Guide Gear / Bargain Outfitter 12X12 Tarps are IN!!!

**jackleberry** · 03-17-2011, 13:30

Here's another shot, this one in porch mode:

**leroybrown** · 03-17-2011, 14:23

For those who bought them at 19.95: Are you happy with your purchase? I like the idea of having an extra tarp around for car camping or if somebody in my group needs a loaner.

Worth it?

**injun51** · 03-17-2011, 15:30

Originally Posted by leroybrown

For those who bought them at 19.95: Are you happy with your purchase? I like the idea of having an extra tarp around for car camping or if somebody in my group needs a loaner.

Worth it?

VERY worth it. Got mine and the workmanship looks great. Very big and yes i am going to put the 2 extra tieouts on so i can "winter" hang it. I don't think you will be dissipointed with this purchase. And i paid $26 for mine and am still very happy.

**wirerat123** · 03-17-2011, 22:16

I got em while they were $19.95. To make a long story short, you can't buy the fabric for that, so I'm more than happy with them. I got 3, and they are great.

**lmoseley7** · 03-17-2011, 23:26

Originally Posted by jackleberry

Here's another shot, this one in porch mode:

Jackleberry, that's a nice looking pitch. I'm definitely going to use that or some variation with mine. I made a tarp with some $2.50/yd material and with homemade bias tape I had at least $25 and a ton of time in that one. I wish I had bought more than one.

**smashdn** · 03-18-2011, 13:34

Any idea how hard it would be to "cat cut" it for that winter pitch with the doors. I assume you remove a "pointy oval" from it along the ridge to cat cut it.

She isn't all jazzed at the thought of cutting it and sewing it. I will have to convince her to sew the tie straps on but that is no big deal.

So the question has been asked are you happy with your purchase. My answer is, "Yes, but." Yes, it is great value for the money no doubt about it. Is it something I would like to hang under all the time? No, not by a long shot. It is clearly not designed as a hammock tarp but can fit the bill if pressed into duty. And it is a great shelter and pretty versatile. The phrase "Jack of all trades and master of none" comes to mind.

**jackleberry** · 03-18-2011, 13:39

Originally Posted by smashdn

Any idea how hard it would be to "cat cut" it for that winter pitch with the doors. I assume you remove a "pointy oval" from it along the ridge to cat cut it.

She isn't all jazzed at the thought of cutting it and sewing it. I will have to convince her to sew the tie straps on but that is no big deal.

So the question has been asked are you happy with your purchase. My answer is, "Yes, but." Yes, it is great value for the money no doubt about it. Is it something I would like to hang under all the time? No, not by a long shot. It is clearly not designed as a hammock tarp but can fit the bill if pressed into duty. And it is a great shelter and pretty versatile. The phrase "Jack of all trades and master of none" comes to mind.

This tarp is very slightly cat cut. I don't see any reason why it would need to be cat cut any deeper. It's PU coated nylon, not silnylon, so it doesn't stretch quite as much when wet.

**smashdn** · 03-21-2011, 14:47

Originally Posted by jackleberry

This tarp is very slightly cat cut. I don't see any reason why it would need to be cat cut any deeper. It's PU coated nylon, not silnylon, so it doesn't stretch quite as much when wet.

I wouldn't think it would be cat cut along the ridge that we are talking about hanging it along since it was not designed to do so.

Perhaps I do not understand what all "cat cut" pertains to either as I only have experience with the Hennesy Hex. It can be tightened down with guylines to form a very tight and taut ridge with no flap. Looking at the pics I am seeing some loose fabric that would have the potential to sing in the breeze.

**rjcress** · 03-21-2011, 15:01

Originally Posted by leroybrown

For those who bought them at 19.95: Are you happy with your purchase?...
Worth it?

Absolutely!
I've made all of my other tarps, so I've seen first hand what it takes to put one together.
They've definitely taken about every short cut available in assembling this thing.
The tie out points are somewhat crudely attached and the loops are attached with a single bar tack at the end on each side. Definitely not how I do it when I'm making a tarp.
However, it appears to be put together well enough for light to moderate use.
The body seems well constructed, it is just the tie outs that I'm concerned with. If I were going to use it for weeks at a time, or in high wind conditions, I'd reinforce the loops on the tie outs.

The fabric is very lightly coated, such that I can't even feel the coating.
What I had in mind when I read it was coated was a thin, opaque layer of waterproofing material on the bottom side.

Where it really shines is when the center tie out points are added along opposite edges so that it can be pitched in winter mode with full doors.
Wow!

I"m also looking forward to pitching it in "Honeymoon suite" mode so that more than one hammock can be hung under it.