need advice: doors or no doors?

[kobold]

That is why I bought the black mega ogee...... Many many set up options..
Did I happen to mention that I love my ogee?

+1 to the mega ogee

[pig.slayer]

I must admit I've never had a tarp with doors.....

I have had a few night's where I have been worried about getting wet down insulation from rain blowing in the ends of my Standard MacCat (spinn). Never happened of course, not even close actually. Still it was on my mind those few nights.

But........ My cuben winter MacCat is in the post as we speak.... with built in doors.
I just figured as others have said that with cuben the weight penalty is soooo minimal to have doors on a tarp.

Even if I don't need them, in bad weather the peace of mind will be worth it, all with a tarp lighter than my current spinn MacCat.

[ciphoto]

If my budget allowed for a tarp with doors I would get one. The options just seem to out way the negative.

I just got into this hammock set up, and had a set amount of dollars. So I've got Maccat deluxe waiting at home, but I fully plan on making some of the grizbeaks for it...

[lazy river road]

I like doors for all year round. Does it add weight to the tarp yes, but using a cuben tarp I can have doors at very little weight penalty. I like being able to close off the doors at night esp. if rain is expected. It's that little extra comfort that I enjoy that is worth the few ounces to me. Are they "needed", well that's a matter of opinion, but hangers have survived without them for a very long time and have stayed dry. It really all depends how minimilats you are willing to go and how comfortable you feel. Their are pro's and con's to both. So all in all get one of each or get a tarp with grizz beaks then you'll have the option of removable doors.

[Highbinder]

If i need end coverage I'll my tarp and silnylon poncho. The poncho can easily be rigged over one end. From experience that's enough, I've never needed both ends covered.

With larger tarps (12x12) you can use a pebble to create a point to attach a tieout, in effect a face pullout like you find on some winter tarps. If you add one or two to each side you can 'fold' in the corners much like the pic the shugster posted

[ShellD]

I have used the Speer winter tarp for the last two winters and was really glad I had doors when the temps got near single digit. Just bought the Big MamaJamba without doors. I think it's a good choice if you're only buying one tarp. You can get the doors and leave them at home when you don't need them.

[G.L.P.]

I feel doors come down to need and your style of hiking/hanging
for me i don't use doors for 3 season ...but i love them in the winter
this is something YOU need to find out what will work best for YOU

[Doctari]

IMHO it depends on what kind of weather you expect to hang in. For those of us in areas where winter happens and who camp year round, doors are really nice. Like Shug says, even just one can make a big difference. Usually, I only close one end off & that's enough for me.
I'm thinking that if you only camp in the lower areas around home, doors aren't a priority, yet. Get into some elevation, or head north, , , or both, Yea, you may need / want a door or 2.

OH, Hey cool, that was my 2000th post.

[Wags]

the most flexibility is to buy a tarp without doors and get 1 or 2 grizz beaks. i simply carry a 3 season tarp and if expecting terrible weather i bring 1 grizz beak with me. i do count grams, so those "extra 2 ounces" that other people say they don't care about, do matter to me...

i don't go out when the temps are below the low teens so take that into account...

[MedicineMan]

I learned long ago (10ish years) that you can stay dry with the original bare minimum stock Hennessey tarp even in a goshawful horizontal rain.
For me doors are for staying warm--the tent approach/going to the ground---holding in heat. For the marginal seasons it's still the GrizzBeaks, or at least one of them and hope you point it in the right direction. So no carrying doors for me in the summer, late spring, early fall.