Doors, or not..., on Cuben Fiber Tarps?

[Gideon]

I'm curious how you feel about doors in general, and specifically, on cuben fiber tarps?

I run a Hammock Gear cuben fiber tarp with doors; it's the 12 foot model that I purchased when I had a longer hammock. I love the tarp, there's plenty of room, even extra room for hanging out under it on a rainy day. However, in pursuit of an ever lighter pack I'm thinking about buying a cuben fiber tarp that is shorter, say the standar 11 feet and possibly foregoing the doors to save even more on weight. I'd keep the tarp with doors for winter or monsoons but use the lighter, shorter tarp for my ultralight set up.

I'd be curious to hear from you veterans who've had tarps with doors and those without. I'm in Missouri and we do get some strong storms/rains so doors do have an advantage.

Finally, who makes the lightest weight cuben fiber tarps? I noticed that hammock gear doesn't even post weights on their site.

Thanks folks
Gideon

[iRokk]

I dunno, my thinking would be that since the cuben is already so light the weight from the doors would be pretty negligible anyways. I mean what would that really save that wouldn't be easier to cut somewhere else for less money than a new tarp?

[Mountain Gout]

Click on product description, it will show the weights..

[Bannerstone]

For cuben tarps, I don't value the weight savings of a hex over the flexibility advantages of having doors.

i.e. HG Hex vs 4S is a 1.3 oz difference plus some extra rigging and stakes for the doors so call it 2.5 oz if you're frugal.

Another consideration is if tend toward foul weather hiking which I kinda do on occasion, doors are a no brainer.

Doors can be pretty handy when your set doesn't quite agree with the prevailing wind or if the wind is changing direction on you. Often I only close one end of the tarp, you probably can hear what Fronkey has to say about his custom tarp which only had doors on one end.

Good luck with your decision.

David

[Gideon]

Found the weights! I must be blind!

I guess I'm wondering if anyone has been successful with the standard cuben fiber tarps without doors fending off strong rains/storms?

I hate to admit it but I think I'm becoming a gram weeny

Gideon

[Gideon]

Thanks Bannerstone; your point is logical and probably is the "no-brainer"; guess I"m trying to talk myself into my position.

I'm thinking my purposes might be better served by trying to lighten up my suspension and other parts of my tarp rig.

I use a continuous ridgeline so that adds weight and I'm still using my old Hennessy snake skins, I should probably consider switching out to the no seeum mesh ones made by Mountain Goat? Not sure how much weight that would save but I'm sure it would be a few ounces.

Thanks for the input!
Gideon

[gunner76]

My HG Winter Palace 12ft weighs in at a massive 8+oz. While I have not had to use the doors, I am glad I have them in case I do need them

[Dutch]

Winter palace yes put doors on, shorter tarps I like to limit the amount of tie outs. Regular width CF tarp don't block the wind from below you anyhow so doors don't help much. I do want a CF tarp with doors on one side so I can put the hammock all the way to that side when it is raining.

[Fronkey]

I personally like to have doors only on one side. I originally did this so my pup could use it as a way to get out instead of going under the tarp and getting caught up in the guy lines, however I think it's great for anyone.
I agree with Dutch that if you have doors on the normal CF tarp for wind that it doesn't work to well. I show this off in the video I'll have out tomorrow. It is really great for rain and snow though.

Fronkey

[brooklynkayak]

I usually use a common 8x10 rectangular tarp. Mine has 5 tie-outs per side.
I usually tie 2 and 4 out like a hex tarp and pull 1 and 5 in to form my doors.

This gives great coverage, but maybe not as wind tight as true doors.
I use a hammock sock in cold weather which makes it so that doors aren't so important and really adds to the weather protection.

I have a Z-packs 8.5x11 rectangular tarp on order and plan on doing the same with it.

In warm weather it is nice to pitch a rectangular tarp that size for rain and shade coverage, but still get the full breeze.