bed roll

[red squirrel]

Hi all. New here. I have rendezvous camped for 21 years but never trekked. I found this site out of my curriosity for trekking and have some questions as I like to make as much of my stuff as possible. I am currently studying bedrolls and cant find much info on making one. Im assuming the bedroll will be tied together for easy change of blankets, natural material, or nothing if I choose. True? If the bedroll is water resistant, could it also be used to cover a pack as well as carry blankets?
Thats all for now. Thanks for any help in advance.
Simeon

[David A. Schmid]

my bed roll is simply 2 blankets and an oil cloth. I fold one blanket in half as a mattress, and because I roll when I sleep, the other I lay right on top of me. The oil cloth is 8' x 8' half is under the blankets and me and the other half over me. blocks the cold and wind, traps my body heat in and sleeps well.

[Pit]

From May to October when I have gone on scouts here in southern Indiana my bedroll is just a blanket and my pack.I really dont need anything more than that,extras would be nice but I dont need them.In the colder months my bedroll consists of a Whitney blanket and a brain tanned buffalo robe.The buffalo robe rolls up good and tight,Its a bit heavy but its worth the hauling of it.

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Stop harshing on my mellow.

[Swanny]

My winter bedroll is a pair of Early's of Witney blankets (nicely fulled) and an untreated, tightly woven linen canvas canoe sail. To transport, it's rolled up cavalry fashion and tossed into the canoe or traineau. It's been quite a few years since I haven't had one or the other on a trek. In the canoe it rolls up to almost exactly the right diameter to provide a seat on which I can kneel while paddling.

In use it's basically just folded in half, with me in the middle of it all. I generally spread my greatcoat or capote over the top of it all for one more layer. The blankets provide adequate insulation (especially when the bed is made on 8" or more of spruce boughs), and the untreated sailcloth allows water vapor to escape so I don't end up with ice on either the outer shell or in my blanket.

It has served me to temperatures as cold as -40 degrees. In all truth, during the wet conditions of break-up or autumn I'd probably be happier with an oil cloth, but I guess not enough to have made any change.

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“A good dog is so much a nobler beast than an indifferent man that one sometimes gladly exchanges the society of one for that of the other.” (William Francis Butler) Stardancer Historical Freight Dogs at http://www.tworiversak.com/mushing.htm

[flintlock75]

My bed roll is heavy canvas treated with a coating of linseed oil. The bag is 8' x 4' it is sewn up one side, the bottom and then 4' up the other side.
It holds 2 wool blankets, i use 1 under me doubled up and the other on top. It is very water resistant and warm in cold weather. i use this most of the year. I also carry a sheepskin that i put under my upper body, this is comfortable and provides insulation on the cold ground. During a trek a few feeks ago the temps were down to 5 degrees and i was plenty warm.

[red squirrel]

Good info. Thanks. Are you guys in some kind of shelter, either your canoe, diamond, etc. when using these designs?
Thanks again.
Simeon

[David A. Schmid]

no shelter for me with this set up. if I chose to set up a shelter..then the 8'x8' oil cloth is the shelter as a lean-to or conical.

[Pit]

Shelters I use rockhouses for now.

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Stop harshing on my mellow.

[flintlock75]

Most of the time i use a light weight canvas 10 x 10 size it folds and rolls up very small, it is water proof in all but a heavy downpour, I build a leantoo structure and have a fire in front. I use this both summer and winter. With the use of a relecture wall i am always warm and comfortable.

[Bob Browder]

where do you guys the oil cloth? is it hemmed? anybody use one of those "cowboy" canvas sleeping bag covers? I think its called a "soogan".
What about weight? I like to travel light....

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"Challenges are what makes life interesting, Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful"-Elanor Rossevelt

[badWind]

there is currently about 2000 oilskin recipes floating around to make your own, CrazyCrow has 10 oz. Spanish Red Oilcloth, and Scarlet Scarab has a wide asst. of weights and colors. It is of course a wee bit heavier than plain canvas and all that I have seen is cotton. If you want Hemp or Linen you gotta D.I.Y.

[Hawkeye]

[Moses Milner]

www.womenofthefurtrade.com has an excellent lightweight oilcloth recipe. Click on "Camping Primitive Style," and scroll down to "Making Oilcloth". Follow the directions.
Greatt stuff.
Waugh!!
--Mose

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Waugh!!

[Condé]

Bob. A cowboy bed tarp is 8' x 16' of canvas. you lay your "soogans" (quilts) out in it and fold the lower half over the bed. Then the sides fold in and have straps and buckles or rings and hooks. The oldtimers said "it takes one horse to pack it, you might as well roll a good one". The one horse thing refers to the size of the bedroll, not the weight.

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Condé
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." -- Mark Twain
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www.condetrading.com

[Pit]

A bed roll i used to use was a six foot long sack.I put my blanket in it for storage and tramsport.Once i got into camp I would stuff the sack with leafs for a bed.It rolled tight and the bag protected the blanket.

_________________
Stop harshing on my mellow.