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I am new to the hammock scene. I recently picked up a Nano 7, with whoopie sling suspension. Almost fell asleep yesterday laying in the back yard first time using it. I have an email in to PapaSmurf to snag a BugSock and now I need a tarp!
I do not want to spend $200-300 just yet, so Cuben is out of the question for right now. Basically looking to spend under $100, stay under 10oz, and provide some decent coverage from weather. Just an overall good first tarp for the UL hammocker.
Currently leaning towards the MadCat, can't decide on Micro or Standard. The MLD and Warbonnet Asyms also interest me.
What does everyone think?
MLD UL Spin - 4.4oz - $90 (I like the weight, but will I like the coverage and pitch?)
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com...roducts_id=149
OES MadCat Micro Sil - 7.4oz - $65 (Going to be enough coverage?)
OES MadCat Standard Sil - 10.2oz - $95 (Worth the extra 3oz over the micro?)
http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier....ccat_tarps.php
Warbonnet Asym-Diamond Sil - 7.5oz - $75
http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/tarps.php
Wilderness Logics - TadPole Sil - 9.7oz - $80 (Recommended by NewtonGT, looks to be a nice tarp)
http://wildernesslogics.com/Tad-Pole-Tad-Pole.htm
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I think they are all great choices but you also can consider the wildernesslogics tadpole tarp. I believe it has as much coverage as the standard maccat. its under 10oz and its 80 dollars!
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I have the OES Standard (in Spinn) and it offers great coverage. Very well made. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the contenders on your list.
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I'd go with the OES Standard or WL Tadpole. I like the coverage over weight.
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The gear road is long and full of back tracking - do yourself a favor - if you wont spring for cuben now, get the cheapest reasonable option available to you, let's say the OES Micro. That way when you want the $300 cuben tarp, you're only $65 in the gear hole :D
I knew I'd never be satisfied until I had a cuben tarp with good coverage, so I camped with a $20 6-person tent footprint for half a year and saved. It's worth saving.
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I like the coverage options of the Warbonnet superfly, but that one exceeds both your weight and price requirements.
When I was hanging under mine this weekend the wind was pretty annoying until I closed up the tarp doors.
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There's always the DIY option: http://www.diygearsupply.com
That and lots of other sites that have raw materials. I made(my wife taught me a lot about sewing that weekend) a 10X12 "Winter Dream" for about $35. It weighs about 17OZ.
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burleyolebear, are there build instructions out there for the Winter Dream or did you just go off the dimensions found in the gallery? I searched but all I could find was the stuff in the gallery.
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I'll add on to this question rather than make a new thread asking basically the same thing.
I'm ready to buy a new tarp.
I want it big and I want it Cuben!
I originally hoped to make it myself but it sounds like there's little savings and I don't want my first cuben project to be that big and costly.
I want something big enough I can set it up without the hammock and hang out inside with a friend or two playing cards or whatever when we need to get wait out a shower or storm.
I don't think I need doors but might make them myself later on. That will give me some options based on weather conditions.
I've seen so many of these things in videos and on the forum I don't even know where to start now. What specific tarps would you guys suggest?
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I only have experience with 3 of the tarps you listed: Warbonnet Asym-Diamond, OES Standard, and OES Micro.
Any of these will work for your hammock; easily.
The Micro will be the smallest, but since you are a self-proclaimed ULer, the lack of additional space under the tarp shouldn't bother you.
The Standard is going to be the next size larger. Honestly, this is probably my favorite sized tarp for when ounces matter. The Micro will just cover your hammock, with little room to spare. The Standard is going to give you a little extra on the sides that will, for the most part, ensure that any gear on the ground under you will stay as dry as you from falling rain. IMO, it's a perfect comprimise between weight and useable space.
The Warbonnet Asym-Diamond is a good tarp that provides quite a bit of useable space under cover. The shape took me back to my first tarp (HH stock asym) and made me feel a little misty about days gone by. However, the WB asym provides much more coverage. It's still a minimilst tarp, but it doesn't really feel that way when you are under it. If I have one problem with the WB Asym-Diamond, it is the lack of a ridge seam. In order to get a really crisp pitch (personal preference, I know) you really need to use a full-length ridgeline above, or below, the tarp. I just don't really like, or see the need for, a ridgeline on my tarps. However, I like the design enough that I took it with me about 50% of the time this summer.
Never heard a bad thing about MLD, but I don't own any of their gear.
Wilderness Logics is one of those outfits on my list, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
If it were me, I'd pick an OES Standard. Not because of quality over the others, but due to it's ideal size, shape, and weight to me.
Good luck!
Edit: Got caught replying to a dated thread; darn it! :D