Cuben fiber

[Bammacker]

For those of you with cuben fiber, how fragile is this stuff? I would like to save the weight, but I'm not sure if it will tear under normal use? Thanks.

[Dos]

as a pack liner, it held up for 2000 plus miles.

I would entertain a cuben tarp.

[Dutch]

It is pretty tough and you can get different thicknesses. The best part is it is repairable. I piece of tape fixes it where as nothing sticks to sil. You have to take care of it though roll it up nice so it doesn't crinkle.

[MDSH]

I made one of .74 ounce material, 9x10. It's light and tough. Here it's in use near Ruidoso, NM:



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[Sky kid]

That answer would be relative to the cuben thickness. The thinner, the easier it might be compromised. Mine is .51 and I make sure and take precautions to not rip it. Not a tarp for newbies.

[Moel Siabod]

I bought a cuben tarp for $295 a couple of years ago. It seems pretty durable so far and it is definitely lightweight, but I can't help thinking that it isn't THAT much better than the $5 poly tarp I used to use.

Certainly not 59 times better.

[WV]

I think it's somewhat tougher than has been painted in the previous posts. I've certainly subjected mine to a lot of abuse, and it's still great. Small repairs are very easy and very secure. Crinkling is more or less unavoidable, but does no damage that I can see. With a large piece of gear like a tarp, benefits like low weight and small volume are very noticeable.

[Bannerstone]

I've read a few accounts of AT thru-hikers using cuben tarps for their entire hikes, that's gotta speak well for any piece of gear.

My HG 4S is 3 years old now and still performing beautifully despite some pretty hard duty.

David

[Fixxr5]

Look here for a demonstration. Maybe it will help. I have a HG Camo Cuben Tarp. I love it. It looks great and I hang it tight. I use it like I used my superfly, arguably one of the most popular and durable tarps in the hammock world. It is expensive though. I view it as my ONE, luxury, high tech piece of equipment.

Oops! One more luxury piece of luxury equipment. Z-packs arc blast. Awesomely light and tough. Stuff it full of gear. I absolutely love it.

[Suede]

It all comes down to the weight/cost factor and how important saving ballpark a half pound is to you over sil. I have both and prefer the cuben for weight and stiffness (lack of stretch when wet). I also prefer the translucency when I'm under it - love being able to see trees overhead. I take reasonable care with any tarp when packing/unpacking, guying out etc. I have never ripped mine. It is also noisier than a sil tarp when the rain is beating down and I need ear plugs in a heavy downpour in order to sleep.