Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    New Member Wyley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Somewhere, US
    Posts
    18

    Buying my first tarp... Help!

    Hey guys so like the title says I'm about to buy my first tarp, and I'd really like some advice. I'm starting a NoBo AT hike in late March, so I'm looking for an affordable tarp that should last me 6 months of backpacking. I've been browsing a few sites looking at their products, and I've noticed the price range for tarps varies greatly! There are a lot of different sizes, shapes, weights, and materials to choose from, and I don't know what my best options are. So if you guys we're about to start out on a 6 month adventure which tarp would you bring with you and why?

  2. #2
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,394
    Images
    62
    Here is a good place to start…..SALES….all good tarps.
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=87777
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  3. #3
    richtorfla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Clearwater,Florida
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB, Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    AHE Toxaway:UGQ WD
    Insulation
    UGQ,KAQ,Tewa
    Suspension
    strap/buckles
    Posts
    1,965
    Images
    1
    I guess you will want to look at size and weight plus what kind of functionality. Urethane coated tarps will be cheaper and heavier. Sil-nylon will be lighter and the lightest is of course cuben. Cuben is the most expensive but for the weight of it, you can get a bigger size if you compare it to other sizes. I like my Toxaway from AHE (arrow head equipment). It is a cat cut and a 12 foot ridge. Real good coverage. If you want doors to close off ends of hammock, something like a superfly be Warbonnet outdoors may be your ticket. JRB just posted they have 30% off on some of their tarps. Their 11x 10 is a great tarp . They have a hex tarp camo at a real good price. So bottom line is the size you feel comfortable with, weight you want to carry and price. Some diamond tarps work great but sometimes coverage is a factor with them when trying to avoid certain kinds of weather. Good luck on your search. Hope this helped but that 11x10 JRB tarp is a great price right now!

  4. #4
    richtorfla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Clearwater,Florida
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB, Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    AHE Toxaway:UGQ WD
    Insulation
    UGQ,KAQ,Tewa
    Suspension
    strap/buckles
    Posts
    1,965
    Images
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Shug View Post
    Here is a good place to start…..SALES….all good tarps.
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=87777
    Shug
    Dang Shug; straight to the point and not long-winded like me!

  5. #5
    Senior Member OneClick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    IN
    Hammock
    DIY 10.5' HyperD 1.6
    Tarp
    Warbonnet, SLD
    Insulation
    Hammock Gear
    Suspension
    WB Straps+Buckles
    Posts
    13,158
    Images
    20
    For 6 months on the trail and no way to predict the weather, I'd only feel safe with something providing a lot of coverage. Something like the Warbonnet Superfly comes to mind. Your tarp is really the only thing keeping you dry and comfortable, so $130 would be worth it IMO. I have the Mamajamba with doors and it's held up great after 2 years - still showing no signs of wear.

  6. #6
    New Member Wyley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Somewhere, US
    Posts
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by Shug View Post
    Here is a good place to start…..SALES….all good tarps.
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=87777
    Shug
    Quote Originally Posted by richtorfla View Post
    I guess you will want to look at size and weight plus what kind of functionality. Urethane coated tarps will be cheaper and heavier. Sil-nylon will be lighter and the lightest is of course cuben. Cuben is the most expensive but for the weight of it, you can get a bigger size if you compare it to other sizes. I like my Toxaway from AHE (arrow head equipment). It is a cat cut and a 12 foot ridge. Real good coverage. If you want doors to close off ends of hammock, something like a superfly be Warbonnet outdoors may be your ticket. JRB just posted they have 30% off on some of their tarps. Their 11x 10 is a great tarp . They have a hex tarp camo at a real good price. So bottom line is the size you feel comfortable with, weight you want to carry and price. Some diamond tarps work great but sometimes coverage is a factor with them when trying to avoid certain kinds of weather. Good luck on your search. Hope this helped but that 11x10 JRB tarp is a great price right now!
    Thanks I found this very helpful! I'm always looking for sales. I think I'll be much more comfortable with the JRB 11x10. Earlier I was looking at Warbonnet's Cloudburst tarp which has the same dimensions and uses the same materials. However it's not on sale right now. The JBR seems like a good deal and I think it's the exact tarp style I'm looking for.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Chriss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    NW MS
    Hammock
    Sierra Madre Ninox
    Tarp
    DIY 12x10/Stratos
    Insulation
    HG UQ/TQ
    Suspension
    Straps/Amsteel UCR
    Posts
    675
    Images
    1

    Tarp

    Quote Originally Posted by Wyley View Post
    Thanks I found this very helpful! I'm always looking for sales. I think I'll be much more comfortable with the JRB 11x10. Earlier I was looking at Warbonnet's Cloudburst tarp which has the same dimensions and uses the same materials. However it's not on sale right now. The JBR seems like a good deal and I think it's the exact tarp style I'm looking for.
    I believe you have been led in the right direction sir. Good luck on your hike!

  8. #8
    Senior Member ggreaves's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kingston, ON Canada
    Hammock
    Dangerbird
    Tarp
    HG Cuben
    Insulation
    HG Phoenix/Klymit
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    813
    Images
    69
    Simply Light Designs Winter Haven is an excellent tarp. Jared will customize any way you'd like (cat cuts / pull outs / pole mods / line locks / ridgeline length from 9'-12)'. The build quality is top notch and he turns them around very quickly. I think if you're going to be out there for that long, you will face some weather where you absolutely need to batten down the hatches and you'll appreciate the wind blocking ability of doors you can close off. This tarp, or a Superfly, or Wilderness Logics "Old Man Winter" are all great options. Best of luck on your journey. Some pics...

    Simply Light Designs - Winter Haven Tarp
    A lotta ins... lotta outs... lotta what-have-you's

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    W, DC
    Hammock
    ENO DN or DIY 11' CS90
    Tarp
    Oware/Speer Winter
    Insulation
    Underquilts.com
    Suspension
    Whoopie hooks
    Posts
    188
    Images
    11
    I'd definitely recommend something with doors, a la the Superfly or the Winterhaven. I rock a doorless tarp right now, but I always have the option to stay home if the weather is going to be really bad. If you're going to be out there for months at a time, the doors give you a lot more options for set up and offer a bit more privacy.

    Also, unless you're dead set on going as light as possible, I'd just stick to a silnylon option. Cuben is nice, but kind of loud in the wind. It's also semi-transparent, which would irk me if I were trying to sleep in or just air out my nether regions in the summer heat/take a wet-nap shower.

  10. #10
    SnrMoment's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Falling Rock, MT
    Hammock
    DIY
    Tarp
    DIY
    Insulation
    Goose bumps
    Suspension
    Bat Feet
    Posts
    1,439
    I have modified a light weight cat cut tarp to function like a winter tarp by adding two tie downs on each side of the bottom lengths. This allows me to use those to stake it down and pull the ends together to form doors on each end. The picture doesn't show the tie downs, but they are simple strips of grosgrain sewn along the hem.
    I also added a snap closure on each end to snug it up. There's not much room inside, but it can be hunkered down to handle wind and driving rain which are common problems with mountain hiking.

    Winter tarp layout
    Winter tarp

    My tarp weighs in at 15oz as opposed to the winter tarp at almost 2#
    Love is blind. Marriage is an eye opener.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. talk me out of buying a cuben tarp
      By Greensoldier in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 33
      Last Post: 07-17-2014, 08:14
    2. buying DD tarp from store
      By darkhawk424 in forum DD Hammocks
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 11-06-2012, 23:25
    3. buying a tarp
      By bkautzman89 in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 04-29-2012, 01:37
    4. Help with buying tarp
      By chrisis138 in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 24
      Last Post: 08-07-2011, 19:09
    5. Buying a Clark Ultra, Which Tarp?
      By Pak-Man in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 10-15-2009, 09:18

    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
    •