What's the deal with cuben fiber tarps

**Godspi** · 10-13-2015, 18:54

I've been pricing a new tarp and have seen a couple cuben fiber options all were very pricey and having never owned one a little crazy sounding to pay that much when you can find good sil nylon options for a third or a quarter the price.....so what's the deal with cuben fiber guys is it worth it and why or why not

**wildewudu** · 10-13-2015, 19:02

It's one of the lightest tarps you can get and doesn't stretch like nylon does. That said, I'm making a silpoly tarp to reduce the stretching issue and still keep the price reasonable, compared to cuben fiber. I personally don't like the "crinkle" factor of cuben, and they're more transparent, but technology is always changing and prices are always coming down. So, who knows, maybe I'll end up buying one someday.

If your aim is to just go out and get geared up, you can't go wrong with a good silnylon or silpoly rainfly. They're light enough (certainly lighter than the 1.9 oz poly coated nylons available in most general camping supply stores!) and, more importantly, they'll still keep out the rain.

**Dutch** · 10-13-2015, 19:10

Cuben Fiber may be the perfect tarp material. Light, it doesn't stretch. and pretty strong. One of the best features is it is repairable in the field. However the price is crazy and is just got worse. Since they were bought out, they increased their prices dramatically.

**Gresh** · 10-13-2015, 19:12

To me, it ain't worth it. To be fair, I'm not a gram counter but the benefits don't outweigh the negatives (of which there aren't many).

Pro: Doesn't stretch (but neither does SilPoly)
Pro: Lightweight (maybe the lightest option?)
Pro: Fairly translucent, if you like seeing above you.

Con: Better be ready to pony up some dough, 'cause it ain't cheap.
Con: Punctures easily, but easily repaired with cuben tape.
Con: Crinkly noise in the wind.

Honestly, I know it ain't the nicest thing to say but whenever I'm at a group hang and I see somebody that I know doesn't do much, if any, backpacking all I can think is that "There's somebody who's got more money than sense."

**Godspi** · 10-13-2015, 19:29

I'm not necessarily worried about weight my current tarp is just and old wallyworld special (in fancy blue) I'm just ready to upgrade and I'm wanting to lean toward pack space so is there a noticeable "footprint" difference as for pack space or are they pretty close?

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-13-2015, 19:31

If you're a hiker (and I am), you can't beat the weight savings. My HG Winter Palace weighs 8.6 ounces. A similarly sized silnylon tarp (Superfly) weighs 19 ounces!

So does saving 10 ounces mean anything to you? It might not now, but it could in the future. When I started hammock camping five years ago, my pack weighed (for an overnighter) 50 to 60 pounds. I haven't weighed my pack in a while, but I'm guessing I carry 20 to 25 lbs. for an overnighter now. In addition to the cuben fiber tarp, I carry only what's necessary - I have HG 40*, 20* and 0* quilts for the right occasion. I have a GoLite Jam 50L pack, which is only 1 lb. 12 ounces. About the only thing I'm lazy about, weight-wise, is tarp stakes. I still carry aluminum stakes (though Santa might put some ti stakes in my stocking).

When I started hiking five years ago, seven miles was a grueling hike, and just about all I could do. Last November I did 22 miles in one day (38 in two days). I don't think you can increase your performance like that without dropping a lot of pack weight (I was slackpacking on this particular trip). Less weight means you can hike farther distances.

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-13-2015, 19:32

Originally Posted by Godspi

I'm not necessarily worried about weight my current tarp is just and old wallyworld special (in fancy blue) I'm just ready to upgrade and I'm wanting to lean toward pack space so is there a noticeable "footprint" difference as for pack space or are they pretty close?

Cuben fiber doesn't pack down as well as silnylon. If you're not worried about weight, it would be hard to justify cuben fiber.

**Gresh** · 10-13-2015, 19:36

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

Cuben fiber doesn't pack down as well as silnylon. If you're not worried about weight, it would be hard to justify cuben fiber.

Y'all write this down: I agree with Surfer.

For the money, if you're not hiking you ought not even consider cuben unless you've been swimming in a vault full of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.

**ripstopbytheroll** · 10-13-2015, 20:14

Originally Posted by Gresh

Y'all write this down: I agree with Surfer.

For the money, if you're not hiking you ought not even consider cuben unless you've been swimming in a vault full of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.

Or skiing in one...

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**Godspi** · 10-13-2015, 22:07

See and now I don't even want a tarp a want a vault,...I weighed my pack with everything but food and it's right at 35lbs as is and that doesn't seem to bother me to much I think the most I've done in a day was about 16 miles and we stopped for some of that good old Lally gagging action pretty flat run though. Yea ok so now the question is where to go for a 4 season tarp....I want doors and multiple pullouts