Silnylon to Silpoly...did I jump the gun?

[Big Flounder]

On my trip to the Boundary Waters, my Mambajamba tarp in 30D Bushwack camo looked as soaked as yours did in that first picture you posted Mark. It kept me dry through a pretty bad thunderstorm the night before, so it did its job, but I thought it was odd that it didn't shed water like I thought it would. I'll have to see how my new Trail Haven tarp from SLD does in the rain. I've got a Winter Haven from SLD too but I haven't (knock on silpoly) been rained on yet when I've used it.

[OneClick]

On my trip to the Boundary Waters, my Mambajamba tarp in 30D Bushwack camo looked as soaked as yours did in that first picture you posted Mark. It kept me dry through a pretty bad thunderstorm the night before, so it did its job, but I thought it was odd that it didn't shed water like I thought it would. I'll have to see how my new Trail Haven tarp from SLD does in the rain. I've got a Winter Haven from SLD too but I haven't (knock on silpoly) been rained on yet when I've used it.

Staying dry is what counts, so I guess I don't mind having to do some extra drying before packing.

[Big Flounder]

Staying dry is what counts, so I guess I don't mind having to do some extra drying before packing.

Yeah but it would be nice to not have to pack soaking wet gear. All my gear was soaked on that last day. Only things that weren't were my hammock and under quilt. Like an idiot I had gone to sleep with my pack still hanging on the tree and open. Duh, duh, DUH.

[Countrybois]

I will say that the SilPoly PU4000 is not like that at all. Water beads up like a fresh waxed car. A few shakes and it is 'mostly' dry. It does not appear to absorb water or wet out at all.

The Silpoly XL from RBTR is similar. However, I don't have enough nights with it to be able to say confidently that it performs as well long term.


My $ 0.02

[OneClick]

Thanks for all the feedback. I kept telling myself I was going to do a side-by-side comparison of the poly and nylon in my yard but never got to it. Now I sold both nylon tarps, so I can kiss that goodbye.

[kitsapcowboy]

I will say that the SilPoly PU4000 is not like that at all. Water beads up like a fresh waxed car. A few shakes and it is 'mostly' dry. It does not appear to absorb water or wet out at all.

Agreed. That has been my experience as well. The PU4K is also much easier to sew...

[Countrybois]

[QUOTE=kitsapcowboy;1902131]Agreed. That has been my experience as well. The PU4K is also much easier to sew...

QUOTE]

Here is a photo of a 1.1 Silpoly PU4000 in the foreground and a Silnylon Superfly in the background. You can see the obvious difference.
20170528_183058a.jpg

[OneClick]

I'm wondering if I should get back into the DCF game. My silpoly tarps are like sponges. I swear it generated its own water while sitting during the 4 hour car ride. I could pour water out once I got home. This is AFTER shaking and drying with a towel in camp.

[mab0852]

My silnylon does that, but neither of my silpoly tarps has ever held water. A quick pop and the water just flies off and it's dry in 5-10 minutes. Maybe you got something on them. Have you camped near any willows or similar sap misting trees that could have coated your tarp. I'd hang it up and put some Woolite in a spray bottle and sponge it down good. If that doesn't work, maybe spray if with some DWR. Failing that, maybe there was a material mix up (it happens) and you got treated silnylon instead of silpoly. Being hydrophobic, it simply can't hold water like that unless it's coated in something. As to misting in heavy rain, I've never seen that. I have seen it condense to the point it was practically raining under the tarp when the humidity was high and the ground was damp when I pitched it.

[OneClick]

Nothing on them since all three tarps were brand new. Maybe I'll get two, or all three, outside sometime and spray them with the hose. I can't remember if they all do this or just to varying degrees. But I think it was all of them.