Which Tarp to Choose....

**cavscout** · 02-16-2010, 13:13

Originally Posted by thomas533

BWDG Winter Dream

Originally Posted by lazy river road

Back Woods Winer Dream V2 Model

Thanks, I'll add it to the chart.

Agree with your logic Cannibal. I'd prefer the biggest tarp I can reasonably pack.

**cavscout** · 02-16-2010, 13:15

Originally Posted by sclittlefield

I wonder about the breakdown on that Diamond Mosquito Hammock tarp. Is it 10' wide, or 10' on the edge? If it's 10' wide, and 13' ridgeline, then don't forget to remove the four corners for the square footage. That'll change your numbers a bit. Still, you can't beat the price.

Excellent point. I'll have to work that out. 65 sqft? What a shift that made in the analysis. All of a sudden that 1.2 lbs looks horrible next to 143 sqft. 1.37 lb Winter Dream. Same cost per sqft., that's nice.

**DuctTape** · 02-16-2010, 13:59

I have a number of tarps. It seems I always gravitate towards my JRB 10x11. I set it up a little different than most. I use the 11ft as the ridge line and then use a single stake on each side. Then the bottom corners are brought together and then staked down. This gives me a diamond shaped footprint with tons of room and almost complete enclosure.

**clntstime** · 02-16-2010, 14:44

how is it compared to brown for shade?

Originally Posted by Coldspring

Speer Winter Tarps in sharkskin gray are on closeout.

**soysos** · 02-16-2010, 16:35

this may sound like total asshatery, but everybody here seems to have some huge tarps. my 4x6 ponchos have served me well in just about every weather you can imagine. a smaller tarp has some advantages, even if not to this extreme. for one thing in a humid area a large tarp tends to rain on the inside, another advantage with less surface area it can handle more snow buildup. the way I see it the tarp is more of a deflector than a shelter, then I attach another poncho to the bottom for wind. just my $.02

**Ekul** · 02-16-2010, 16:40

Larger tarps provide privacy and wind deflection. Idk bout you but a 20* day with 30mph wind is freggin cold, mix rain in there and eww. I dont regret having a larger tarp. If the weather is crappy I have the ability to get out of my hammock and tend some chores, pack, etc while staying out of the elements.

**sclittlefield** · 02-16-2010, 16:53

Originally Posted by soysos

my 4x6 ponchos have served me well in just about every weather you can imagine

You're a better man than I.

Originally Posted by Ekul

If the weather is crappy I have the ability to get out of my hammock and tend some chores, pack, etc while staying out of the elements.

This is almost fully why I choose a large tarp. I like having a place to hang out in horrible weather while staying nice and dry. It suits my style of hiking/camping. I like to hang out with friends, play cards, talk, cook and do other camp chores, etc. Because I like to hike/camp with others, it's always a pretty leisurely time. On my own, I put some miles on my shoes, but with a group it's more about hanging out than mileage.

**Cannibal** · 02-16-2010, 17:04

Originally Posted by soysos

everybody here seems to have some huge tarps.

To be sure.

In our defense, not everyone here is a hiker and probably fewer still are long distance hikers. If I'm not marching crazy kinds of miles one day after another, then I want comfort and luxury. I've got a couple of gram weenie tarps that I carry for those long trips, but I stand by my statement that if I could only choose one it would be a 'winter' tarp. Only due to its wide range of uses.

**Hangin'Yankee** · 02-16-2010, 17:28

Originally Posted by sclittlefield

This is almost fully why I choose a large tarp. I like having a place to hang out in horrible weather while staying nice and dry. It suits my style of hiking/camping. I like to hang out with friends, play cards, talk, cook and do other camp chores, etc. Because I like to hike/camp with others, it's always a pretty leisurely time. On my own, I put some miles on my shoes, but with a group it's more about hanging out than mileage.

Ditto! I love my BDG Winter Dream with pullouts! Lots of room for very little weight penalty! The pullouts make the inside very roomy! There are some pics of it in action on the trips part of the forum under, "Yellow River State Forest - solo." Maybe someone could instruct me on how to link this?

Thanks Scott!

Randy

**soysos** · 02-16-2010, 18:10

sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread here.

all I am saying is there are advantages to smaller tarps especially if you have two of them. I have used my ponchos in a dozen configurations, depending on the weather. in the summer in a dry spell I don't both with any. if I am more worried about wind than rain a lea-to on the windward side is perfect. in a storm I can lash the two into one 8x6 still a bit small but hay. in a real heavy wind I can make a big lean-to. if the weather in unpredictable I make an a-frame with one and wrap the other around me. now 4x6 is a bit extreme but if you had two or even three, you have a lot of options.