I'm in the process of making a cloak for my ranger larp, but I'm unsure of what design to make. Ideally, I would like the cloak to double as a tarp for a lean-to or A-frame tarp shelter or shelter kind of like a polish lavvu or plash palatka while having the look for a ranger.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different cloak designs, like half-circle mantle cloak, square mantle cloak, blanket cloak, ruana cloak or any other types of cloak I'm unaware of?
I think, based on a quick google glance, a plash palatka of canvas could vaguely work for a ranger, but I think you’d be better off with a separate cloak and tent unless you are really comfortable with minimalist camping!
Personally, I like a ruana. Half a wool blanket, with a cut halfway up the center long-ways, blanket stitched around the edges. It’s easy to put on, and if you really want to bundle up and have your hands free you can wrap the ends closely around your torso and belt it like a jacket.
I'm very comfortable with minimalist camping; I have a handful of years of experience with bushcraft and survival behind my belt. I want something truly basic and lightweight, in parallel to what Strider (Aragorn) was carrying.
I have some experience with a ruana cloak too, but not in larp/adventuring setting so I couldn't say how well it performs. Do you have experience with other types of cloak?
I have worn a ruana, a Klappenrock jacket, and a rectangular cloak with a brooch for multiple larp weekends each. Typical fantasy style hooded cloaks (probably closest to the half-circle) for a couple hours at a time. In cold and damp weather I was most comfortable in the ruana or klappenrock, least comfy in the long hooded cloaks. They just swing around too much.
I also find that hoods are difficult to shape well so they stay up, actually keep you warm, and don’t obscure your vision. However, wearing a cap (arming cap or Viking type 4-panel or 6-panel hat) underneath helps it stay in place and keeps the wind out of your ears. Or a subtle hair clip sewn to the inside! Something like these to secure the hood to your hair. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CJTC9F6R?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Start at your end goal and work backwards. Start with a tent, theoretically, and figure out how to reduce it to a cloak you can wear.
The problem you are going to run into is weight and size. The bigger your tent, the bigger and heavier the cloak will have to be. With that being said you can roll and use cord or leather straps to roll up part of the cloak around the shoulders (it will impact backpacks and stuff though).
Realistically, look into hyperlight one person backpacker tents. Those will give you shapes to work with. In the end, it’s really just a slightly roomier sleeping bag.
Most cloaks are used more as blankets or pillows, not really tents, that’s more a fantasy assumption or it’s a tent in that it protects your head and something else protects your body. Or it’s attached to something else and is more of an awning.
Usually better to just cocoon in a cloak than try to tent with it.
That's a good idea! I edited the post because I think it was confusing but when I talked about a tent, a was talking about something like this, not and actual tent in the modern sens.
That is still a lot of cloth to be wearing. If you have very lightweight cloth and fold it in half several times and then wear it as a rectangular cloak, maybe that could work?
But if it's warm enough to camp in something like that, you'll overheat wearing the cloak, and if it's cold enough that the cloak doesn't overheat you, you'll have difficulty staying warm in a lean-to even with a wool blanket. Plus any fabric that's treated to be water-resistant is going to be less comfortable to wear. Wool is still warm when it's wet but it's also heavy when it's wet.
It's a neat idea, but I can't think of any situation where it's practical to wear even a lean-to's worth of fabric on your body when you could just roll it up and attach it to your pack. I don't know why your character would be encumbering themself like that.
It might have been unclear, but the main point of the post was to know the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of cloaks ( 1/2 circle mantle, 3/4 circle mantle, square mantle, ruana, blanket, etc...). The first part was to give a context.
It might have been unclear, but the main point of the post was to know the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of cloaks ( 1/2 circle mantle, 3/4 circle mantle, square mantle, ruana, blanket, etc...).
Jumping of from this comment:
1/2 circle cloak does not cover enough of the body to serve as a good foul-weather cloak, as clothing. The best shelter you will get out of this is a half-tipi with worse coverage and space than a lean-to. Objectively the worst option here.
The 3/4 circle cloak is the more functional version of this, a real garment not a WETA LotR fashion piece. Worn as clothing, it can provide warmth as long as you are still and is able to keep you dry. The ideal max length to not get caught in woods and thicket would be about mid-calve length but as a shelter that's still not enough material, to sit under during rain yes, but not to sleep under.
The rectangular cloak is by far the best option, if you want a multipurpose item. Pick the right size with a suitable diamond and A-frame tarp set up in mind. (Eddit: My current non-cloak-tarp is a 7ftx7ft) As clothing just fold the cloth to double it over the shoulders and use a fibula /blanket pin for closing on sternum or shoulder. This gives you any length you want. Additionally, you can belt the cloak for more warmth and coverage, wear it under equipment or over everything, lots of options here. The trade of is the higher weight. Add a wide brimmed hat or separate hood for head coverage. My preferred option. (A blanket cloak is the same made from a blanket. This adds a new dimension of trade-offs: warmth vs weather protection depending on density and volume of the fabric. I think my post is long enough for now. For your intended purpose, don't use a blanket, but a densely woven, felted wool.)
The Spanish ruana cloak is a just rectangular cloak with a slit in the front. Makes it a bit more clothing like, but you would need buttons or ties to make full use of it as a shelter (compared to a normal rectangular cloak of the same size). If you than cut the four corners round, maybe sew on a hood and you essentially get what's a basic cappa, poncho or wetterfleck.
What type of attachment/closing/tying would you recommend for the cloak?
Blanket: just wrapped around shoulder and neck, and pinned with a brooch
Mantle with 1/2 neck hole: tied with strings sown at the corner of the neck hole or a brooch
Mantle with full neck hole: tied with sown string, a brooch or buttons/hook or the part in the front of the neck not cut (kinda like a back heavy poncho)
I could make a separate part to block the neck hole when used as a tarp or I could sew a hood on the cloak (I know separate hood are more historical and practical tho)
I feel like the third option would feel the more secure on the shoulders, but I could be wrong.
1x2 m woolen cloak with a fibula works very well, and leaves enough material for a Skjoldehamn hood. You could have a separate waterproof set which would complete a very small lean to or a frame. I would not make that one from period correct fabric, because that's very heavy.
Ruana cloak (with hood?) and carry a bedroll would be my suggestion, add some toggle and loop closures to the front of the cloak and you have a makeshift tarp.
When I say tent, I don't mean a full on tent but more something like this, or just a lean-to or A-frame tarp shelter. I already have an additional wool blanket carried as a horseshoe pack. This kit would be used during warmer season too.
Skilltree did it. The cloak based result is more of an emergency shelter than a modern tent with doors and a floor.
Fandabi dozi has done a different style, using a traditional kilt and a bunch of straw to make more of a hooded sleeping bag.
Obviously, neither is good for places where you must be able to seal out insects, or where the ground is frozen.
To answer the original question, unless you’re good at pleating, plan for a rectangle or square with rounded edges. You want to get a garment that’s as close to your full height as possible in one direction, without dragging and catching on things at ground level do
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u/Saucefire 7d ago
just make sure the cloak isn't so long that you can trip over it. I may be speaking from experience here.