talk me out of buying a cuben tarp

[Greensoldier]

I have been on the fence on buying the HG cuben tarp w/ doors in camo. Besides making my wallet almost as light as the tarp, what are some issues/problems with cuben. Does anyone use the dark cuben in summer heat and had issues? My intentions are making this my only tarp for 4 season use.

Also considering buying an edge and superfly combo.

I am using a WBBB 1.1 New version

[Nhott]

I have an edge and superfly. For me the price isn't worth trading weight for a material that's not as abrasion and puncture resistant. I'm only a weekend backpacker so it makes sense. That's my two cents.

[SwinginIt]

If you can afford it there is absolutely no reason not to by cuben. It's plenty durable, crazy light, and easily field repaired with cuben tape, you don't have to worry about misting or stretching ( so you don't need tensioners, saving even more weight.). I can't speak to the heat issue because I don't have the camo. The only possibly knock against cuben is that it doesn't pack down as small as silnylon, and is noisier when it rains (although it's never been enough to bother me). Other than that, if you care about pack weight then cuben is worth every penny.

That was my best attempt at talking you out of it, did it work?

[Poedog]

Like Swingin' said, if you can afford it there aren't many reasons not too. I bought several silnylon tarps before I broke down and bought a camo cuben standard from HG. Unless, your extremely rough on your gear, there aren't many reasons not to. Every time I unpack that thing it blows my mind. Sorry, that was my attempt to talk you out of it as well...

[K0m4]

I bought a cuben, and then later a superfly which is now my primary tarp. Didn't like the way the cuben is more silver than anything else, and doesn't block out light (I'm a late sleeper..). I bought the olive green one, but out in daylght it really is more olive silver..

[Greensoldier]

Thanks guys for trying to talk me out of it my main concern is durability. The ground shelter that use for backpacking in the negative temps is the mld duomid that is sil and now I am kicking myself for not going to cuben from the beginning because of the sagging of the sil in freezing temperatures.

My concern is when I hang in denser areas where tree limbs and bushes are it could be a problem with an extended cuben rainfly.

I did a search on cuben tarps "problems" and the only thing I found was a guy's cuben tarp melting after months of being exposed to sunlight....needless to say I will not be doing that!

[Poedog]

Does anyone use the dark cuben in summer heat and had issues? My intentions are making this my only tarp for 4 season use.

I haven't noticed any heat issues, at least not more than any other dark colored tarp I've owned (Superfly, Edge)

It's funny you mentioned the light wallet. I think my wallet w/ cards and license etc does weigh more than the tarp, LOL.

[Oms]

I use mine pretty much only when backpacking. It is worth its weight in gold. Just don't want to risk damaging it when I'm not carrying it. At group hangs or car camping, the privacy is nice and weight is not an issue with silnylon. So if your use is for backpacking it is worth it. Other then that I would not see the need to spend the money.

[g2outdoors]

The only Con to cuben is what it does to your wallet. The Pros have all been mentioned above. Did anyone mention how lightweight it is?

[Demeter]

I can't do it. Talk you out of cuben, that is I have a cuben problem. I joke that my trail name should be the Cuben Princess.

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