Superfly waterproofness

**trailryder42** · 04-05-2011, 11:03

Hey all,
Love my Superfly. Been experimenting with different ways of setting it up using my hiking poles to pitch it when no trees around and I have to go to ground. Setting it up, tarp edges as low to the ground as possible, like a tent with no bathtub floor.

Sewed ribbon in two places on the doors to be able to tie the doors closed a little better.

With all the rain that one sees on the Appalachian Trail, just how waterproof is this Sil-nylon stuff? Is it going to keep my Blackbird, down bag and UQ dry?

Perhaps I should set it all up and leave the sprinkler on it for several hours.

Thanks for your experiences.

**Syb** · 04-05-2011, 11:16

Originally Posted by trailryder42

Perhaps I should set it all up and leave the sprinkler on it for several hours.

and there it is.

**Joey** · 04-05-2011, 11:22

I've had mine in some light rain and 2" of snow with out issue. Testing it out as you noted is not a bad idea though.

**Cannibal** · 04-05-2011, 11:37

Originally Posted by trailryder42

With all the rain that one sees on the Appalachian Trail, just how waterproof is this Sil-nylon stuff? Is it going to keep my Blackbird, down bag and UQ dry?

Lots of rain depends on the year. Some years are bone dry, others are monsoons. You'll pray for rain in the mid-Atlantic states...I promise!

Yes. The SuperFly will keep you dry. In all honesty, it's way more tarp than you'll need on the AT. It's nice when it's cold/windy/rainy at the same time, but most of that is gone by mid-April anyway. The SuperFly is like carrying a small apartment with you on the Trail. I carried mine for the first 6ish weeks. Fantastic place to wait out a bad skies day.

**exup** · 04-09-2011, 00:34

I've only had mine out on one trip so far. What Cannibal said is true, its like a luxery apartment, haha. If you can't manage to stay dry in it there's no way you're staying dry in anything. I did have some issues I thought may have been spray, but it could have also been the ridgeline most likely.

**HamMike** · 04-09-2011, 06:34

I've had mine out in significant rain twice. First time it wa a combination of freezing rain then turned to rain. Second time I had just got my tarp setup about dusk and it started raining and was pretty steady all night. Everything stayed dry both times. I have no worries with my superfly.

**BearChaser** · 04-09-2011, 09:01

I just happened to be on the same trip as HamMike on the one rainy night. It rained anywhere from hard to just a continues good rain. I too have a Super Fly, and it kept me dry that entire night. Have also had it out in the rain a few other time with no problems.

**HamMike** · 04-09-2011, 09:28

The sperfly is so versitile. I don't think CrackedUp and I had our tarps setup the sameway the whole hike. I used to use a continuous ridgeline but have noticed I get a tauter ridgline and tauter sides on the superfly by tying each end off seperately.

**body942** · 04-09-2011, 11:56

I had my SF in some of the worst rain I've ever been in a couple weeks ago, and to sum up, I wouldn't hesitate to take it out again for any kind of forecast. I did experience rain getting "blown through" the tarp itself forming a really fine mist. (Believe me, I had PLENTY of opportunity to isolate the issue throughout the night) However, it was only when the wind really gusted and couldn't even notice it behind the mesh once I was zipped into the BB. However, I was watching legit small drops forming and dropping off the inside of the pullouts at the stitching. Seal those babies.