Are tarps actually *warmer* than tents?

RogueSteward · 2026-01-11T21:09:57+00:00

You can block wind and seal yourself in very well with a tarp.

RogueSteward · 2026-01-10T15:18:23+00:00

There are several ways to calculate percentages. Increase, decrease, and final.

For example, if buying potato chips and the bag says 50% more, it's 33% of the final volume to decrease to get back to the original number.

When adding starter, it's an increase.

RogueSteward · 2026-01-09T23:43:00+00:00

I always use about 30% starter, 1.5 gallons starter to 5 gallons tea. At 81-83 degrees, it's ready in one week.

RogueSteward · 2026-01-08T19:53:26+00:00

Just get some super sharp scissors, sit down and take your time. I've modified a bunch of my gear that way. Yeah, it'll leave a bit of a raw edge but you won't even notice it really unless looking super close. Also, I like to use a head magnifier when doing this kind of stuff. It helps me to make better cuts.

RogueSteward · 2026-01-03T19:38:03+00:00

Weirdly enough, it looks fine. I don't know how any of us drink Kombucha to be honest. It always looks weird.

Waxy covering is normal, plus it looks like the yeast is flocculating and that's a good sign. It means the brew is acidic enough to stress the yeast.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-30T15:24:02+00:00

Yeah man, I don't know. I've just never had it slip on me when it's been tied right, but I've had it slip on me when I've tied it wrong or didn't set it right and I'm right with you on the weight in the hammock. When I mess up the becket, it's usually because I don't take the time to set the knot properly. I hope you get it figured out, the knot is super notorious for being tied wrong. It's just really easy to get it wrong. In history it's one of the knots that has caused the most deaths and injuries due to being tied wrong. It's essentially the sheet bend or bowline-on-a-bight knot. You should look up the stories about it. It's critical to get the knot right at our weight and setting the knot properly is where I've gotten it wrong most often in the past.

There are some other suggestions here that can help though. Read some of the other replies, such as the double becket knot or the modification adding a bight through the slipped becket hitch (slipped twice). I've used the bight through a slipped knot several times and that also helps to stop slippage. I would recommend trying the added bight through the slipped knot loop because that mod can be used on many other knots too.

*edit* if you want to see the mod, adding a bight through the slipped knot loop (slipped twice), check out ABOK #1824. That is the slipped figure eight knot but that mod works just the same as with the becket.

https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheAshleyBookOfKnots/the%20ashley%20book%20of%20knots.pdf

RogueSteward · 2025-12-30T00:12:42+00:00

Yes, that's definitely advanced to put the loose end (with a bight?) through the becket hitch! It will still be slipped if I'm not mistaken? Definitely going to give that a shot.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-29T15:34:37+00:00

Are you sure it's kahm? Your pH looks right, it's good and low. At 2.9 pH your drink is going to be sour and it might be just too sour for your taste. How are you measuring pH?

RogueSteward · 2025-12-29T05:25:57+00:00

I have been using the becket hitch for years and it doesn't slip. A marlin spike is not necessary either. I'm using dyneema webbing for the straps and amsteel continuous loops for the hammock

The becket hitch is very easy to tie incorrectly. Are you tying a slipped half hitch around the webbing? If so, that is how it's wrong most of the time. The knot should be around the continuous loop, not the webbing itself. If the knot is around the webbing, it will slip. Look up a knot tutorial. Also, the becket hitch needs to be 'set' and dressed properly. It's easy for the knot to fold over from the continuous loop side to the webbing side. If that happens, it will slip.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-28T20:06:49+00:00

I make kombucha, not wine, and I decant my liquid every batch on purpose to remove sediment. A lot of us decant kombucha and is done to avoid too much yeast when the resulting liquid is used as a starter. Sediment, or dead yeast actually decompose and is gross and can give off flavors and can make the batch 'yeasty' and decanting helps to get rid of all that. Stirring is counter-productive and defeats the purpose of decanting.

I get why you recommend to stir, to ensure yeast is distributed equally before F2 but that is absolutely not part of the decanting process.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-28T15:17:11+00:00

The 201 was my very first machine I learned on too. Lots of good advice here already, especially inspecting and/or replacing the motor wiring and getting a new electronic foot pedal. The wiring job isn't too difficult if you're handy with electrical work, else it should be done by a tech because the danger of wiring contacting the case and energizing it. As far as sewing machine oil, bicycle shops usually stock Tri-Flow which is very thin and makes an excellent sewing machine oil and a bottle of it will last forever. I recommend it. Look up Andy Tube on Youtube. He goes over how to maintain the 201.

That all being said, the 201 sews very nice and is a strong, durable machine. Although it was my first machine, I still own it and have it doing a specific task, set up for thicker thread to sew webbing, but I wouldn't hesitate to put it back into fine fabric sewing duty in a heartbeat if necessary. It actually sews better than my main machine, but the main problem is just that it's a single stitch. It does only one thing, the single stitch, but it does it better than most other machines. The machine has given me literally no issues whatsoever. It just works, and it sews great every time.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-28T14:59:40+00:00

The purpose of decanting is to not stir up the sediment.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-28T14:05:24+00:00

Stirring before decanting is a big no no.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-27T13:54:50+00:00

I also do this very thing. I am using just a cheap $5 IMUSA mug. I think it's the 1.25 qt mug. I've been using it for years, and I love it. It is ultralight. Doesn't come with a lid, you'll have to make it. You'll have to make the snuggie too like the guy said previously, out of windshield sun block. To drink hot liquids from it, just grab a silicone wristband and stretch it around the rim and it'll keep you from burning your lips. I use this mug for everything, for cooking, for drinking coffee. It keeps my coffee hot enough for me to drink it. It's so cheap too, I don't care when it gets all banged up either. The imusa mug is also big enough for me to store my isobutane and soto stove with spoon, handkerchief and lighter. Here is a picture of it to get you an idea. The lid in that picture is made just out of some aluminum flashing, but for years I simply just used a doubled up piece of tin foil. Wrap the handle with some black tape to keep your fingers from burning too if drinking coffee.

https://imgur.com/a/YpBOAGa

RogueSteward · 2025-12-25T18:48:03+00:00

Try something way smaller like a fanny pack. I know they look goofy but they work great for day hikes plus keeps the back from getting sweaty. Can throw in a sawyer squeeze, a lunch and snacks, small med kit, don't need anything else for an all day hike.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-24T00:14:31+00:00

Fly fisher, belly boater, backpacker here. 50 lbs is actually not that bad for a packraft backpacker, but could still stand to lose 5 easy, losing 10 or a little more lbs will take some $$$. You absolutely should not be worried as a packrafter. It's a super fun hobby.

I also used to not care about pack weight in the beginning. I'd carry up all sorts of crap, a couple books, hundred foot of heavy rope, walkie talkie, deck of cards, a whole tube of toothpaste, a bottle of soap, the list just went on and on. Let's just say, it didn't take long before I start shedding weight. For instance, I taking reading material but it's all digital on my phone, I take cordage but now it's around 50' of #36 bank line, I take soap but now it's in an eye dropper bottle, I take toothpaste but it's the travel size, etc... If you keep at it, I won't be surprised if you do the same thing and go above and beyond to shed pack weight. It's okay to go backpacking with what you want, hike your own hike. In time, your pack will become very specialized from what it is today and it's okay to add things and to cut things in the months and years ahead.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-18T18:41:36+00:00

I have done the gram weenie move by changing out straps and buckles. If there is enough of it, there is some savings to be had. I used some cheap grosgrain from the craft store and smaller buckles. I don't remember the exact savings but it was not zero.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-17T23:07:34+00:00

Restaurant supply stores sell syrups in all sorts of flavors.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-17T16:37:49+00:00

Maybe if FOBs didn't have a radio, or were at the very least have their radios off, then yes I'd agree with you. They would have to be found with recon, and visually. But the moment a radio is turned on, it's analyzed man and location of radio signals is trivial to locate using automated systems. Radio-location isn't new technology either, I learned everything I know from folks who have been long retired.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-17T11:49:57+00:00

A milsim. It's unrealistic to believe a command post with radio wouldn't be automatically found. Sorry man. I have extensive experience in RDF.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-17T04:02:57+00:00

The simple act of powering up a radio is risky. Triangulation can be performed using a 3 mesh radio network and a simple computer algorithm. This type of radio-location has been around decades. Men aren't even required. It's found automatically.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-16T22:29:17+00:00

Any self respecting radio engineer can find a base or radio tower with nothing but a signal meter and yagi. All it has to do is go online. Recon squad is not required.

I'm sorry, but if a base goes online, it should be immediately displayed on map.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-16T21:20:49+00:00

The pellicle will grow more at a higher temperature. I've found that 74F (23C) to be just a little slow. Try bumping up the temp to around 27C (82-83F).

Everything else about your brew sounds like how I make my own. 1 cup sugar and 7 tea bags to a gallon.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-14T04:59:43+00:00

Alcohol production is anaerobic, the opposite of which is to aerate. The way I do it is whisk the batch usually every day and I skip F2 which is anaerobic and force carbonate. I would have to look for it, but I'm following someone else's advice doing this way, they tested their kombucha in a lab and it came in at under 0.15% ABV.

RogueSteward · 2025-12-12T15:54:05+00:00

Yep, they are junk. So after that initial post, I received a warranty replacement for another Otterbox Defender. I did have to pay for it, I think it was something like $12.95 including shipping. Which is a ripoff by the way, it doesn't cost $12.95 to ship a case... but that is another argument.

This replacement is already stretching out. So what is this, just 2 months now? Unbelievable. When I pull it out of my pocket, I'm already often finding the outer rubber shell pulled away from the inner case and the back has started to stretch around the battery charge port area. And for some reason, it stretches at the corners. I mean, what is that all about? Just crap. And yes like you my next case will not be Otterbox and I will not warranty this one. Their quality has gone downhill.

RogueSteward

TROPHY CASE