The Cold War

[thegreatjesse]

I'm waging a war against the cold, and this is my Cuben Tarp Crisis! Thirteen days of tension before my next backpacking trip! Okay.. I'm done.

I emailed Adam last night, on a whim, about a 2/3 sided cuben tarp that I have been considering for a while. Trying to shave weight, but maintain versatility, I wanted a cuben tarp with doors on only one end. I thought I had this brilliant, heretofore-unheard-of idea that had never been brought to fruition! I imagined crowds applauding my innovative concept! I would be shaking hands and kissing babies! The world was my oyster!

Adam responded that he had, in fact, made this exact tarp on a few other occasions.

So - do you have one of these brilliant tarps with only two doors? If you do have one, do you love it? Second question - I would like the tarp without panel pullouts, to save a bit of weight, and because I don't think I'd ever use them. Is this a good plan? Do you use your panel tieouts often enough to require them?

[Shug]

I have truly enjoyed mine. Don't use the side pull-outs as much as I thought I would due to the tight pitch of Cuben...you can crank it down.
Enjoy the light, the sight and the lightness.
Shug

[Bannerstone]

Just curious to how much weight the 2/3 version saves.

I've owned my HG 4S cuben just through this winter so I can't give any insight to fair weather use but I agree with Shug, the side pulls don't get a whole lot of use. However they are kinda nice when I pitch very low in storm mode. Stormcrow does offer them on just one side if that would be a good compromise for you. Except for the d-rings they're entirely cuben, my guess is that all 4 probably don't amount to 1/4oz. and having at least one set of side pulls would make the tarp more desirable for resale.

The thing that surprised me going to a winter tarp is that all the extra D-rings add up to more rigging and stakes, next thing I knew I was up over a pound for a 6.5 oz tarp. Eventually, after a few outings, I came to my senses and started paring down my lines and jettisoning various dodads and pieces of shock cord to only what I was actually using.

Have fun!

David

[thegreatjesse]

Shug - your vid was the first I saw of the weightless wonder, and I have been infatuated since!

I doubt it will save much from the weight of the tarp itself, but it will definitely require less cordage and hassle. Also, I'll be removing the tensioners from my guyline, I think, which should amount to less weight.

I think I will have panel tieouts on one side after all - provided they don't add much to the cost. Initially, I figured it would be unlikely that I would use them, but you're right - tieouts on one side will increase resale likelihood, and if I know I won't need them, I just won't bring line for those tieouts. At least they'll be there if I do ever decide to use them.

Thanks for chimin' in, fellas!