Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 24
  1. #1
    New Member Soular's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Central AL
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird
    Tarp
    MacCat Ultra
    Insulation
    Undecided
    Posts
    15
    Images
    4

    Question Help me choose my MacCat.

    Hi all,

    Looking for some input from you veteran hangers.

    I have placed an order w/ Brian for an ultra in Sil, but his materials are delayed so I have a week or so to toy with some options.

    I am primarily a car camper. I have a buddy that wants me to do some backpacking and I'm sure I will give it a go this season. I chose the ultra because I plan on hanging 2x hammocks under one tarp on occasion.

    Well, as it turns out, I have enough in the budget to "upgrade" to a deluxe in SpinnUL.

    So nutshell, car camper with little concern for weight, but plan on doing some weekend hiking trips this season. Want to be able to occasionally do a 3-tree type setup or even stack one of my boys over me and use 1 tarp on occasion.

    The ultra with it's 6 tie out offers some flexibility in pitching options, but the SpinnUL sounds like really nice material and the deluxe may be big enough for me.

    A few things I have read here that I would like to know more about in addition to the above:

    Spinn is louder in the rain?
    Spinn will not streach and Sil does slightly? (Tensioners needed on Sil, not Spinn?)
    Spinn is more water proof than Sil? Is this a notable difference in a normal heavy rain?
    I am a fairly big guy 6'1", 190lb, will I even notice the weight difference on a weekend trip?
    Durability and longevity? Is there a general consensus that one will outlast another or take more abuse?

    Thanks a ton for any input, and if I missed any obvious benefits of either material, help me out.

    -Soular

  2. #2
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    ...car camper with little concern for weight...
    That says it all, I think.

    The Ultra is a larger tarp for more coverage, and cheaper. Unless you start backpacking and trimming pack weight, the cost of the lighter fabric won't be worth it's cost in benefit to you. JMO, YMMV
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  3. #3
    Senior Member Mustardman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird/Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    OES 12x10
    Insulation
    WB Yeti/Lynx
    Posts
    2,268
    Images
    42
    Quote Originally Posted by angrysparrow View Post
    That says it all, I think.

    The Ultra is a larger tarp for more coverage, and cheaper. Unless you start backpacking and trimming pack weight, the cost of the lighter fabric won't be worth it's cost in benefit to you. JMO, YMMV
    Yeah what he said. I picked up a 12x10 from OES (still waiting to get out and try it out!), specifically for car-camping and two-hammock hangs, but it's not so heavy that I'd be afraid to carry it backpacking. There's such a thing as "good weight", and for me, a good sized knife and a big tarp are at the top of the "good weight" list!

  4. #4
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
    Images
    136
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    Spinn is louder in the rain?
    Yes, but it is something you get used to very quickly.
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    Spinn will not streach and Sil does slightly? (Tensioners needed on Sil, not Spinn?)
    Very true and results in even more ounces saved by eliminating the tensioners.
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    Spinn is more water proof than Sil? Is this a notable difference in a normal heavy rain?
    I have yet to notice any 'mist-thru' with the Spinn, I have with sil. The bigger issue here, for me, is the fact that it doesn't get damp on the inside like sil. If I brush my back against sil when it's raining, my back gets wet. That is not the case with the Spinn; it's bone dry on the interior.
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    I am a fairly big guy 6'1", 190lb, will I even notice the weight difference on a weekend trip?
    Probably not, but if weekends turn into weeks and weeks to months you will. And don't say "it won't happen to me, I just want to do weekend trips" because this getting out in the woods stuff is highly addictive!
    Quote Originally Posted by Soular View Post
    Durability and longevity? Is there a general consensus that one will outlast another or take more abuse?
    No consensus on that one; plenty of 'discussions'. I have found it to be at least as durable as sil. Others have had different experiences.

    Honestly, if you are just getting into this stuff and have no big plans in the near future, the sil is going to work just fine for you. Might want to set aside that extra money for underquilts instead of Spinn for the time. If you think you're going to be more and more active with the hiking way of life, upgrading to the Spinn is a wonderful luxury. JMO
    Trust nobody!

  5. #5
    New Member Soular's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Central AL
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird
    Tarp
    MacCat Ultra
    Insulation
    Undecided
    Posts
    15
    Images
    4
    Thanks for the input guys, I will stick with the Ultra in Sil.

    If I end up being some crazy hiking nut with long hair and a Grizzley Adams beard, I will add a Spinn tarp to my collection

    No offense to all of you long haired Grizzley Adams types that may be reading!

  6. #6
    New Member Dmanhiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    18
    Images
    3

    Maccat Spinntex Deluxe

    I got my spinn deluxe a couple weeks ago. I had brian add 4 more tieouts (2 extra on each side). I've set it up multiple times and I have been very pleased with it, it gave me so much more room than my previous tarp! You can't go wrong the maccat!

    Cannibal, The past couple times I've used my tarp in the rain I've had moisture gather on the inside of the tarp. Everytime I would rub my head or back against the inside of the tarp I would get pretty wet. I'm pretty sure that its not condenation because one time I never slept under it and this still happened.

    -Dman

  7. #7
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
    Images
    136
    Quote Originally Posted by Dmanhiker View Post
    Cannibal, The past couple times I've used my tarp in the rain I've had moisture gather on the inside of the tarp. Everytime I would rub my head or back against the inside of the tarp I would get pretty wet. I'm pretty sure that its not condenation because one time I never slept under it and this still happened.

    -Dman
    Hmmmm. I actually carried some paper towels in a ziploc to demonstrate this on the trail; never had it get wet. I wonder if Brian's new stuff is a different batch? Brian, you there?
    Trust nobody!

  8. #8
    Senior Member opie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Lansing, MI
    Hammock
    DIY Bridge
    Tarp
    Etowah, gargoyle
    Insulation
    Wool, heater
    Suspension
    Varies
    Posts
    3,367
    Images
    3
    Youll get more coverage with a square tarp. I too, car camp, in some pretty remote places. Since weight isnt an issue with me either, I went for the extra coverage a square gives.

    Im also planning on 2 hammocks under 1 tarp. I have a 10x10 with some extra tieouts on it and just placed an order for a 10x12 with doors on each end. There is plenty of room under the 10x10 for 2 ENO doubles with enough room to stow gear, and get up and move around. Thats pitching the ridge around 6' and using about 6' of guy line out to stakes..

    Might be overkill, but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Mountainside, NJ
    Hammock
    depends on weather
    Tarp
    SWT
    Insulation
    various
    Suspension
    Straps, Dutch Clip
    Posts
    1,422
    Images
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Cannibal View Post
    Hmmmm. I actually carried some paper towels in a ziploc to demonstrate this on the trail; never had it get wet. I wonder if Brian's new stuff is a different batch? Brian, you there?
    Or could it be condensation from moisture coming up from moist ground, not moisture coming down through the Spinntex?

  10. #10
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
    Images
    136
    Quote Originally Posted by JayS View Post
    Or could it be condensation from moisture coming up from moist ground, not moisture coming down through the Spinntex?
    That's possible too. I know BillyBob had some issues with condensation when he was hanging over a semi-permanent mud puddle on his property.
    Trust nobody!

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Help me choose my first
      By offtosleep in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 04-29-2013, 15:30
    2. Help me choose please
      By RoninRone22 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 23
      Last Post: 04-26-2013, 19:53
    3. Why can't I just choose.
      By hammockBlazn in forum Bottom Insulation
      Replies: 25
      Last Post: 10-14-2012, 09:22
    4. Help Me Choose!
      By jmh76 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 03-21-2012, 22:36
    5. Which to Choose
      By samwise61304 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 09-23-2011, 15:39

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •