Posted: 6/14/2007 12:48:55 PM EDT
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Can anyone recommend a good backpacking tarp....preferably in some type of cammo or OD. Protus I know you have one in EE, just wish is was woodland or acu instead of desert. |
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Thanks...I knew I had seen it listed on here before where they were, I just couldn't remember. Protus.....FINALLY figured out where your avatar is from...I knew I had seen it but I like a good mystery and didn't want to ask...I knew I would figure it out sooner or later. thanks guys. |
SG tarp is the best bang for the buck IMO. get the 9x9, the 12x12 is really big and can be a handful to string up. |
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A modified poncho would work wonderfully. Get the hood sewn shut at a tailor's and seal the seams. It sounds like you've made your mind up, but I'll throw my two cents in for what it's worth. If you want to go all the way and make one, a silicone-impregnated nylon or ripstop fabric would work wonderfully. I'd start at the 0.7-0.9 ounce weights for fabric if you were to do this. It doesn't take an expensive industrial sewing machine and good material is available all over the web. Any tailor worth their salt can sew a flat seam, chances are there's one near you. Install grommets or use string and rubber balls or pebbles if you want to go superlight. The benefits are that you have a custom-tailored shelter to your needs, lightweight, very packable and it costs a lot less than an expensive thru-hiking tarp. |
I have the 12x12 SG tarp and yea, it's a big damned thing. Rolls up to about 18"x5" in the included bag (not a compression bag). Protus's tarps (correct me if I'm wrong) are silnylon and pretty light, tend to be a bit smaller & more manageable like 6-8'x9' and fold up pretty small. |
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the sg 9x9 is about like a 1 liter nalgene but a lil longer. im sure it would compress smaller in a stuff/compression sack. Mine on avg will fit inside a zip lock bag( sandwhich size) BUt Best bang for sure inthe SG.... after that,,if you got a machine make your own... or check campmor. reason i started making mine was to save the $$$$ you can find good deals on sil nylon and ripstop all over.... and have 3-4 tarps fro GHB,BOB,line2 ,mini kit all for teh cost of what 1- tarp from a retailer would cost(if you make your own_) YMMV shop around,,check specs,,, i would |
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I use this tarp as part of my BOB hammock/tarp set up. First night I used it we had a downpour and despite the weather, I stayed nice and dry. Very lightweight and while you can find cheaper, I have yet to go wrong with Campmor products. |
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One of my friends has the SG tarp and it works decent for him as a supplemental rain shelter (strung over his not so water-resistant tent). I still find it difficult to justify the use of a tarp in my BoB/GhB. They're good, lightweight, portable shelters from THE RAIN. But they do very little against insects & snow, of which Minnesota has plenty... I must admit it does seem like a good idea to use a tarp if I lived in a warmer climate zone, but unfortunately I don't. I like having ONE shelter that works for ALL weather situations I'm likely to encounter. Thus a tent is best for me... Anybody have any issues with getting west nile or other diseases from all the Mosquito's down in the southern areas like Florida? How can you guys stand sleeping in open-air? The summer mosquitos up here are a real killer in June, so I don't think I could ever 'survive' without a closed shelter.  Do you ever have issues with insects???I saw (I think protus had) a nice tarp shelter that had a closed end and was very lightweight. That would work NICELY for the summer months! 
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I went with this one from Campmor. It's not too heavy at 22.5 oz: www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=12165&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1 I suppose the SG tarp is the best deal, but after the scumbags screwed up my last two orders and refused to fix them, I won't order from them anymore. I had to make them refund the balance of my "membership" over it, but that didn't phase them. They just don't give a rat's ass about their customers. |
I've been thinking about that one at campmor and how that compares to the SG tarp... I normally bring a good tarp out with me to the shooting range because they're pretty useful for that. The MN Hometown Forum crew is pretty hardcore and we'll be shooting Sunshine, Rain, Sleet, Hail, or Snow... One day was about -10 Deg F outside and we still had about 30-40 people show up. It's good for: 1.) Keeping the wind/weather off while shooting. 2.) Lining the snow-covered ground while shooting to collect brass (thus I like the durable, cheap tarps for this purpose). My tent that my Fiance bought me from Campmor.com is gonna be used for the 1st time this weekend, and I'll post an AAR later if I get pics. The COOL thing is Campmor had a SHIPPING & TRACKING # email sent out within an hour of her ordering it, and it arrived on the 2nd day!  THAT IS FAST SERVICE!Living about 15 miles from SportsmansGuide here in MN, I like being able to just drive over there with a printout from the website, pick up my order, and save on shipping. But their employees are some of the most RUDE PEOPLE ON EARTH. They're total a-holes. Also, if you don't bring in the printout of the internet price you usually wind up paying about $20 to $60 MORE than what's listed online!  Once I remember Olympic SS109 5.56mm was on sale (years ago) for $155!!! I wanted to buy 2 cases, but when I got there, the guy told me "If you don't have the printed page from the website to PROVE that it's on sale for that price you'll have to pay the regular price of $230..." 
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I was able to fit my Protus-made-tarp tent with about 10 20' lengths of para cord into a standard canteen cover/carrier, (most of the space being taken up by the para cord) and still had room to spare. (I don't keep it in there, I was just looking for something to stick it in to keep it all together till I can find something more suitable.) How do you guys carry such things when hiking / camping? I'm sure I can stick it in a ziplock, but I'd like to have something more durable. Ideas? |
I put my Ti stakes and 550 cord in a lil bag and roll it up in the SG tarp and then put roll the tarp in my USGI Sleeping pad. |
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that SG isthe best bang for a "camo" one IMHO,, the campmor next. i roll my 8x8 silnylon up with the ropes pre attached to thetie outs and teh stake sin a seperate bag all in the same stuff sack. about the size of 16 ox water baottle when it is all said and done. you want camo, get the SG,,, and spray treat it.. you want "grey" man,, getthe campmor,, and treat it. you want 3 oz's and the size of a wallet build your own or fork out the $$$ fer the silnylon stuff. |
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An aerosol waterproofing compound. Thundershield is a great example. |
I have found that a 5X8 Tarp with paracord tie outs and 4 lightweight aluminum triangle stakes can be rolled to fit into a standard Magazine carrier like a Tactical Tailor or whatever on my Line 2 gear. In my Pack, I just stuff it into one of the small outside pockets. |
the plastic canned medical hits will hold them also. I found that a MOLLE medic pouch like the one by SDS, will hold one 5x8, rope and room for a 5x8 ground colth or extras if y ou fold it right. SG tarp |
REI,campmor,,tarptent(search on google) and light weight backpacking site/company will sell them price's range from self made to 120$++ normally a 6x8 will run 70-150$ depending on brand name and weight and color. the fancy and lighter you go the more you pay! most also are no literthan the campmor and SG tarps but get the big $$ becuase they are made from silnylon. Mostly due to all the re-enforcement points, plastic this,,strap that, seamed and re stcihed here and there. a 8oz tarp is a 15-20 oz monster. IMHO if the weather is that bad to rip a normal tarp with out all that you shouldnt be out camping  but murphy always strikes.,.campmor i beilve has a 6x8 thats around 15 oz's for 68$..been awhile since i looked into them. but im to to damn cheap..... so i make my own.ymmv |
| Where do you get the raw materials to make your own? I've looked around and woodland silnylon doesn't seem to be plentiful on the web...but I'm sure I'm looking in the wrong places. The idea of making my own appeals to me, then I can make a bunch of them for GHB, BOB, Truck, wifes car, kit, backpacking gear, etc for a whole lot cheaper than I could buy them for. |
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you wont find woodland silnylon only the poly backed stuff. like the SG. its running 3-7$ a yrd online right now. you mostly find the silnylons in solid colors. Now you can use other style sof nylon taffetta or ripstop. ive had decent luck with some ripstop that is almost identical to what kifaru used intheir tipis.... whenin doubt hol dit up to the light,,,, does it shine through easy?? if so ..so will h20 IMHO... but you want light.. you need to stay at 1.3-1.5 oz per yrd or its to heavy on the end product. |
I ahve one of those. they are TINY. It is a good emergency deal, but if you get into tarp camping, youll want the extra space of the 9x9s or so forth. |