Life span of a cuben fiber tarp

[skyjacker]

Thank you for the great tip Monkeyboy42 . I've only had my HG CF tarp since September and have about 12 nights in it so far (3 day group hang, 2 local overnights, and a 5 day UP Michigan trip on the NCT, plus a couple overnights in the backyard).

Using a CF tarp is like an other piece of gear in my kit: take care of it and be aware of anything that may compromise it. It should last a long, long time. I'm careful about site selection and widowmakers....make sure the stakes are secure and perhaps put a log or rock on it to secure it. After each trip, I air it out to make sure it's perfectly dry, then store it loose or rolled (out of the snakeskins and avoiding creases).

For the price, it's gotta have some longevity, which I'm positive it does if you treat it right...

Thank you for giving realistic time and use on your CF tarp. This helps.

[Treebird]

One thing I have practice is it roll my tarp up and put it in skins. It think rolling it makes less creases in it and it will wear slower. I haven't had any tarp wear out yet except a tiny repairable hole. My CF tarp is 5 or 6 years old and I use it pretty much. I feel like I can get another 5 or 6 years out of it.

Thanks dutch, that's a good idea, I think I will get a snake skin ordered.

[Bannerstone]

I got my cuben tarp in Dec. of 2010, I've used it a ton and it looks just the same to me as it did then. I have no wear issues or punctures at this point. I tend to fold and roll it into a stuff sack as a rule. My tarp has survived some ridiculous high wind weather conditions, the infamous night of a thousand acorns falling on it as well as sticks and my clumsy antics around the campsite.

On the other hand I have a few stuff sacks and misc drawstring bags of cuben that have suffered some wear around the drawstring areas. Admittedly, I have abused them pretty badly, one is the throw bag I use for my bear bagging setup.

Now, when something does happen to my tarp, and I assure you it will eventually, it will patch up so much more simply and durably in cuben than any silicone coated fabric and be off for another 6 years.

So to summarize, cuben is exceptionally well suited as a tarp fabric.

David

[Dos]

I have used my cuben tarp on 2 thru hikes and all of CA on the PCT.
I DO keep mine rolled in skins mostly because I like neatness.
My cuben tarp still has plenty of life left.

I do have my first tarp an OES MacCat which I LOVE.
I just happened to have gotten a killer deal on the cuben, so that's what I carry now.


Oh and to add to the previous poster,
I use cuben for my foodbag; the hybrid cuben that Zpacks uses for some things. I had used just "regular" cuben on my first food bag. It lasted 1 1/2 thru hikes. I met some hikers at Mt Washington and one had a
pack made of the hybrid version as well as having a hybrid food bag. That is when I switched for my food bag.
The hybrid cuben would be too heavy IMO to use as a tarp.
It works well as food bag as well.
I do have to replace my other bags made of cuben after every 2000 miles or so.

[Gqgeek81]

What kind of cordage are you guys using for the drawstrings? I would think zing-it would be better since its slick, but I'm just guessing.