Waterproof maps

[Simon E]

One of the topics I raised at the BOF Major Events Conference at the weekend was the use of waterproof maps. They were used for the spectator races at WOC in Denmark, and LOK used them for their FROLICS event at Trent Park in July.

Technology has moved a long way since the days of Tyvek and Synteape that we experimented with in the 80s and 90s. The latest paper is called Pretex, and LOK will be using it again at their event at Hampstead Heath on Sunday. They are getting the maps printed by QuickMap in Germany.

The quality of the printing is very good. The paper itself is very strong, doesn't rip or tear, rejects blood and mud, and is totally waterproof. My son's map is still perfectly usable after five minutes in the bath with him. The Danish maps showed a minor tendency for the ink to flake off at folds, but the Trent Park maps didn't even have this problem.

A final key factor is cost, and this seems to be on a par with equivalent laser printed maps in the UK, even taking into account postage from Germany!

So is this the time to stop bothering with plastic bags and save yourselves all those long nights with the heat sealer? I reckon we're pretty close to that. Everybody who saw them at the conference seemed to think they were a good idea as well. If the Hampstead Heath event goes OK then I'll try to send a few samples to Map Group so they can consider approving them for more major events.

--
Simon
http://www.maprunner.co.uk
http://maprunner.blogspot.com

[RJ]

Just one grumble..... We tried a few copies at a Cumbrian Galoppen C4 last year, with a few selected people using them. Worked fine with very little damage to the ink/map on the crease. But if you fall and get the map dirty with mud etc it is very difficult to get it clean again. It left a mess on the surface..... you would need to wash it in a stream to make it 'new' again. Plastic bags wipe clean more easily.

Cost was similar to ordinary laser copied map plus bag unit.

[bedders]

They used the new tyvek maps at the Oringen this year too. They seemed fine, and you could wipe them fine as long as you didn't drop them in a bog or something silly. One problem seemed to be dirt getting trapped in the creases as you folded them. Otherwise I preferred them to paper and bag.

[awk]

Worked well at the Swiss week too.

[HOCOLITE]

Had no problem at WOC but then I don't get my maps dirty but young son does and folds it(sorry crumples it) and he didn't complain. For major events these are surely the way forward.

[FromTheGrassyKnoll]

I started investigating this...

http://www.fibermark-lahnstein.de/_basi ... nglish.pdf

Looks like it can be LASER printed like normal paper...

and given that there is a UK distributor it shouldn't be hard to get hold of some... they sent me some samples.

The distributor is near HH... perhaps you should pop in.

[Freefall]

I was around with some of the early Tyvek maps and they were not always great. It will be interesting to see how this develops. I have been given this recommendation

http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co. ... ption.html

One advantage is the claim to have a paper suitable for inkjets (we normally use one of these for our map printing of local events).

I suppose there will be some agreed standards set by Map Group.

I do know that the event at Greenham Common (Map Makers) had waterproof paper too. This was printed by the military and I can find out through my contacts what paper was used (I am sure it would have been litho printing).

[mharky]

I think it's a good idea.

[graeme]

This suggestion seems to come up every few years, and eventually the answer will be yes.

But bear in mind that the map will be scrunched up, coated in (acidic) mud, rubbed with a sweaty, bloody thumb, and scraped with a sweaty thumb compass for up to two hours. Five minutes in the bath doesn't even begin to test it.

Graeme

[HOCOLITE]

Do you know Simon E's son

[FromTheGrassyKnoll]

I have been given this recommendation

http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co. ... ption.html

60p a sheet + postage

Doesn't seem to make sense... a normal bit of paper, a poly bag, a heat sealer and a club slave must be cheaper.

[graeme]

Do you know Simon E's son

Yes. Both of them. Why?

[Simon E]

Try here:

http://www.antalis.co.uk/sitesweb/FO/pa ... xt&i=53345

Works out at 4.3p per A4 sheet, although minimum order of 26000 sheets is a little unfortunate!

Anyway, rough costs for a printed A4 map via QuickMaps is around 30p.

Graeme does indeed know both of my sons, having helped keep them occupied on the walk back to the car park after the British Relays. I'll get James to see how much mud he can find on Sunday for a real test.

[King Penguin]

One advantage is the claim to have a paper suitable for inkjets (we normally use one of these for our map printing of local events).

In my experience maps printed on inkjets have a nasty tendency to run, and you need laserjet to get a proper "fix" of ink on paper.

[EddieH]

I found in Switzerland, as on every other "waterproof" map I've had that blood obliterates the map - and my hands seem to bleed a lot!

Anyway they are way better than the British in the New Forest 1980? Someone, I forget who slowed down to read his map, took his foot off a branch which sprang up cutting his map in two.