Backpacking with a tarp instead of a tent

I've not had a problem with sil nylon tarps. And I think it is due to the angle of pitch (this is what I discussed in that other thread at knifeforums). A good sil nylon tarp pitched in an A-frame configuration should not be a problem. At least, it hasn't been for me so far.
 
I am glad Hoodoo posted that information about the sil shelter, I have been thinking about getting one and he saved me the bother. Now I am thinking about just getting a lightweight tent instead of a tarp. I would still like to try a tarp, it just seems that they make you too dependent on the geography of the area you are in and you still need to have one or several trees in the vicinity you want to camp in. Also, I know that the sil tarps ususally come in under a pound, but then you have the groundcloth, the mosquito netting, possibly the bivy sack, etc... All in all, I am starting to wonder if a light tent isn't still the best solution. Admittedly I haven't used a tarp yet, but from Hoodoos review I guess i can rule out the sil shelter. The tent I was focusing on is a Eureka Zeus EXO single walled tent. i think it is under four pounds for the two man version, and I have seen it for $120. It looks pretty sweet. Has anyone used this tent or heard of any reviews? I was also thinking I could save some weight eventually if I had some spare cash by replacing the poles with carbon fiber versions from www.fibraplex.com, which are half the weight of most aluminum poles. The are a little expensive at about a hundred dollars for a typical two pole set, but they appear to be very well made and have had several positive reviews from some light weight packing sites.
Opinions???
Thanks
 
Sesoku, I'm sure glad you didn't buy that Sil Shelter before I had a chance to test it in the rain. And boy I had a doozy of a rain to test it in. I was actually a little worried about that. I hate to recommend something and have it turn out bad. But I think I did state in my first review that I hadn't tested it in the rain. Anyway, I can say that Integral Designs is a stand up company. I sent them a kinda nasty email and the head of the company (Evan) called me and I had a great discussion with. A really nice, straight shooter. I'm sending the tarp back to them and they plan on testing it out and will let me know the results. Needless to say, they are refunding my money and will cut the check as soon as they get the shelter back.

BTW, even with stakes, head net, and ground cloth, you can easily stay under two pounds with a sil tarp. With the mosquito bivy, you will be right at two pounds. Anyway, you have to go with what you feel most comfortable with. Also, you do not need a tree to pitch a tarp. Check out Ray Jardines description in his book Beyond Backpacking of how he pitches a tarp without trees to tie up to. A couple tall sticks on each end will do the job. I've tried this on at least one end of a tarp and I do it routinely on the guy lines and it works like a charm. Jut prop up a stick with a Y at the top run your line through the Y and stake it. Then do a single wrap of the line around one of the arms of the Y and it will stay put. Believe it or not. :) Or...you can get a tent. :D
 
There's some really cool stuff out there from smaller makers. Try some google searches (www.google.com) and surfing some of the ultralight backpacking sites. I'll try to come back and post some additional links. I think there are some links in THIS THREAD. If I could only own one tent and price was no object it would be THIS ONE tons of room for the weight, great quality, strong design and with that huge window and door almost as good as a tarp ;)

Also check out the "cobra bivy" at www.tripleaughtdesign.com and Penrith Survival. If I were going to replace my old bivy, I'd take a close look at that one despite its two pound heft. Good luck.
 
. . . it's neither thick nor particularly abrasion resistant. That said, I've read the tensile strength (tear resistance as discussed below) of 1.3 oz. SilNylon is better than 1.9 oz. PU coated ripstop nylon because silicone surrounds and reinforces the nylon (holds it together) and stretches more than PU. SilNylon should suffice for most tarp use. I've hiked through brushy areas in my SilNylon poncho without tearing it up, but I exercise more care than I would have with my old Army poncho, which I commonly through on the ground and used as a ground cloth. I would not do that with SilNylon.
 
When my girlfriend and I made my first silnylon tarp we did some experiments on the scraps. I though if I made a starting cut it would be easy to tear the cut bigger, but NO. In fact, we couldn't enlarge that hole pulling on it with all our strength. I couldn't enlarge the hole by putting two fingers in it and pulling them apart!

I don't know how good it resists surface abrasion, but does it stop rips? You bet it does.

I've been using a silnylon tarp for two years now, and can't find any signs of wear on the body, along the seams, or at the tie-outs.

Bear
 
So, considering all the options, I would still like to try a tarp. I have it narrowed to either the Golite cave or the integral design. I think I would probably get the 8X10 size, is that practical for 2 people? I am getting the impression the integral desings has pretty good quality, has anyone besides Hoodoo had bad experiences with them? Has anyone heard of their regular siltarps leaking in heavy rain? If the silshelter and siltarps are made of the same fabric it would seem like they have the potential to leak.
 
I'm going through a "tarp phase" at the moment! A former British Infantry soldier, I am used to sleeping under a tarp (we call them a Basha). Up to now I have used a military type shelter sheet, but as I am trying to get away from camouflage, I just bought a Hilleberg Tarp 10 XP. Its massive...11.5 x 10 ft and offers loads of room for two people and your gear. The guy line runners are a great feature
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I also bought an Integral Designs Siltarp2. Very light and compact.
 
I used a Kelty Noah this summer with a plain blue nylon tarp for a ground cloth. Worked great. Main thing I like is you can roll around and find a comfortable spot where the area is more limited with a tent. Plus it looks cool when you light little tea light candles all around it at night. Room to cook if it rains. I am going to try it in colder weather soon along with some bivy/sleeping bag covers from good old Sportsman's Guide. I'll post and say how it went(if I don't freeze).
 
There's a through-hiker named henry Shires who sells commercial versions of a tarp he designed for through-hiking long trails (Appalachian, Pacific Crest, etc.). Check out www.tarptent.com

I have the "Squall" which replaced a Sil Shelter. It's a little heavier, but offers bug protection (netting only--no floor) and will sleep two comfortably.

www.owareusa.com is a good source of Silicone impregnated Nylon tarps, but I really like the ones sold by http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarps.htm

Cooke Custom Sewing's Sil Nylon tarps are edged with 3/4" nylon tape with tie loops spaced approximately every 20" around the perimeter and through the center seams. Their center reinforcement with quad loops provides extra security and strength when using a center pole.

www.kifaru.net sells some killer pyramid tarps that can be used with a lightweight folding wood stove, but they are more of a tent than a tarp.
 
Originally posted by Sesoku
Has anyone heard of their regular siltarps leaking in heavy rain? If the silshelter and siltarps are made of the same fabric it would seem like they have the potential to leak.
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I'm with Hoodoo--I suspect it is a problem with the relatively flat pitch of the part of his SilShelter that leaked and/or a bad batch of fabric. I frequent a www.nwhikers.net www.backpacking.net and several other hiking or lightweight hiking boards and haven't heard of any more problems with SilNylon than with Polyurethane coated Nylon. SilNylon's advantages (weight, tear resistance, mildew resistance, etc.) far outweigh any disadvantages IMO.
 
Steven, this is funny,
I read this rather old thread a week ago and also bought a Hilleberg 10 XP tarp...
I have a Hilleberg Namatj GT tent, and some Nomad tarp, but that doesn't work well. This should do nicely as a sunscreen, raincover, or emergency shelter. Mine is currently at the post office and I'm picking it up tomorrow!

Ted
 
I use a DPM camo British Army Basha that I purchased from Brigade Quartermasters for $35.99 or something like that. It's rubberized ripstop nylon with loops sewn around the edges. It's lightweight, tough enough to be used as a ground cloth and waterproof too.
 
Hey,

I've almost always been using something like this when backpacking...

http://www.davidmanise.com/img/survie/abri-2.gif

I use a cheapo a 9'x5' nylon tarp and it's fine. For flyes and such, consider a large bottle of Watkin's... or just plain nothing. You'll get used to them, really ;^)

Keep the shelter as low as possible, thus making the opening smaller, and giving less space for rain to come in... If you're smart enough not to have the wind getting right into your "door", you'll stay dry (this means if the wind comes from the east, place the door west ;^).

Cheers,

David
 
Ted,
I like my Tarp 10 XP - its nice and big (3 X 3.5 metres) compared to British military bashas.
Let us know what you think.
 
Sesoku said:
I am thinking about getting a silicone coated nylon tarp instead of (or maybe just in addition to) a backpacking tent. I have had some experience with making shelters from larger tarps, but I was wondering if anyone here has hiked with only a 8X12' tarp as their primary shelter. The main reason it interests me is weight, at around 1 lb. I read Ray Jardines book called Beyond Backpacking in which he list some other advantages, such as being able to cook under it, better ventilation, not cutting yourself off from nature, etc. The only major negative I am concerned about are insects such as mosquitoes and flies, but I figured I could just get a small sleeping no see um net. I am considering the Golite Cave or the Integral design siltarp.
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I've gone for week long trips into the woods with nothing but a tarp and a knife before, but I would not reccomend it. Because of its open nature bugs and dew get in your equipment. A good one man tent is smaller, lighter, bugproof and waterproof, but you can't do as many things with it (and it's a lot more expensive). With a tarp, you can gather dew, use it for shelter, make a kayak with it, use it as a rainjacket and keep you off the wet ground. It is all a matter of personal preference.
 
Lazarus Long said:
I've gone for week long trips into the woods with nothing but a tarp and a knife before, but I would not reccomend it. Because of its open nature bugs and dew get in your equipment. A good one man tent is smaller, lighter, bugproof and waterproof, but you can't do as many things with it (and it's a lot more expensive). With a tarp, you can gather dew, use it for shelter, make a kayak with it, use it as a rainjacket and keep you off the wet ground. It is all a matter of personal preference.
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YOu haven't used the silnylon tarps then. My 10X12 huge tarp :cool: plus tyvek groundsheet and double bed bug net weigh in a bit less than even a lightweight 1 man tent and is huge in comparrison. There is something to be said about having open air bug free in hot humid conditions that youd suffocate in a tent.

Skam
 
I prefer a tarp when it is really raining out. It is difficult to set up a tent in the rain without getting it soaked inside, same goes for taking it down in the rain.

Will
 
if it was raining i would just rig my ground tarp between two trees and sleep under that.
 
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