I want to make vapor barrier pants and long sleeve shirt out of cuben. Nothing fancy, as I will only wear them to sleep. Anyone have a pattern available..I was thinking of just tracing my pajamas?...:)

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/myog_shell_top.html
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/make_your_own_gear_trousers.html

Steve,
An observation, perhaps unnecessary, however -

If you won't be wearing anything under the cuben consider a vapor barrier fabric that has some sort of 'flocking' to make it a bit less like sleeping in saran-wrap. Stephenson, 40 Below, and others use it to improve 'sensible' comfort.

Huzefa - thanks...not sure why I didn't check on BPL?

Greg, I'd like to use some nicer fabric as you mention, but then it adds weight. My VBL weighs ~5 ounces now, so I'm trying to come out lighter then that. I like the VBL, but it doesn't let me wear my cocoon pants or parka to bed...

I was just thinking that maybe I should use that cuben tape stuff instead of sewing these?

Edited by Steve_Evans on 02/02/2009 14:44:45 MST.

Hi Steve

Tracing pyjamas is OK, just don't make the design any tighter. I tried that once, and the back split open! Allow plenty of slack.

Cheers

I have not done any taping but it would certainly give you a flatter seam. And somewhere -Quest?- tape got a very good rating compared to sewing.

Keep us posted. Taping some cuben together is on my project list and I'd like to know how it goes.

I made a vapor barrier top and bottom out of silnylon using the shell patterns at thru-hiker. If I were you I'd rethink the cuben idea. I found that unless I wear long underwear under the vapor barrier they don't really work. The VB clothing is supposed to let you sweat until the moisture against your skin is 70% but you need something that will absorb a bit of moisture right against your skin. Otherwise I found that the humidity in the VB would just build up, condense on the surface of the nylon and make for a very rude awakening when a few drops of cold water suddenly fall on the small of your back and run out the bottom hem into your sleeping bag. Unless you keep some moisture against your skin with a flocked liner or long underwear your skin doesn't reach that 70% humidity and the perspiration just has nowhere to go.

Edited by conly on 02/02/2009 22:29:54 MST.

Greg, I just tested some of that cuben tape from Quest on two pieces of scrap cuben...left it overnight to dry (do I need to do that?) and I pulled them apart without much force in the morning - no damage to the material, the tape just let go. Maybe there is a better way to "design" the seams or a better product. I know others have taped seams but not sure what the best product would be...I remember reading about it a while back...gonna do some searching.

>I just tested some of that cuben tape from Quest on two pieces of scrap cuben...left it overnight to dry (do I need to do that?) and I pulled them apart without much force in the morning - no damage to the material, the tape just let go.

!!Wow, I can't get the tape off the cuben for love or money without destroying the fabric! What weight of cuben were you using, and was it the cuben tape (clear) or the mylar tape (white)??

Hi Lynn,
I am using the 0.33 oz/yd weight cuben. The tape I have is the stuff from quest sold as double sided cuben tape. It is not clear, but leaves a white strip behind after removing the front and back (I guess that is mylar?). I thought it would hold really well, but it came off when I pulled them apart. I heard the material should fail before the seam...maybe I am doing something wrong?

hmmm, I just looked at my invoice, and the item number is '2307'. The website has the cuben tape as '2306' and the mylar as '2308'...weird.

Hi Steve,

I have made pants out of the lightest Cuben.

See my thread here at BPL:

Cuben Fiber 1.2 oz Rain Pants - VB

I only sew my Cuben projects, I don't use the tape.

>I just looked at my invoice, and the item number is '2307'. The website has the cuben tape as '2306' and the mylar as '2308'...weird.

Very weird. I've tried both the single-sided mylar and double-sided cuben tape, and they both have excellent holding power.

Bill, I've read all the skunkworks goodies. Unfortunately for me, your sewing skills are much better then mine...I saw that you used the liberty ridge pattern, but thought I could get away with something a bit more simple. With the tape not working well, it may be time to employ my mom again. :)

Tha liberty ridge pattern is excellent if you can sew. I have had negative experience with sewn cuben, so prefer not to go down that route, especially with the 0.33oz stuff. I suppose I could sew something up and then just tape over the seams for reinforcement (not pyjamas...different project from cuben).