Spinntex Tarps

[Cannibal]

Just thought I'd add something to this fancy new sub-forum.

I bought one of Brian's Spinntex tarps while I was on the AT this past season. My girl, Genuine Draft, joined me and really needed the extra protection my WB SuperFly provided because she gets cold really easy. This left me without a tarp to have and to hold and call me own (George), so I called Brian.

What a fantastic tarp!!!
I adore the material as it is very light; I believe my tarp w/out lines and stakes is only 7oz (or very close).

There is NO pass-thru moisture. I started carrying a Ziploc with a few paper towels to demonstrate this to other hikers. The outside can be soaked, but you can wipe a paper towel on the inside and have it come back totally dry.

There is no stretch...at all. I'll never carry tarp tensioners in warm weather again.

They are tougher than I would have thought too. Mine took a hit from a falling tree limb in Ewock Village at TD 08. The limb fell from about 30' and was about 1.5" in diameter and probably about 2 or 3' long. I saw it falling, but was too far away to do anything about it except watch. The limb 'bounced' harmlessly to the ground without leaving so much as a mark on the tarp.

When you add in the craftsmanship that Brian puts into his gear with all the great traits of the Spinntex; it would be awfully hard to go wrong with one of these tarps.

Great job Brian and congrats on your very own sub-forum!

[koaloha05]

Nice to know that the Spinntex can withstand a moderate force branch hit. So far, the largest objects to hit the OES Spinntex tarp have been acorns. A real attention getter when you are sound asleep.

[Cannibal]

So far, the largest objects to hit the OES Spinntex tarp have been acorns. A real attention getter when you are sound asleep.

Yeah, that took me a few nights to get used to. Rain is a bit of an adjustment too; thousand little drummer boys playing a diddy. I've been extremely impressed with it's durability so far. Not that I would expect anything less from Brian.

[Nest]

They are tougher than I would have thought too. Mine took a hit from a falling tree limb in Ewock Village at TD 08. The limb fell from about 30' and was about 1.5" in diameter and probably about 2 or 3' long. I saw it falling, but was too far away to do anything about it except watch. The limb 'bounced' harmlessly to the ground without leaving so much as a mark on the tarp.

I'm a witness! I could actually hear the material crying for help as the branch was falling towards it, or maybe that was Cannibal? Either way, I would have sworn that the tarp would have some damage after a fall like that, but it didn't.

[Cannibal]

Thanks for backing me up Nest! I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it either.

I think that was probably me you heard .

[Nest]

Thanks for backing me up Nest! I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it either.

I think that was probably me you heard .

I still think that had it been a sil tarp that got hit it would be trashed.

[jay590]

they sure do sound good.

[NCPatrick]

Hmmm... any plans for Spinntex Superfly's?

[BillyBob58]

Is the extra rain noise loud enough to actually be a problem?

[Cannibal]

Is the extra rain noise loud enough to actually be a problem?

Not really. It's one of those things that you think will drive you bonkers, but I got used to it before I fell asleep during the first rainstorm with it. Falling acorns, twigs, etc will startle you because it stays so tightly pitched. But again, your brain makes the connection pretty quick and stops waking you up.

Hmmm... any plans for Spinntex Superfly's?

If I can ever stop spending money on other stuff, this is something I would love to have. That stuff ain't cheap and I don't even want to think about the yardage used on the SuperFly design. But, pretty sure I could talk Brandon into it if I supplied the tarp material plus a little extra to practice. Of course, that assumes everybody stops ordering BlackBirds so he has time to do the odd requests. I don't really see that happening anytime soon.