What tarp do you use?

I've been checking out BCUSA, they have a 5'X7', and other sizes.
 
A military poncho from 1977 until now. A Cooke Custom in 8x10 (1.1 Sil) is what I just received. Very well made, and I am sure I will like it.
 
Need more info, what are your uses?

As a shelter tarp I really like my 7.5' x 9.5' silnylon one from MEC. It has the coverage I need without any extra material and is super light. Also works great with my hammock and I like it better then the one that came with the hammock. However, silnylon is not very robust so it can'be used as a ground cloth.

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For a ground cloth I like one of the thicker type emergency blankets. Its 5' x 7', tough as nails and has the reflective coating on the otherside for multi-use. It works great, but is accumulating its share of holes from sparks and wearing in because I'm constantly using it as a kneel pad, ground cloth and catch all. I love this thing, but it is a tad heavy. I recently did a comparison with a 6' x 8' blue poly tarp and to my surprise the emergency blanket was a couple of grams heavier and bulkier. However, the bluepoly isn't quite as robust and is more noisy than the emergency blanket. It also doesn't have the reflective coating.

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I used to use a military poncho, but I just find them too heavy to haul around and I prefer a rain jacket/pants to poncho. Just a personal thing there.
 
I use an Equinox silnylon 8x10 tarp with a grabber all weather space blanket as the ground cloth and it works pretty good for backpacking.
 
10 x 12 Walmart special. Blue on one side and silver on the other. I keep 4- 50 ft lengths of paracord on H shaped reels. I have not had a problem finding a place to put it up in FL (yet).
 
I use a typical 6x8 $3.50 blue poly tarp from home depot. No "technical", or expensive outdoor equipment here.

That thing is my entire shelter. I just tie it up to some trees or throw it on the ground (once i just wrapped it around myself like a cocoon!) or whatever and that's my whole shelter! super light-weight, easy to set up, and it's never failed to keep a single drop of water off of me!
 
I've got a CampInn nylon tarp (I believe it is urethane coated) that I've been using, but I've got an Equinox 6x8 Silnylon ordered.
 
I think I'm going to pick up another kifaru paratarp soon. I'm still kicking myself for selling my last one.

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Hi Skrapmetal,

The paratarp seems plenty durable. Kifaru also makes numerous pouches and packs using that material, so they do expect it to get some wear.

The paratarp has a bit more material than others, but it sets up so nice I think it's worth it. It packs up pretty small (4" x 10" or so uncompressed), but I may get something smaller, like the ID ponchotarp shown above, for a daily carry bag and use the paratarp in my SAR bag.

So many toys, so little money. :)
 
Wow, I like the integral quite a bit. The only one I have is a cheap "survival" emergency blanket: it is comprised of a cheap tarp on once side with reflective surface on the other. I've had it well over ten years and there are some holes, etc. I've camped in 20F with that over my bag; made lean to (sp?); it has been the cooking shelter on pack trips; it goes under the air mattress or sleeping pads for family car camping. Best 9.99 I have ever spent on a multi use piece of gear. It just sits in the back of the car when we go into the high country regardless.

edit - Well I am on a budget, so another cheap home depot tarp resides under the family tent too. We've had it for 10+ years too. I've also rigged this up for larger family outings with friends as a shelter over the picnic table, etc. when the rain is relentless. 12.99 and money well spent
 
Kifaru are the shizzz-it for shelters. I own 4 and they are great, but yes, pricey. First was the supertarp and still my go to shelter. It can be rigged as a tarp. tarp deal like shown above, open front shelter, add the annex and its an enclosed shelter, then add the stove and your GTG. Next in my kit was a paratipi, I got this sone one night we had some BAD wind. yes the supertarp and annex worked great but then the wind shifted and I had easy 30MPH gusts coming right into the door, which being an add on deal is not meant for this. MY bag got wet, I got cold, the night sucked. Hence the paratipi since it used the same stove (I was pretty poor at the time). Then I came across a good eal of money and added a sawtooth with med stove and 8man with large stove. WOW. again WOW.

As for tarps. I have used ponchos and the fly from the hennessey hammock. Both work great and as mentioned above the space blanket ground cloth. These things are NICE. Heavy duty, reflective surface, pretty light weight, just about perfectly sized, and still pretty cheap.

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sawtooth.
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with a new liner, only been used a few times, but I like it ALOT!
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The larger 8 man, like a outdoors retreat.
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The hammock with hex tarp
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Edit to add, size comparison. Left to right, supertarp, paratipi, sawtooth, 8man. then I compressed the 8man/ liner/ net into a med Kifaru stuff sack (which FYI are the best designed sack out there)
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The 8man.liner/net on left, a kifaru 0MOB AND 20Slick bag (good for -35f) in the large sack to the right.
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For something cheaper than the sil tarps, I really like the 10X10 nylon tarp that Campmor sells. It comes with webbing loops instead of grommets and has several tie out points on the top. Here is a picture of one set up as a "flying diamond" shelter.

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man i love those kifaru's but they are crazy expensive. though they are some of the few who allow use of the stove.
 
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