Why I got rid of my Cuban Fiber Tarp

[mheinze]

It's always a smart thing to listen to your spouse. They frequently can point out the obvious.

For me pack weight is important but those few extra grams really do cost quite a bit. I'm happy with a ~30 pound pack. I'm sure an ultra light weight pack would be awesome but I feel 30-35 pounds total weight is a great balance between price, comfort and the pain in my knees as I hike the trails.

I've been fortunate that my body weight really hasn't followed the American dream but I do admire anyone who loses extra body weight. Good luck!

[gunner76]

Pounds are easy, ounces cost and grams are expensive.

If all I did was car camp then I would stick with silnylon but for backpacking I take my cuben tarp. Just glad I got mine before they got really expensive

[DuctTape]

I am glad my spinnaker fabric tarps are still holding up. The perfect balance in price/weight between sil and cuben. Too bad they stopped making waterproof spinnaker fabric years ago. It is thebomb.

[obxh2o]

I've lost 50 pounds in the last eighteen months AND won a CF tarp at the Florida hang last January (cost = $20). Thoroughly enjoying both.

Still, I enjoy my old Kelty Noah's 12 when car camping.

[Tumbleweed]

+1 for the spinnacker tarp. Do not know why they are so hard to find, after all lots of sailboats have spinnacker sails. Strong, light weight strong, don't stretch/shrink. Only problem I ever heard about was wind rattling/raindrop noise. Get used to it easily.

[sustaireblues]

I've lost 50 pounds in the last eighteen months AND won a CF tarp at the Florida hang last January (cost = $20). Thoroughly enjoying both.

Still, I enjoy my old Kelty Noah's 12 when car camping.

Congrats on the weight loss and the tarp win!
And yeah, I like my Kelty 12 also.

[mtb_huh]

Then my wife spoke..
"Why dont you lose about 15 lbs of belly and sell that 5 ounce cuban tarp, buy a 14 ounce silynylon tarp and use the left over money to get something else you want."

Arggg... she was right.)

She sounds very wise. This same logic is used in many hobbies/sports. Biking for example, people obsess over weight of the bike as well and pay a lot of money to get ounces lighter. A much cheaper option is to lose some weight themselves (a much more affordable option usually).

[gunner76]

+1 for the spinnacker tarp. Do not know why they are so hard to find, after all lots of sailboats have spinnacker sails.

If I remember correctly there were problems with the quality of the spinnaker material and the vendors making tarps moved on.

[bobbycobbler]

Dont know if i fully agree with all the weight loss stuff. I'm about 185 with a "soft" dad body. If i work out, i end up weighing the same are even gaining weight, i'm just not as soft. And for me, shoulder weight is shoulder weight, no matter how many lb's you are. So, I'd have to say i'm on board for getting a cuben when the money is there.

[Slider1]

With my Osprey Atmos 50 there is only so much room. Right now I have a Hennessey hex. How much volume would I save with a cf ?