What's the deal with cuben fiber tarps

**Hawk-eye** · 10-15-2015, 05:34

One big plus I've noticed on my cuben fiber beauty is that it doesn't absorb water! So it's easy to shake off excess before packing out and you're not carrying an even heavier wet tarp as in the case of sil nylon. Very nice perk in my opinion!

**dirtwheels** · 10-15-2015, 06:13

I know that's one of the best attributes of my spinn tarp.

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

One big plus I've noticed on my cuben fiber beauty is that it doesn't absorb water! So it's easy to shake off excess before packing out and you're not carrying an even heavier wet tarp as in the case of sil nylon. Very nice perk in my opinion!

**PharmGeek** · 10-15-2015, 08:20

Is there an article or YouTube video explaining these different materials in detail? "Spinn" , cf, "silpoly", "silnylon" . Etc?

**Jumper0155** · 10-15-2015, 08:23

I can understand people not wanting to spend the money on a cuben tarp, but I find that many (myself included) started out trying to get a hiking/camping setup inexpensively often end up not being satisfied and eventually upgrade to better gear. Doing so costs you more in the long run which I also know very well. I now have a complete extra kit that is just sitting around and while it may be helpful if a friend who doesn't have gear wants to go hiking/camping with me, it's basically a bunch of wasted money. If I was able to do it all over again, I would just buy the best gear I can afford to begin with; which would have saved me a bunch money and closet space.

**Wanderlost** · 10-15-2015, 08:29

Originally Posted by Jumper0155

I can understand people not wanting to spend the money on a cuben tarp, but I find that many (myself included) started out trying to get a hiking/camping setup inexpensively often end up not being satisfied and eventually upgrade to better gear. Doing so costs you more in the long run which I also know very well. I now have a complete extra kit that is just sitting around and while it may be helpful if a friend who doesn't have gear wants to go hiking/camping with me, it's basically a bunch of wasted money. If I was able to do it all over again, I would just buy the best gear I can afford to begin with; which would have saved me a bunch money and closet space.

To a degree, I agree with you. I bought mid-level tarp-wise when I started out. I didn't want to drop a bunch of money and then turn out to dislike hammocking (I know...I know...about as likely as drowning in the desert) and have spent all that much more. With my hammock though, I went the opposite ironically. I started with a WBBB and now prefer simpler hammocks.

**alifeoutdoors** · 10-15-2015, 09:57

This has been a great thread. I love my WBSF but have been waiting to pull the trigger on a HG Winter Palace as I'm a backpacker first, hammocker second. I dearly want to shave that half a pound or so. However the thing that has always impressed me with WB's tarps is how small that pack down to. Being a minimalist packer I use a ULA Ohm and having that SuperFly just disappear into the front pocket and still have plenty of room for rain gear and extra fleece vest in colder months etc is wonderful. But I really really want to cut those ounces so I'm in a similar conundrum.

**gunner76** · 10-15-2015, 12:17

Too bad Spinn tarps are not available anymore. For the new members, Spinn referred to a type of very light weight fabric that was being used for making tarps. However there was a manufacturing issues and the quality went down hill and I don't think its even being made anymore.

**Five Tango** · 10-15-2015, 14:17

As I recall,saved at least a pound on my tarp setup by going Cuben and today(drum roll) shaved a whopping 12 oz off my rain jacket set up.Lost the pockets but that's the price you pay for lighter.......

**Gresh** · 10-15-2015, 17:39

Spinn is just spinnaker fabric - if you're really into the idea, go to your local sailmaker (if you live near a sizable body of water) and ask him for a few yards of the stuff.

**ofuros** · 10-15-2015, 18:04

Originally Posted by Godspi

I've been pricing a new tarp and have seen a couple cuben fiber options all were very pricey and having never owned one a little crazy sounding to pay that much when you can find good sil nylon options for a third or a quarter the price.....so what's the deal with cuben fiber guys is it worth it and why or why not

The deal is, Godspi....it's all about the weight savings.

If you can't afford cuben, Silnylon will look after you just as well, just heavier thats all.