As a teenager, it was common practice around these parts to sneak out onto a construction site and steal sheets of Tyvek for group tarps and make-shift shelters. Designed to keep moisture out and not trap any in, you could fold up a 10’ x 10” sheet of Tyvek to fit in your back pocket. It was the stuff that dreams are made of – and since it was “free” it left our limited teenager-funds unfettered for beer and other gear. Well, now here I sit, twenty years later – one of my friends living in one of the houses we poached from – about to pull the trigger on a $200 ground tarp. Why? Because at this point in my life I don’t mind spending my hard-earned money on stuff that I can rely on to keep me warm, dry, and prepared for my extended adventures in the weird and wild woods.
Never failing to impress with their attention to detail, use of high end materials, and legion of faithful followers, Prometheus Design Werx has just launched its Technical Picnic Blanket (TPB) which may just be the most important product in their lineup. Inspired by the old cowboy/hobo bedroll, the TPB is a technical marvel that should really only be considered a ground tarp in its most basic form. Coming in at 4.5’ x 7’, the TPB features one side that is made from silicone impregnated 30D ripstop nylon, and the other from 14oz wool and nylon, making it both weatherproof and insulating. Additionally, the TPB features staking points, comes in at 2.8lbs and stuffs down to 6.5” x 11” in its included stuff sack.
To quote PDW “This is an American made technical wilderness blanket that is equally capable from recreational to survival applications.” And by the looks of it, they aren’t kidding. But is it worth $200 ($189 to be exact, before shipping)? If you casually visit the outdoors from time to time, the answer is probably “no”, the TPB is way too much product for you. But if you’re someone who spends a considerable amount of time in the outdoor world, the Technical Picnic Blanket from Prometheus Design Werx is the type of product that you can rely on for years to come for anything you can imagine using it for. This is the type of product that quickly goes from expenditure to asset in the matter of a couple of uses, easily paying for itself over its lifespan.
The Technical Picnic Blanket is available now at Promethues’ website, but don’t expect it to last too long. Demand is sure to be high, particularly as we move into the holiday season.