about yourself. There are plenty of tents on the market, but they are hard to match in terms of comfort with motorhomes. Rate it!

1. But this device will help turn the back seat of the car into a comfortable sofa. A real find for avid car travelers! The Fuloon Car Bed is compact when assembled and inflates in seconds.

1. In nature, you can not do without a rug on which you can comfortably sit. The Matador Pocket Blanket is large enough to accommodate two people. The rug is durable and waterproof. But its main feature is compactness. It weighs only 88 grams and when folded it fits easily into your jeans pocket!

1. To protect your head from the sun without using an umbrella, a beach mat with a canopy will help; when folded, it takes up very little space.

1. Well, if you want to be cozy and mosquitoes do not bite, you can get a comfortable indoor hammock.

1. Another feature - a table with a refrigerator! You won't surprise anyone with a simple diplomat table with folding chairs. But furniture with a refrigerator, transforming into a small cart with handles, may well be the best purchase of the season!

1. Vacationers with a dog will certainly appreciate a folding chair with a doghouse for a pet.

1. But this thing is very useful for a long vacation in nature - a portable washing machine Scrubba Wash Bag! This is a bag with an inner coating similar to a washboard, which is extremely simple and convenient to use. All you need to do is put things in a bag, fill with water, add a little detergent and shake everything well and mash it. Voila, things are sparkling clean!

1. Well, when you want to wash yourself, you can use a camp shower. Pocket Shower is a simple device, which is a waterproof bag with a watering can, the original design of which allows you to adjust the water pressure. Such a shower can be hung on a tree, thanks to the black color, the water in the bag heats up quickly.

1. To leave the camp and explore the surroundings, you do not want to take a heavy backpack. But where to put a snack, a container of water, napkins and other little things that you will need on a hike? The best solution is the Bindle Daypack: a lightweight backpack that takes up almost no space in your luggage.

1. You can fit a collapsible Hydrapak's Water Bottle into this backpack. It weighs less than a regular plastic bottle and takes up very little space when empty. And if there are problems with drinking water where you plan to relax, it will not be superfluous to get a LIFESAVER bottle, which is equipped with a filter system and is able to purify water from any puddle at a speed of 750 ml/min.

1. A very useful device is the "inflatable lantern" - Inflatable Solar Lantern. This super gadget is equipped with a built-in solar battery, is not afraid of water and falls, and after a full charge it can shine for 12 hours!

1. Meet the Firebox Nano - this is a baby stove that is extremely simple, but absolutely reliable, takes up minimal space, weighs 170 grams and “eats” different types of fuel, including firewood. It will be indispensable on the trip!

1. And the last piece of our collection is the Sea to Summit X-Sets. Agree, a bowler hat and a kettle take up the lion's share of space, have an uncomfortable shape and weigh a lot, but you can't do without them. Folding tableware is light, beautiful and convenient, which makes it indispensable on a camping trip.

Summer is in full swing, replenish your equipment with new high-tech gadgets and have fun!

All the owners of a summer house once think about decorating it, bringing something special into the atmosphere. Of course, you can go to specialized stores and buy whatever your heart desires. But if summer residents want their place of rest to be unique and inimitable, then it will be much more interesting to make decorations with their own hands. Jewelry made by yourself will give the owners both a creative mood and aesthetic pleasure.

We choose original ideas for giving

Each owner of a summer house, if desired, can find a lot of different ideas for decorating his site. For the manufacture of most scenery, only improvised means and minimal costs will be enough. And old, unnecessary furniture and interior items will inspire creativity even more. Often, seemingly completely useless and forgotten things can come in handy. Country designers use in their work everything that comes to hand: broken old furniture, unnecessary toys, various bottles and utensils, car tires, leftover building materials and much more.

Not a single summer cottage is complete without intricate interesting flower beds. You can add uniqueness to flower arrangements by planting them in old containers. It can be barrels, pots, and even carts. Many summer residents build various fences for flower beds.

Cosiness will always be added by original paths at their summer cottage. They are made from timber or stone. And the rest of the materials can always be used for the construction of the next composition.

Bottles and plastic jars are especially popular with country designers. From them it is easy and simple to build a lot of interesting sculptures, decorations for flower beds, borders. There are no limits for imagination here.

Be sure to place a bird feeder in the country. Children usually love to watch birds. And with a bird feeder, birds will be a frequent guest at their summer cottage. It can be made from a plastic bottle, and from an unnecessary block of wood, and from twigs.

Without much difficulty, you can make a variety of figures that will bring comfort and individuality to the country atmosphere. For their manufacture, you can use a variety of design solutions and materials. For example, polymer clay, remnants of mounting foam, gypsum and other building materials. One has only to start creative work and it will immediately become clear that nothing is impossible.

Crafts from improvised means

The most popular among improvised materials for crafts are bottles, various plastic jars and boxes. Before starting work, you should definitely think over the details so that the result is really beautiful, and does not resemble a bunch of plastic waste.

Plastic bottles are easy to cut, it is easy to give them the desired shape. And if you cover the result of the work with suitable paints, you get bright, unique decorations for giving. For example, you can make figures of animals (pigs, cows, bees) or fairy-tale characters. By making such decorations, you can unleash your creative potential, and each time the crafts will be more and more perfect. With a large amount of unnecessary plastic, not only crafts are made from it, but also pieces of furniture.

If there is a glass cutter among the tools, then you can make original pots from glass bottles. Such crafts look very stylish and easily fit into any design. Candle holders can be made in the same way.

Bottle caps can also be useful for decorating furniture, decorative fences, creating compositions and even curtains. You can also use chocolate egg toy containers.

The remains of natural stone are perfect for decorating a pond in the country. A small pond will bring a unique comfort to the atmosphere of the cottage. Around will look good flower beds, crafts or a recreation area. If the pond turns out to be large enough, then it can be decorated with an interesting bridge.

Every motorist will always have old tires. You can simply paint them and make bright bases for a flower bed out of them, or you can show your imagination and cut out various shapes.

Arrangement of a play area in the country

While landscaping and decorating a summer cottage, do not forget about the children. They need their own territory for games and entertainment. Children of all ages love swings. They can be made from ordinary boards and ropes, or you can use metal chains and old tires painted in bright colors. From improvised materials it is easy to build slides, swings, rocking chairs. The main thing is that everything is strong and reliable.

Toddlers will definitely need a sandbox. Her borders will look interesting from multi-colored bottles or wooden log cabins. The sandbox in the form of a ship or car will look original. It is recommended to make an awning over the sand to protect from the bright sun.

Children will certainly enjoy having their own playhouse in their summer cottage. Benches, a table or other furniture can be placed inside. Everything depends on fantasy. The house can be decorated with a bright flower bed or homemade decorations. Usually the guys themselves are happy to take part in decorating their territory.

Ideas for decorating a fence in the country

The fencing will best emphasize the uniqueness of the suburban area. The fence is not only the protection of the territory, but also the so-called calling card of the owners.

A simple wooden or iron fence is commonplace. It must be decorated. You can decorate the fence with a variety of materials: flower pots, crafts in the form of animals, painted landscapes and everything that is enough for imagination. For example, unnecessary bright-colored rubber boots will look original as pots.

You can decorate the fence with old discs. They reflect sunlight and look interesting in any light. Different patterns can also be applied to the discs.

The fence made of wooden round timber, painted “under colored pencils”, looks impressive. With such a fence, you can also fence off the children's territory in the country.

Any fence will look cozier if some climbing plants grow along it. There are various types that grow very quickly. For example, decorative beans or morning glory. You can plant vines. They grow much slower, but also look more expensive. Beyond comparison in this case, wild grapes. Grape leaves gradually change their color and retain their beauty until the frost. It looks original when the "grape fence" turns into a canopy. This design gives the fence an old look.

Flowering shrubs planted along it will become beautiful decorations for a low fence. You can combine plants with different colors and flowering times.

In the evening, different lanterns on the fence look beautiful. It is also possible to make them yourself from improvised materials. Or you can simply place candles in painted glass jars attached to the fence. The main thing is that the flame does not fall on the fence.

A lot of room for imagination will open up to those who like to draw. You can draw anything on the surface of the fence: nature, plots, cartoon characters, ornament, small patterns in the form of flowers, butterflies, ladybugs. It is easy to draw on any fence, but it is easier on a corrugated fence.

Compositions of caps, shells, stones, dishes look original. It is easy to make plastic flowers from the bottoms of bottles and paint them in rich colors - they will look beautiful on a wooden fence.

We make flower beds and flower beds

Flower beds will help transform the summer cottage and bring color to its atmosphere. When choosing plants, be sure to take into account their individual characteristics. First of all, it is worth deciding on the flowers "soloists", that is, the main plants in the flower bed. The choice can be stopped at three or four types.

The design of flowers with ornamental herbs and leaves of an interesting shape looks beautiful. With them, the flower bed will be original, even when the flowers do not bloom. But do not try to place a lot of different plants in the country. The territory of the site should look holistically and harmoniously.

Of course, it’s not enough just to plant flowers beautifully. The flower beds also decorated around look more original. The composition must be complete.

Flower beds can be decorated using any unnecessary items. The article has already said that it is easy to make small flower beds from old tires painted in bright colors. You can use a wheelbarrow, a cart, an unnecessary beehive, or even an old car. The main thing is that everything is done neatly and aesthetically. If desired, you can add decorations to the flower garden in the form of homemade bees, butterflies, interesting stuffed animals.

You can make a small fence around the flower bed. For its manufacture, it is possible to use plastic bottles or cups, a fence made of tyn, stones. The flowerbed smoothly turning into a lawn looks beautiful.

Setting up a recreation area

At the cottage, a comfortable place for outdoor recreation must be equipped. This issue must be approached very responsibly. It all depends on the preferences and desires of the owners. It can be just a laid out area with a table and comfortable chairs or hammocks placed in the shade.

At any summer cottage, a gazebo will look spectacular, which can be made from the remaining building materials. Arbors look beautiful, the walls of which are decorated with climbing plants. Bright soft pillows or blankets look cozy as decorations.

Swings can be not only for children, but also for adults. It will not be difficult to build a wide wooden swing for relaxation or make hinged ones somewhere in the shade of trees. For convenience, they can be decorated with soft pillows.

In the recreation area, you will definitely need a barbecue. It can be made, for example, from an old barrel. Flashlights can be provided for the evening and night time.

When making and decorating a summer cottage, it is worth remembering that a summer cottage is a place of rest from everyday life and bustle of the city. It should be comfortable and calm, and the environment should be pleasing to the eye. It is important not to overload the territory with crafts or some kind of design solutions, everything should be in moderation. Imagine, create, surprise!

Many people enjoy outdoor recreation. But at the same time, for the most part, modern people do not want to part with the comfort and conveniences of home, even when away from home. The devices that are collected in this review will help maintain home comfort and comfort even away from home.

1. Furnace

A unique solar-powered oven that will allow you to cook food without electricity at any time of the day. The unusual device consists of two aluminum concentrator blades that open up to capture the sun's rays and direct them to a vacuum tube that retains up to 90% of the collected thermal energy. A competent design of the invention allows the stove to heat up to 280 degrees in a few minutes, and a thermal battery based on beeswax will make it possible to cook even in the dark.

2. Pocket radio transmitter

The GoTenna mobile device is able to provide its owner with communication and Internet access in the absence of a mobile network. The peculiarity of this device is that it does not depend on satellite communications, GSM or Wi-Fi, but is capable of transmitting a signal from a smartphone over a distance of up to 80 kilometers. Of course, the maximum result can be achieved only in isolation: in the forest, in the ocean or in the desert. In settlements, the distance is reduced to tens of kilometers. However, this will be enough for important negotiations, work on the Internet or saving someone's life.

3. Rocking chair

A stylish rocking chair made from recycled materials that converts kinetic energy into electricity. In addition, the chair is equipped with a generator, propulsion system, LED reading light and stereo speakers.

4. Coffee maker

A compact solar-powered coffee maker that will allow you to prepare a cup of natural coffee, wherever you are.

5. Tent

A unique tent that will allow you to charge your devices away from civilization. This happens due to the solar threads included in the structure of the fabric. To charge gadgets inside the tent, there is a special pocket with a built-in GPRS sensor, which will allow you to find your camping shelter and not get lost in the forest.

6. Portable shower

A small portable shower that allows you to heat a small amount of water without electricity - a useful thing in the country or on a hike.

7. Food containers

Original containers that will keep a small amount of food fresh. The peculiarity of this invention is that they do not have wires and do not consume electricity at all.

8. Washing machine

A unique invention in the form of a bag that will make it easy to wash clothes in field conditions. The principle of operation of the device is extremely simple, you need to put clothes inside a moisture-proof durable bag, pour 2-4 liters of water, liquid detergent, thoroughly knead the contents of the bag with your hands for 3-5 minutes. After that, the clothes should be rinsed with clean cold water.

9. Chain mail for legs

They say that the earth is a source of strength, and walking barefoot will help replenish the resources of vital energy, improve your health and get a powerful charge of optimism. Paleos shoes, similar to chain mail, will help you feel unity with nature and protect your feet from mechanical damage. The shoes are made of durable lightweight material with neoprene inserts that provide ventilation and protection to the feet. In addition, Paleos can be adjusted according to the anatomical structure of your foot, they are easy to clean and completely eco-friendly.

10. Beach mat

Sand on the beach litter delivers a lot of discomfort and can pretty overshadow the rest. The unique Beach Sand Free Mat blanket will help you forget about this problem forever, the unusual structure of which does not allow sand to linger on its surface even for a second.

11. Water filter

This plastic bottle is actually a portable nano filter capable of purifying water from bacteria, viruses and fungi. This happens thanks to a multi-level system of various filters that can literally turn any water into drinking water in just one minute.

12. Furnace-charging

A compact mobile oven that will allow you to charge mobile devices in conditions where there is no electricity. A travel oven-charging will allow you to combine cooking and heating with charging your gadgets. Unlike solar panels, BioLite CampStove is a real source of energy, which can be started with the help of firewood and a special ignition composition.

13. Camping toothbrush

The original lighter-sized invention, which consists of a folding toothbrush and a container for pasta, will become a true companion of any traveler.

14. Speaker system

A powerful speaker system with a flip-down solar panel that absorbs the sun's rays and transforms them into electricity. Such a device will allow you to have a party in the field and enjoy your favorite tracks on a long trip.

15. Camping stove

A flexible magnetic belt that will allow you to cook food in field conditions without any electricity. You just need to wrap the belt around the pan, set the desired temperature and fasten.

16. Conditioner

Zero Breeze is a small portable air conditioner capable of battery operation at home and on the go. The advantage of this device is not only the air cooling function, but also the presence of a Bluetooth module, a lamp, two USB ports that will turn the air conditioner into a powerful wireless speaker.

17. Funnel for urination

The GoGirl urination funnel is designed to make life easier for women who go hiking frequently. With its help, you can easily cope with a small need, even in the most severe cold.

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An ordinary stationery sharpener does not take up much space, but it can significantly speed up the process of lighting a fire. It is enough to sharpen a small dry branch like a pencil to get thin wood shavings for kindling.

2. Prepare dry kindling for the fire in advance

To protect the contents of the bowl from insects and debris, place a clean shower cap on top of the bowl. It is more convenient to close and open such a “lid” than, for example, to move the cling film away.

6. Serve appetizers in cupcake liners

In order not to use many bowls for various sauces and toppings, you can place them all in a cupcake pan. Convenient serving, minimum waste and saving time and effort on washing dishes.

7. Use compact spice containers

Tic Tac packs can serve as compact and convenient containers for storing spices. For the same purpose, you can use pillboxes with several compartments.

8. Protect drinks from insects

The cling film stretched over the glass will prevent insects from getting inside. The liquid itself can be drunk through a straw.

9. Use a dessert lid to keep dishes safe

To prevent disposable dishes from flying apart from the wind and dust and dirt, you can use a holder with a lid for serving desserts.

10. Build a handy belt holder

A convenient holder for dishes and other equipment can be made by wrapping a belt around a tree trunk and attaching household hooks to it.

11. Use a laundry bag to dry your dishes

Washed dishes are more convenient to dry by placing them in a clean mesh laundry bag and hanging them on a hook. Excess water will drain and the dishes will not need to be wiped.

12. Cover the floor of the tent with a children's puzzle mat

Cover the bottom of the tent with prefabricated children's rugs. They are lightweight, compact and easy to transport, while sleeping with them will become softer and warmer.

13. Keep duct tape handy

To keep adhesive tape, duct tape or tape always at hand, you can wrap them in several layers around a lighter or bottle.

For a long time I wanted to try to make some equipment with my own hands. Documented here is my first pathetic attempt :)

I went to the Epicenter hardware store (there are three of them in Kyiv) in search of interesting materials for work. I found there a number of light moisture-proof materials that are used in the construction of houses. Perhaps they are not as durable as, but they will probably survive a couple of trips. I bought 5 linear meters of Strotex insulation film from a 1.5 m wide roll. The material is shown on the right. One side is white, the other is covered with aluminum film, which should reflect heat well.

I cut a piece as follows and glued the two pieces with tape.

I then connected the diagonal edges and glued them together to form a three meter tube. Weighs about 580 g and enough space for two. Field trials will take place tomorrow night...

Balcony test
I put the sleeping bag in the tube and pulled it up to the level of my chin. The fabric just lay on the sleeping bag. I didn't lift it with a rope or anything. As a result, condensate from the body soaked the top of the sleeping bag even though I was breathing above the snorkel. But in the tube it was 3 degrees warmer than outside it.

Afterword
The idea of ​​a tube-like shelter is not new. The raised entrance, of course, makes the shelter more comfortable. However, strotex-like materials can get wet in heavy rain or snow. They are much inferior to ordinary polyethylene in this regard. The main disadvantage of this design is the accumulation of condensate. I won't use this shelter as I have a better one, but for some this solution may be quite satisfactory, especially for short hikes (1-2 nights) where condensation is not a problem.

Isomat 120 grams January 2008

Isomat was originally designed for insulation and soundproofing floors. I cut it and glued the pieces with tape so that it folds up and fits in a backpack. Successfully applied in . The material is quite fragile, but in terms of its thermal insulation properties it is more effective than tourist rugs (per unit weight).

Report, 2008
Subsequently, the isomat broke and unglued. But the fact remains: thermal insulation is excellent.

Cat Case February 2008

The simplest project. I cut out a piece and sewed up the edges to make a cover. Then, when I bought a sewing machine, I changed the seams. Weight - 8 grams. highly puncture resistant, superior to silicone and other ultralight fabrics.

Report, 2011
I still keep cats in this case. Great use of Tyvek. The fabric becomes softer and softer, but does not pierce.

Snowshoes February 2008

My most simple and naive project. Unfortunately, I did not go beyond the first stage due to the impossibility of trying these snowshoes in the snow! So I would know what is needed to improve them. The basis for snowshoes is cheap aluminum dumplings weighing 260 grams each. I liked their shape and excellent grip. I was going to tie straight branches with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm and a length of 60-70 cm to the dumplings at the site of the hike. The fastening system shown here is too flimsy to withstand large and multidirectional loads. It would have been something more difficult to come up with.

Conclusion, 2009
Snowshoes should not be circular...

Silicone Vapor Barrier Socks March 2008

Quite a complex project. I took the pattern from polar socks, “by eye”. Each sock contains three pieces of fabric. They work well but slip. It is necessary to add a puff or elastic band. The weight of a pair is 16 grams.

Report, 2009
Socks were quite difficult to sew. These socks are suitable for sleeping but not for walking.

110 gram duffel bag March 2008

Explain, what is this, very difficult 🙂 You have to see and feel for yourself. Fabric -, volume - somewhere around 40-45 liters, weight - only 110 grams. There are drawstrings at the ends of the duffel bag, and things can be easily reached along the entire length of the bag. Several perpendicular seams.

Report, 2010
So far, I haven't traveled with him. I doubt that I will like it, but still it would be worth trying to walk with him at least once.

Failed Windpants March 2008

I ordered a sewing kit for these ultra-light pants from thru-hiker.com. Fabric ("momentum" - ultralight breathable polyamide with water-repellent impregnation), accessories and a pattern are included in the set. Due to my inexperience, I did not check the resulting size of the pants in the early stages and sewed pants that were too tight with a wide waist. By the time I realized that the pants did not fit well, it was already too late. I decided to contact the atelier to have my pants made from another piece of the momentum I ordered (and in a less disgusting color, too). The pants came out just super and weigh less than 80 grams. By the way, I refused side zippers. Lightning can be seen in the second photo.

Report, 2010
Momentum is definitely a very advanced fabric. For most wind protection products, as well as bivy bags, Momentum is ideal. But for trousers, I advise you to use heavier fabrics, because. when hiking, you often catch branches and thorns, sit on stones, fall on snow, etc. Momentum can tear, and sewing up a tear or a hole in such a light fabric can be difficult. I still wear (second pair) Momentum pants, but I decided that my next pair would not weigh 70 grams, but 100 or more.

Map and camera bag No. 1 April 2008

For the next ultra-light hike in the Crimea, I decided to get rid of a lot of cases that I used to hang on the straps of a backpack (see), and carry only the most necessary things in front: a map and a camera. For them, I came up with a special silicone bag measuring 30 x 25 x 8 cm with two compartments (so that the card can always be put inside, even if the second compartment is full of things). Product weight - 30 grams.

The bag was supposed to work as follows. While looking at a map or using a camera, the bag hangs in front on the stomach. When the map and camera are no longer needed, you close the hole and famously throw the bag back over your head so that it hangs behind. When the bag is needed again, with your hands you take out the rope from behind your shoulders and with its help you pull the bag over the top of the backpack.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not find a place to tie the rope to the backpack, so that the bag hung at the right height both in front and behind, and so that it could be easily reached from behind. If worn only in front, it dangles and beats against the stomach with every step. Over time it gets boring. Well, the design is good.

Conclusion, 2009
Is the design good? Disagree. I wonder how many hits against a backpack when throwing a bag would my camera withstand? :)

Bag for map and camera No. 2 April 2008

Continuation of the previous topic. This bag corrects the flaws of the first. Now a bag with a map and a camera hangs under the arm in a place where the map (for example, "Atlas of the Crimean Mountains") is still easy to remove and put in without removing the backpack, and at the same time, the bag does not interfere with the use of track sticks. In addition, it does not hit the body at all, since the line of attachment of the bag is parallel to the trajectory of movement.

The design is now flat, with two compartments, a drawstring and four loops to hang the bag in different ways (only two side ones are used in the photo). Attaches with ultra-light carabiners to the loop on the backpack and to the shoulder strap. I am very pleased with the result. During the course of this bag was my constant assistant and did not interfere with the movement of the hand at all and did not hit the body. Weight with carbines - 23 grams.

Report, 2010
Over time, I cut out a partition inside the bag. She was clearly redundant. In fact, now the bag is practically no different from the usual cover for camping items. Only the presence of loops and the stupidity of the seams :) As a rule, the front part I attach lower than shown in these photos. An improved model is presented. However, the bag remains one of my most successful inventions and has accompanied me on numerous hikes, incl. and by . Thanks to her, the map is always at hand, and looking at it on the go is not difficult.

Mosquito net April 2008

Many means have been invented to protect against insects without the use of a traditional tent. It's worth a Google search, for example, "bug bivy". At one time I bought a simple, light and relatively cheap mosquito net from Gossamer Gear (70 grams). On the eve of summer trips, I decided to make a mosquito net that would weigh less and more reliably protect not only from mosquitoes, but also from ticks and ants that can climb up to you from below.

The grid I developed can be used with equal success both on the ground and in a hammock. It can also be used as a mosquito net on the head. The shape of the mesh is an envelope tube that tightens at the level of the hips. Made of ultra-fine mesh ("no-see-um"), through which midges and ticks cannot crawl. Weight - 50 grams. It is suspended on an awning, a branch or a rope. In the photo below, the net is raised 20 cm above the head of an imaginary sleeper. This option is ideal for light-footed athletes who walk like this: they came in the evening, set up camp, immediately lay down, then got up and went in the morning.

Report, 2008
I used the grid while hiking on. The idea may be good, but it turned out to be very difficult to get inside the net while sitting in a sleeping bag. From such muscular tension at the end of the 12-hour daily transition, you come to complete exhaustion.

Super Ultralight Backpack June 2008

How light can a backpack be? I think not much lighter than my latest brainchild, which weighs 45 grams and holds 22-24 liters. The body of the backpack is made from a single piece of silicone (75 x 75 cm and 24 grams of weight). The backpack is conceived for summer hikes in the Crimea with a basic backpack weight of up to 1-2 kg and a maximum load of 6-7 kg.

Report, 2010
Subsequently, this miserable backpack went to the top of Elbrus behind the shoulders of my friend. My next ultra-light silicone backpack will have a double bottom, external pockets and more dense foam in the shoulder straps. A full-fledged backpack for summer PVD can weigh about 100 grams.

Mosquito net for two November 2008

Now I gravitate towards the most simple and functional equipment. I wanted to make a mosquito net for two, which could be easily used on halts as well as at night. The size should be large enough so that you can sit under the net and dine together. In Colorado, we already realized how inconvenient it can be without such protection from insects, and decided that we would have to come up with something for the next trip. I've been eyeing the mesh tent from Ray Jardine's website for a long time, but gradually I abandoned this design. First, the tent requires pegs and track poles or twigs to set up, making it useless on short halts. Secondly, it is too low to sit in it. It was necessary to come up with something simpler and more comfortable.

In the end, I came up with this design. In fact, this is a pyramid with a top shifted forward and an open bottom. Structure length - 2.6 m, width - 1.8 m in front - 1.5 m behind. Top height - 1.2 m. Weight - 200 grams. Pieces of nylon are sewn to the bottom corners, and the bottom edges of the net can be held either by something heavy (say, sneakers) resting on pieces of nylon inside the corners of the tent, or by pegs. Loops for pegs are sewn to the corners and the middle of the long sides. You can not stretch the edges, but simply hang the mesh at the top, on which there is a special tensioner, so that the mesh can be easily raised or lowered without tying knots. It is enough to find a branch to hang up a tent in half a minute and protect yourself from mosquitoes. If there is a loop on the bottom of the tent, then you will attach the mesh to it. We will test this design at the end of December.

Report, 2010
Since then, this network has undergone a number of changes. First I added a vertical zipper at the entrance. Then I cut off pieces of the mesh at the sides and back and sewed loops around the perimeter of the mesh. But I went too far with reducing the size: I no longer fit under the grid. I added new pieces of mesh and sewed the whole structure to the rescue blanket for complete protection against insects (particularly mites). However, we did not like the way the walls of the "vnutryanka" sag and touch our faces. We leave the experiments with the net and move on to the use of a two-man bivouac with a net or shelters with an integrated net (like the "Hexamid Twin" from Zpacks), that is, in fact, ultra-light single-layer tents.

Rain Skirts December 2008

How to protect yourself from such rain that comes from morning to night at a temperature of 10 degrees or below? The umbrella protects the body well, but the pants (it’s cold in shorts) invariably get wet. Gore-Tex rain pants don't breathe well and get hot when you work hard. A poncho is good if you are alone, but the two of you want a large awning instead of two poncho awnings. The simplest and, it seems to me, effective solution is a "rain skirt" or a silicone kilt. The design is a partial cone (imagine a glass without a bottom, with a wide end at the bottom). Fixed with Velcro. As easy as pie. It can also be used as a backpack cover or small rest pad. In such a skirt it is not hot due to good ventilation. I made one for myself and one for a girl. Weight 70 grams for me and 55 for the girl. The main difficulties in tailoring are to determine the most comfortable length, make the bottom part wide enough, draw the bend correctly (see the photo on the left) and choose the optimal places for the Velcro (and so that they match at both ends of the skirt!).

Vapor barrier gloves December 2008

There was a need for vapor barrier gloves for a girl, because. her hands are often cold. Mittens were sewn from pieces of silicone left over from rain skirts. We were lucky with the size of the mittens: they fit both her and me. They are loose enough to wear as tops over thin gloves. So they protect from rain or snow. True, in this case, the hand does not breathe, but under certain conditions this can even be a plus (if the hands are cold). Having outlined the hand and 5-10 cm of the wrist on paper, you need to add about 2 cm around the perimeter and a little more in the wrist area so that the hand can crawl through the hole formed. Then we cut out the resulting pattern and apply it to silicone or other fabric and outline it with chalk or a marker. Cut out four "handles" to make two mittens. Well, then everything is clear, I hope. The gloves work. Now I want to add elastic bands in the wrist area so that the mittens do not slip. The weight of a pair is 8 grams.

Report, 2010
Not 2 cm should be added, but 3-4, depending on whether you will wear mittens over gloves. An elastic band is a necessary thing, but it must be sewn on before sewing two pieces of silicone. Sew on an elastic band - it’s not a field to go :)

Waterproof pants August 2010

Numerous moves and the inconvenience of using other people's sewing machines over the past two years have kept me from developing self-tailoring projects. But now these issues have largely been resolved. In addition, I feel that the accumulated experience and understanding allow me to sew more intelligently than before. I'm starting to develop new equipment ... Waterproof trousers are designed to correct the shortcomings of the rain skirt. They protect the entire length of the legs from precipitation and do not interfere with stepping over obstacles. Gore-tex socks can be worn under them without the risk of water running down the leg and getting inside the socks from above. Legs weigh 66 grams (from 50 for smaller people).

Report, 2010
Preliminary result after the test in: like it. In combination with gore-tex socks, they protect the entire foot from external moisture. Pants should be worn in conjunction with a poncho or raincoat, the lower edge of which is below the groin. Otherwise, moisture will get under the trousers from above, and the legs will gradually get wet from the inside. Putting on trousers in the wind can be difficult. Partially, I solved this problem by sewing a thin jumper between the legs (see photo on the right).

Map bag #3 October 2010

Looks like perfection has been achieved! The bag weighs only 11 grams without carabiners and has a more convenient entry and tightening than the old one. Now the fabric does not get into the castle, and the "Atlas of the Crimean Mountains" enters easily. In addition, the bag can also be used as a cover for things.

Windproof mittens October 2010

Why windproof mittens, even 15 grams? And then, to a) protect your hands from the cold and wind on summer hikes, b) protect your hands from mosquitoes and c) to be worn over warm, well-breathing gloves in cold weather. This combination now weighs only 57 grams. When sewing mittens, the most difficult thing was to sew on an elastic band. As it turned out, this must be done before sewing two handles. It only worked for me the third time. Not counting the first failed gauntlet, the project took two hours. By the way, the fabric for the mittens was taken from my wife's worn windpants.