Hack your chair. Stop it from sinking in sand/soft dirt. - MYOG
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ต.ค. 2024
- Yes, I use a chair. If you do too, you know that the feet will sink in sand and soft soil. Here's a cheap, easy fix that weights about 1.25 ounces. No sewing. Webbing I used is from Amazon. Bought a big roll. Strapworks Heavyweight Polypropylene Webbing - Heavy Duty Poly Strapping for Outdoor DIY Gear Repair, 1.5 Inch The glue is Loctite Vinyl, plastic and fabric Flexible Adhesive. Blue and purple tube.
Update. Used this on an overnight in Pisgah. Soft moist ground. Worked great. Need to make one for my good buddy Neighbor Dave. Without a strap his chair sank in.
Update. Hiking the Foothills Trail. One end came apart. apparently not enough glue. So when I got home, I did stitch all four ends and the cross. Needed a "jeans" needle on my old sewing machine to go through the heavy material. Now, it won't file. Will do this for all others.
We made these for our west coast trail adventure and they didn't disappoint. Took less roughly 10 minutes to make one. They worked in sand, mud, tiny rock gravel. (I went for sewing instead of glue)
thank you for the video.
That's great. Makes me happy that you made them and they worked. After one glued "foot" came apart on a recent hike, I stitch them too. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
Great hack there👍Well made too.Another tip is the circular silicone coasters,they’re cheap light & easy to clean
Thanks for the + comment. I use mine every time I'm on trail. The ground in SC and NC tends to be very soft. B4 I made it my chair sank in and I fell over a lot. My buddies thought it was hilarious... Never thought of silicone coasters. Neat idea. Thanks for commenting.
worked flawlessly on desert sand.
thanks.
Great to hear that. I thought it would, but I've only used mine in soft, wet soil. Thanks for commenting and supporting my channel. Tom
I know this was posted awhile ago, but just made it today. Wifey sewed it. Did not sink in the wet lawn! Great idea..
Thanks for telling me! It's one of my favorite ideas. Love to see your version. Send me a pic at tomlovesdiy@protonmail.com.
I just saw Dan’s video where he told us to check out your channel and I have this exact problem. I made two solid fabric bases using scrap 1.6 oz ion but I reinforced the feet. Each attempt only lasted about two hikes. Your idea looks like it will last a lot longer, I will give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
The version that I stitched has held up well. Have not tested the glued version in the field. As I mentioned in the video, if it looks like it might fail, I might go back and stitch it. "Belt and suspenders". LMK how it works for you. Thanks for watching and your comment.
Nice idea! I think I'm going to try this with some strips of DCF.
Interesting! Never considered DCF. I used the webbing because I have a big roll and it's super strong and lightweight. DCF would weigh almost nothing. Please leave another comment and let me know how it turns out. Thanks for watching and sharing your idea.
@@tomlovesdiy I will! I need a week.
@@bmbullman Did you ever try this?
@@britttttt_ I did! Worked pretty well. I stitched it and it is holding up great. Would probably also be just as good with double sided DCF tape.
@@bmbullman Nice, thanks for the update!
Ingenious ! Thanks for your sharing 🌿🌷
It's the most popular video on my channel. I take mine on every hike. Appreciate your comment.
4 - 1 inch pvc T connectors work well. Light & cheep.
I'll try it. Thanks
I had the same exact idea. EXACT same idea! I was wondering how glue would work rather than sewing and just decided to see if anyone was making something like this I could just buy. Now I know I can just glue mine. Thanks. One different idea I had, because frequently I'll set up my chair in rocky ground is to make 4 separate straps with pockets and join them together with a ladder lock. Then the lengths are adjustable to accomodate uneven ground or a rock sticking up and you can use it on different size chairs.
Very thoughtful comment. Cool that you had the same idea. It does work well. I think to save weight in the adjustable version, I would use heavy duty velcro rather than a buckle system. But since I am usually setting up on relatively smooth ground, I'll have to rely on you to make and test. Let me know!
As I mentioned in the video, it might be necessary to stitch the ends. I think it depends on how well they are glued, the type of glue, how often they are used, and how much stress is put on the ends - in use or putting on/taking off. It should be a little tight in order to take load off the chair's feet. So that can stress the glue joints. If a seswing machine isn't available, hand stitching with a big needle and some strong thread (button and carpet?) should be enough. Owing to the weather, I've only been able to use the strap a couple times. So can't say how well it will hold up. Thanks for wathing and commenting. Tom
I just want to say thank you! I copied your demo and it works great! I had 2 inch strapping laying around so I used it. I also used gorilla glue and it adhered the strapping to itself pretty well. Just to be safe I reinforced it by throwing some stitches in the high stress areas. It fits as tightly as the top so there’s no way it will sink into soft ground. Thanks again!
On my last hike, one end of my chair strap came apart. Didn't use enough glue. So when I got home, I also added stitching. Made one for a buddy and stitched it. So glad it worked for you. Thanks for letting me know and supporting my channel.
I just picked up a chair similar to that but the high backed one and I am a larger fellow so when I did use it there was considerable sinking into the ground I will have to try your solution to make sure I don't sink down in the ground, thanks for sharing
Let me know how it goes. Thanks
Nice! I bent the first Wallyworld cheapo chair's leg... used split firewood since... not the greatest!
I love the webbing idea, thx!
Just used the webbibg X on trail in Pisgah. Ground was super soft but with the webbing on my chair did not sink in. It works because it distributes weight over a much larger area than the tiny leags. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thanks so much!
You're welcome!
When I was 20, i could sleep on rocks. Now I want a bit of comfort.
I made my 'sand pad' from an abandoned tent. But I am a paddler so by base-weight runs around 150#.
Glad you could repurpose the tent. Great idea! I did a lot of paddling in my youth. Really enjoyed it. Canoeing in Michigan and white water rafting in West Virginia. Thanks for commenting.
Brilliant 💡
Appreciate your appreciation. This is the most popular of my videos and it's probably my best hack/design. Only thing I changed was to run a back stitch to reinforce the glue after one failed. Appears that I didn't use enough glue. Stitching is easy and ensures you can pull it on. Thanks for your comment and supporting my channel. Tom
Well done! Great tip. I will be using this. New follower here. Crow
Glad you like it. This is a very popular hack. I have used it several times. Thanks for subscribing!
Im impressed. Thanks for idea
This is great, Tom! Thank you for sharing your knowledge (especially in time for summer).
Not bad. I have one of the Trekology sand mats and it works fine, but this looks like it would work just as well.
It does work. I tried making a "sand mat" out of fabric. Not as good. And took a lot more time. Thanks for commenting.
@@tomlovesdiy I like your version better and will try making yours soon.
Thanks for the hack!
Appreciate your comment. This is by far the most popular of my hack videos. Seems that it's a common problem. Been thinking about a mod to make it work better in soft sand. Thanks for watching. Tom.
Thank you for your sharing .
You're welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I put each leg into a tennis ball i cut a slit into. Haven’t had any issues at the beach or ground! This is definitely a more streamlined option
Just used the webbibg X on trail in Pisgah. Ground was super soft but with the webbing on my chair did not sink in. It works because it distributes weight over a much larger area than the tiny leags. Interesting/creative try with the tennis balls. Thanks for your comment.
Wonder if it's enough to make one for the back legs, since they take most of the load
And you can glue on some velcro and use the band instead of the carry bag 😇👍
True. Back legs tend to sink more easily. Not sure how to make it stay on and if the weight would be spread out enough on one (smaller) strap. The X strap is under tension to all four corners. Have to think about it. I like the velcro idea. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
I like your idea. Camped at the beach last week and when I sat on my chair it immediately dropped down. Oops! What type of Locktight glue did you use. They make about 100 different versions. Is it specifically for fabric?
Oops! It's Loctite Vinyl, plastic and fabric Flexible Adhesive. Blue and purple tube. I'll add that to the description. Thanks for commenting.
My husband simply added tennis balls over the feet of the chair. He says it works great!
Well done. Tennis balls have been used like this for years. But where I tend to camp, the ground is often very mushy. So I looked for something else that would spread my weight over a big area. Being a DIY guy, making something is 90% of the fun. Thanks for commenting.
Very clever. I would love to see you show us some of that soft sand sinking and then apply your creation and show show it's benefits. My reason for being a little extra is just curiosity, I imagine with your X shaped model... All 4 corners still have the potential sink and unless the model fits very tightly as it wont meet resistance until the center of the X... I believe that a square version would have a more immediate and stronger resistance when meeting the ground.... Even a square model with an X in it as well would be sought after by the 250-300 pounders... But I guess they are not really out backpacking ey?
I just bought the Cliq chair from a startup company for $100! Advertised to be as small as a water bottle...... Pffff more like a 2 liter soda bottle. Heavy as heck too :(
I hope I'm not disappointed by the durability as well.
Keep innovativing :)
the corners probably can sink in VERY soft sand. I only use it while hiking and when the soil is soft. Wish I had made a vid last weekend when I used it in Pisgaah (NC). Could have seen me fall over when I sat (without the X strap). Put it on the chair and not problem. It does need to be tight. Mine requies some strength to slip it over the 4th leg foot. If it were loose, it would not work as well. I'm 175 pounds. Works fine on REI flexlite chair. It has very small feet. Just rubber caps on the legs. I like the Flexlite but it's a little smaller than my Chinese NiceC chair which weighs about 30 ounces. The slight added comfort isn't worth the weight. So it's my "loaner" for new hikers who don't have a chair. Thanks for commenting.
Genius
Too kind. But I'll take it. Thanks.
What kind of webbing did you use?
Can you put a link in the description
Added to the description. Strapworks Heavyweight Polypropylene Webbing - Heavy Duty Poly Strapping for Outdoor DIY Gear Repair, 1.5 Inch. Amazon.
@@tomlovesdiy thank you!
Wonderful idea. I wonder how would it do on a beach, sand. Any experience?
Never used it on beach sand. To work well, I think it must be tight. Also, making a small mound under the strap cross area should help. Let me know if you try it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I made one with 35mm webbing. Tried it on a beach, and had a partial success. I think the tightness was the key culprit. Mine wasn't tight enough. This works because, 1) weight distribution and balance, 2) X straps wide surface resists against the sand, prevents cutting through sand forced by 4 sinking corners (so strap's surface should touch and create tension against the ground as soon as weight is applied, sitting on the chair, before sinking any further, which leads to very important, tightness, ground sheet would provide wider surface area and would work better, but strap supposed to create just enough tension against sand, Tom's great finding!) as everybody already have guessed.
I just made another one very very tight this time. will try again when I have a chance. I wonder narrow webbing straps (1 inch) would work too, they are far cheaper and I have a couple of hundred yards on my hand.
@@정궁-y9e thanks for the great comments. You are right that the x-strap needs to be tight. On mine, it requires some force to put in the chair's feet. I used 1.5 inch (38mm) wide webbing strap. I think 1 inch will work on soil. Maybe not as good on soft sand. I did make a rectangular fabric version before the x-strap. It required sewing and was difficult to reinforce. But I think it's a good solution for soft sand. Agree that distribution of the weight is key to limiting sinking. A typical chair has less than 1 square inch of area per foot. So in my case that's over 50psi. The x-strap (1.5 inch) has over 35 square inch surface. Also, the flat surface resists sinking just by virtue of it's shape. Glad you made one and sent comments.
Is it necessary to glue the strips together where they cross??
Good question. The first one I made was only glued. Under stress at a campsite the bond failed. So I stitched them. I think it's not necessary if it's stitched with some overlap and a good quality polyester thread. Together glue and stitching is 100% secure. Thanks for watching and commenting. Tom
Ahh. Love this solution. I just couldn’t spend the bucks for the REI mat.
Agree. Every "sand mat" I've seen is at least $15. One was over $20. It's not a big $ item but for a couple $ and a little effort you can get a better solution. Thanks for watching. Appreciate the comment.
Would it work with a jute strap?
The reason it works so well is 1) it doesn't stretch after it's installed on the legs. 2) A 1" strap adds about 20 square inches (130 sq cm) to distribute the weight. The feet alone are about 1 squae inch. I looked up the characteristics of jute fabric. The web site said it has "low" stretch. So might work. Definitely want a thick fabric. And I doubt the glue would be strong enough. Need to stitch it. Thanks for your interesting question! .
@@tomlovesdiy ok, that helped, thank you!
😂 Du Experte
Very kind. Merci
How about bottle caps
Interesting idea. I've also heard people have tried tennis balls and other auxillary caps. Here's why I don't think bottle caps and other things with a relatively small area will work. It's PSI-pounds per square inch. I did the math for my 175 pounds and my REI Flexlite chair with and without my strap. Also calculated for a 1" diameter cap. With nothing added to the chair's feet, there is about 56 PSI on each foot. The feet are less than 1 square inch. And it doesn't help that they aren't flat. Adding a 1 inch diameter cap cuts the PSI in half - 28 PSI. That would be enough weight to cause the foot to sink in soft soil. The strap, with a much larger "footprint" is only about 7 PSI, depending on the width. Distributing the weight over a larger area is the key. Thanks for watching. Appreciate you making a comment. Cheers!
🤓👍
Just got back from an overnight on Black Balsam in NC. We used our X-straps on REI Flexlite chairs. Perfect! Thanks for watching and the 👍.
Wow you could have got all that in within 5 mins. I skipped all the boring talk to the end where I needed to know what to do.
Yes. Sometimes I'm bored listening to myself. So I just FF >> to the interesting parts.