Cuban fiber tarps....

[pellet gun]

I don't have one, so maybe not being on the band wagon means I'm missing out on the awesome cuben fiber party or something, but here's my thought. I have a tarp (WB Edge) made out of Silnylon. It weighs ~10 ounces and cost me $100. Packs down real small, really dang light, and doesn't break the bank. For triple the cost, you can save 4-5 ounces. If you got money to blow, or the absolute lightest gear is critical for you, or both, go for it. For most, I'd say save the $200 and get your basic silnylon. Just my two cents.

Thanks man, I'm really considering your thought...

[pellet gun]

Ten-four.... a wee bit more))))))


IMG_0011 by Sean Shug Emery, on Flickr


IMG_0012 by Sean Shug Emery, on Flickr

Thanks for the xtra pics Shug! I wish I could find one in camo for around $250...I'm in Georgia and don't do 4 season, so I don't really need doors....wanna make me one?? :0)


IMG_0075 by Sean Shug Emery, on Flickr


HG Cub Tarp 2 by Sean Shug Emery, on Flickr

Thanks for the xtra pics Shug! I wish I could find one in camo for around $250...I'm in Georgia and don't do 4 season, so I don't really need doors....wanna make me one?? :0)

[VAHanger]

Agree wrt silnylon bang for the buck. I love my OES silnylon Mac Cat. A quality silnylon tarp will serve you well. Though i must admit, when my daughter decided she wanted to hammock camp with me, I shamelessly used it as an excuse to get a cuben.

[lazy river road]

I love my cuben cause I love big tarps. I went from a 23 oz sil to a 8 oz cuben that's the same size. I like to use a winter size tarp all year round so I really wanted a big ol cuben tarp. To save weight. But a sil tarp kept my just as dry at twice the weight. It really depends on what size tarp u want and if the xtra money is worth the xtra weight savings.

[BER]

I'm actually with Stefprez. I had an MLD cuben hammock tarp and sold it. Perhaps it was my own perception, but it seemed I was always nervous that a branch would fall or I'd trip over a guy line, or a blown spark from the fire would mar my precious cuben tarp. Now I have a larger silnylon tarp for twice the weight but half the cost and a whole lot less anxiety. Perhaps one day if I am hiking more (rather than canoeing), I'll buy one again. But for now, there are plenty of other things I could do to lighten my load of those 8oz if I felt the need.

That being said, the gear head in me does drool a little every time someone posts new pics.

[stefprez]

That being said, the gear head in me does drool a little every time someone posts new pics.

Couldn't agree more.

[uneekwahn]

[SteelerNation]

Recognizing that there is no right or wrong answer to this dilemma, I agree with stefprez when it comes to small tarps because it simply doesn't make that much difference. However, I go the other way on huge, winter tarps, complete with doors. That's when I feel the cuben comes into it's own and saves some mind-boggling weight and pack size.

This is where I come in as well. I really love the coverage of my SuperFly and the doors come in handy in bad wind or sideways rain. That said, I was able to have Joe at ZPacks make me a CF tarp with roughly the same features (just a little bit skinnier) for over a pound less weight.

I'm totally loving my decision.

SN

[stefprez]

This is where I come in as well. I really love the coverage of my SuperFly and the doors come in handy in bad wind or sideways rain. That said, I was able to have Joe at ZPacks make me a CF tarp with roughly the same features (just a little bit skinnier) for over a pound less weight.

I'm totally loving my decision.

SN

I think if I did more cold weather stuff, or preferred the larger size tarp, I'd be totally onboard. A 1lb weight savings is huge, especially if you are already going lightweight. But yeah, with the smaller "3 season" tarps, if you will, the weight savings usually does not justify the price. Looks like I gotta man up and start doing some more winter hiking so I can get some new gear...

[PDA]

Fascinating discussion here. Interesting data re cost per ounce etc. SO I looked up a few prices and weights. Obviously, that is not the whole story, as placing, number and type of tie outs can make a big difference in usability, and must be worth part of the price. I used 8x10 as a size for comparison.

Polyethylene:
Tarpaflex camo/green poly, $7.71, 32 oz (6 or 7 mil)
Tarpaflex green, $3.25, 24 oz (5 mil)
REI poly blue, $6.50, 18 oz (claimed, must be 3 mil poly to get that weight)

Then PU coated polyester:
Kelty Noah 9x9 , $60, 29 oz.
Outdoor products 9.5x8 $47 26 oz.

SIlnylon:
Equinox $95, 14 oz.
Warbonnett Edge: $100, 10 oz. (cat cut)
MLD $195, 15 oz.

SpinnUL:
Warbonnett Edge $150, 8.25 oz.

Cuben
MLD $350, 10 oz.
Zpacks $235, 5.2 oz.

Myself, I started with an 8x10 pievce of Tyvek which cost nothing and a couple of dollars for clips and mason line, and weighs about 17 oz.

Now I have the large Hennessy hex, 12x10 23 oz and $60.
and a Hennessy asym scout at 10 oz and $30. (for backpacking)

So for backpacking, I can have 10 oz for $30) or slightly better coverage and 5 oz. for $235.
For car camping or one or two mile level walkins, my $60 Hennessy gives me more coverage than anything else here. For group camping I picked up a Kelty Noah 12x12 for $15 at an REI garage sale, so we can gather arouind to eat as a community without getting soaked.
Maybe I should change my trail name to TT (Trailer Trash)