Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

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Not
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Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Not »

Hi Everyone,

I used to be an active member of Climb ZA but I haven't climbed in a few years. Regardless, I still enjoy spending time in the hills.

My partner and I will be doing Visgat with the MCSA in a few weeks time. The hike leader has suggested canvas lilos / mattresses as the preferred type of flotation device for the mission due to their ruggedness. I've looked around and these seem to be very hard to find in stores these days.

Does anyone have:
a) a lead on where to buy them new?
b) an old one they are willing to sell
c) one they are willing to rent to me for the hike?

I am based in Cape Town

Thanks in advance to any help.
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JohanW
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Not »

Thanks for the link JohanW.

I think I should have been more specific though. I need an inflatable pad as it will be used as a flotation device.
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emile
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by emile »

Just curious: What exactly do you want to float?

After having to drag some okes who could in their own words "swim like fish" through the water, I decided pool noodles are the way to go.
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by shorti »

It's a pain to do it that way. I would suggest putting your stuff in a big dry bag inside your backpack. Then your backpack is your flotation device.
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emile
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by emile »

What shorti said - works like a charm.
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Not »

Hi again everyone,

I've done some other kloofing trips before and I have a 50 litre vinyl drybag that fills my pack and fits all my gear inside it. This works well for kloofs where where are shortish (100m) swims. As far as I can tell the idea with the lilo is because you spend a lot more time in the water on Visgat so the lilo helps keep you a bit warmer - yes, I will be using a wet suit.
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Nic Le Maitre
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Nic Le Maitre »

Did Visgat last weekend. Lilos are for surfing the rapids without slamming your legs, butt and/or face repeatedly into rocks. Having done all of the above on several trips I can wholeheartedly recommend a lilo. I have had the R125 ones from takealot, but they died this trip. Next time I'm considering a making a lilo from pool noodles taped or stitched together.

What did survive was this from the Crazy Store:
Image

The addition of some PVC attached with contact adhesive/Genkem to the underside would go a long way to making it more robust as well
Happy climbing
Nic
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Nic Le Maitre
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Nic Le Maitre »

And yes, it's very nice to have some flotation device that you can lie on for the very long swims which are more than 100m long. My very budget lilo died very early on and I was swimming the rest of the way. Not so lekker.
Happy climbing
Nic
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by legendarry »

I can recommend the intex stuff. I did Visgat twice with the white inflatable chair and it survived both times.

All the intex stuff have a nice durable plastic base. Just don’t ride it into a branch.

Enjoy Visgat! It’s one of my favorite activities.
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Not »

Thanks for the detailed response Nic! I'm tempted to build a pool noodle "raft - would it not be a total pain to do the hiking part with?

A friend just told me she bought her canvas lilo from Christy's in Plumstead. I gave them a call and they told me they had them in stock until a few months ago. Apparently they take ages to sell so they have not bothered ordering more of them. The same friend also suggested getting Christy's to make a PVC "condom" for whatever lilo I end up with to help protect it.

The search continues!

Legendarry, this makes me feel alittle better as an intex lilo is my backup plan. Thanks!
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Nic Le Maitre
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Re: Canvas Lilo / Mattress fro kloofing

Post by Nic Le Maitre »

It's a bit of a scramble out of the kloof, maybe 100-150m of altitude gain, then a very easy stroll back to start. You can strap it to your pack?

I'd suggest making a half/ 3 quarter length (chest to knee?) raft from noodles if you go that route, that'll carry easier too.
Happy climbing
Nic
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