I have the 9 and the 12 and, based on my experience, I don't think I'd recommend one to a friend. My 9 leaked after being used just a couple of times -- the waterproof coating seems to have "delaminated" or failed somehow. Kelty said send it back to them, so I did. They sent it right back to me, saying it had been used too long to be warranted!
My 12 has also only been used a couple of times. It works fine. It stood up to some very strong winds and a couple of days of all-day drizzle on it's second outing last fall in the Adirondacks. The multiple cat cuts make the tarp attractive when pitched and very resistant to flapping and wind damage. Plenty of tie-out loops make it easy to get set up.
If I hadn't had the bad experience with the 9 (and Kelty's customer service), I would be happy with the 16, other than its weight and bulk.
For another 30 or 40 dollars, you can get a silnylon tarp that is far lighter and packs down much smaller.
Take it easy,
desmobob
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