I have contractor garbage bags in my BOB. I wonder if I can cut them and make a tent. I know duct tape can be used for everything but I wonder how good it would do on bags.
A piece of visquine plastic would work much better, and could be used for other uses as well. You might need your bags for rain gear.
I keep contractor bags,3 or 4 mil, but for an expedient shelter I keep a 8X10 silver poly tarp. It is one side reflective and cheap at the discount tool houses. Weight is a little more but honestly even at 68 and terrible lungs I don't really notice the difference. Save the bags for other uses as Kell said they make great ponchos or water catchment. A grommet repair kit allows you to configure the tarp to suit you.
Paracord has some stretch to it. Braiding or twisting it could reduce the stretch. Or you could use accessory cord for your ridge and tie outs. Thin, strong, little stretch. Even bank line is strong enough unless you are expecting a heavy load on the tarp. Stretch isn't always bad though, it could save your tarp from tearing. I also like a super tight ridgeline. Was just showing @Bear the truckie (not truckers) hitch today to crank a really tight line. The guy out lines, I don't mind some stretch. Might want to make them adjustable so you can tighten as needed. Most people make the adjustable part at the peg. I would like to suggest making the adjustable part at the tarp. That way, you can adjust from under your tarp while it is pouring. (Don't ask me how I know) Also, adding some bungee to your guy line can make it more self tensioning and provide some give in really strong winds. Tarps are fun!
I like making pegs. But I carry some too for expediency. Need expediency when it's unloading on you right now. Or you could just throw it over until it blows over. We actually once had biblical rain here. Something like 40 days and 40 nights. Went scouting out near @Bear's neck of the woods when it stopped. Everything was one big marsh. I had fun though.
Truly sad. I remember those days. And am afraid to turn my girls loose to experience it too. We let the kids loose when camping, but still. They range for miles and I feel safer than letting them walk a few miles from home.
I agree, except grommets are NOT your friend. For flexibility, practice using a pebble in the tarp with some cordage. Infinite possibilities of where to put the tie up. Grommets will tear out of your tarp way faster than the pebble method. We had really strong winds at camp. Pretty much every time. But one time, I had tied down my tarp a day earlier and it withstood everything no problem. My friend tied his down using a grommet. Within 10 minutes of the wind picking up, his grommet tore out of his tarp. I resecured his tarp with a pebble right by the tear and it lasted the rest of the trip.
Grommets are NEVER where you want them. I've used a grommet installer on a couple of occasions. Wish I still had it.
I have a grommet set kit, for 1/4 holes. It is a very simple tool, and works well. Works fine on leather too.
These brass shells were about 1 1/2" x @3-4". Picture a bucket laying in it's side, submerged. A string at the lip would tip it up (full) and draw it from the water, to be dumped in a five gallon bucket.
I've always found that it worked best when I took the time to whittle tent pegs out of larger limbs with a hatchet or larger knife.
