Tarp sizes.

What is your best tarp size for one? 6x9,9x9, 8x10. I'm just wondering if there is an common size that works best for solo hiking. I have a golite poncho tarp, but it seems too small for any serious weather. What say you?

I am an 8X10 guy. I know many who say that is too much, but being in it in several rain storms, I really don't see why I would want a smaller one.

Kind of what I'm thinking too, thanks!

Depends on what you are comfortable doing. I like a large tarp, have a 9x10 and 10x12 for hammocking and luxuriating under during extended rainstorms. A poncho is mighty confining after a few hours.

I am non conventional. Spent some time playing with different dimensions. Ended up with custom size of 7 x 10.5 ft. Minimum size while still having huge rain protection.

I'd read the 7X9 was most popular, so if/when I get one, it will more than likely be that size, counting half oz. like I do. Of course a little bigger would lessen the need for a bivy to keep one dry. I have a pricey pound tent ordered for more older dude all weather protection (non full on snow storm).
Duane

8x10 is almost a palace for one, decent for two, and at least with sil-nylon, still light and compact. It takes a lot of room and a lot of lines and stakes to pitch well--definitely more fiddly than a simple tent or tarp shelter, so consider set-up time in the equation.

Almost think I'd prefer 9x9. For one, being square simplifies pitching in a diamond pattern compared to a rectangle.

While flat tarps are the most versatile, I prefer shaped tarps with catenary center line. Stronger and pitch tauter, so flap less.

Cheers,

My is 11 x 7.5ish.

I was doing some tests this winter, a real eye opener is how much room is needed to pitch in a diamond shape. Might be easier if using tall poles, as if it is pitched lower, it takes up quite a bit of real estate.
Duane

After one rainy night under the poncho tarp, it is now for emergency only. Barely stayed dry, and was constantly fretting about moving a few inches and getting in the line of fire. 7x9 is now my solo minimum. Majority of the time is with my wife, so on the rare occasions when we choose to tarp it- 8x10.

Yup, with poles it can be tricky. Did learn to string and stake the lines first, then deploy the poles and adjust the lines. (Slow learner am I.)

Am more likely to use a diamond where there are trees for a ridgeline. String the ridgeline (can also simply run lines from the corner anchors to the trees), attach the tarp, stake the side corners, done, with only two lines to trip over instead of the ueual eight or so.

Cheers,

Shed configuration, not a "A" frame?
Duane

While I wanted to use just a tarp outside of bug season, it didn't work out because my dog was restless all night long. He needed the tent for security--he considered it his crate. Since I wanted my sleep, I stuck with the tent. Now that he's gone, I could, of course, switch, but I'm looking for another dog.

From my limited tarp experience and talking to regular tarp users, it would appear that with a smaller tarp there will be "splash" with heavy rain and you'll need a water resistant (NOT waterproof) bivy to protect your sleeping bag. With a larger tarp, you can snug it down closer to the ground and can do without the bivy. Everyone's preference may vary here, but the total weight will be about the same. The tarp I tried for me and the 75-lb. dog was 8' x 10' and there was no need for a bivy.

I also found that by the time I added together the weight of the tarp, guylines, bug net and ground sheet, the total weight was the same as many lightweight tents, including the one I was already using.

At least in the West, once the sun goes down and cools off, the bugs are not much of an issue. So there is really little need for a bug net just for sleeping.

And a the extra coverage of a larger tarp should be less than the weight of a bivy.

So, for some conditions, it is the lowest weight option to go with larger tarp. Although the lightest option is a small tarp with no bivy, and just hope for no blowing rain storms. For a cuben tarp, we are only talking about a couple ounce difference, though.

Hmm just like my google search the sizes are all over the place. But the general consensus is larger is a safer bet. I used a MSR E-wing, the early small version, in pretty heavy rain and thank god I'm not too tall because my bag would have been wet.

Another question is should the tarp be cuben or sil nylon?

Depends on how late you want to stay up! In the Cascades in early July, when the bugs get going, the sun doesn't set until 10 and, if there's a warm spell, it may be a few hours more before the bugs die down. Personally, I don't want to stay up that late!

Besides, at least in some areas, you will probably be diving under the net in a hurry as soon as you get it set up!

Abstruse higher mathematical calculations are needed!

First, calculate the difference in weight (in ounces) between cuben and silnylon tarps in the size you want.

Second, calculate the difference in price.

Third, divide the difference in price by the difference in weight to find out the price per ounce of weight saved.

If that number hasn't already made the decision for you (depends on your budget), factor in a few more subjective items: Cuben is definitely more translucent than silnylon, so it will be a lot brighter underneath when the moon shines down on you. Cuben is less resistant to punctures than silnylon, not a big deal if you watch out for snags on trees and are careful with your poles. On the other hand, cuben doesn't stretch when wet like silnylon (not a big deal for me, but mileage may vary.

I still haven't decided between my ZPacks Hexamid Twin and my older Gossamer Gear/Tarptent Squall Classic. That's because most of my trips since I bought the Hex Twin have been with grandkids using my roomier Tarptent Squall II.

I've been in the sierras when the mosquitoes are out all night, head buried in my bag even thou fit was warm.

One more question, square or rectangle???

Thanks OM!

Ive read the cat cut is easier to get a good setup with little fuss, but what I see is then it's only good for a "A" frame pitch. A tarp would be new for me too, I want to try sometime. I want a cuben one down the road, after I get used to my new pound shelter when it gets made. At least I've spent less money this year than a year ago on gear and motorcycle stuff.
Duane

I use a cat cut in a flying diamond when I tarp on the group, so not sure why you think it only does an A frame.

In the Sierra, at some point after sundown the mosquitoes are replaced by unicorns, so we have that to count on.

Cheers,

Here in Michigan we have mosquitoes or blowing snow with a few transition days in between. I tried a tarp and by the time I had the tarp, ground cloth, bug net etc it weighed as much as my Tarptent. The Tarptent is easier to set up in any location. Tried a hammock and found the same weight problem. I do not have a problem sleeping directly on the ground.

I think my hammock adds a pound to the equation.

It's adding about 50% more comfort, so I find that to be okay.

Why you say? Because I've never had a cat cut tarp. I tried a diamond setup on my garage approach a few weeks ago. The cheapo tarp I had for covering firewood was maybe 8'X10'. It took up a lot of real estate. What size do you use in the diamond?
I know many love the tarp as when not needed, you don't have to set it up. Next adventure I guess. A friend used a "footprint" last night as his shelter out snow camping in the Bucks Lake Wilderness, in a raised, diamond cover. He used a bivy also.
Duane

In my experience you get "splash" only if you don't want headroom, and you also need to be more careful how you pitch the smaller ones. I've been out with my litle 5x8 siltarp but I needed to be very careful of the pitch and keep it fairly low
in order to have the coverage enough to avoid side splash and blow in. however it worked fine even in a good storm.

an 8x10 or 7x9 gives you acres of room, and you can make sure you have lots of headroom. (and yes a hammock makes it even better ) but by far my favorite tarp for ground dwelling is the integral designs silwing - light, cat cut, and just the right size for a compromise between "enormous" and "big enough that I have tons of room and can avoid weather". I've now done west coast trail
three times using that as a shelter. (well, I do also throw in a nano-7 hammock, and I have been known to hammock a night or two as well). the silwing is a bit small for a hammock tarp (it's not really long enough) but works with the little bitty nano-7.

I've pretty much decided on a 8x10, now I need to decide between nylon and cuben, I'm leaning towards cuben.

You could make one from a plastic tarp in the yard, or a practice trip. See if you like that size (or just the idea of a tarp) before throwing down the green stuff. Cuben ain't cheap. I would make sure it is what I wanted before buying. In fact, I would probably make/buy a polyurethane coated one and use it a year before I bought the cuben one. I am not saying you will regret the cuben purchase.

All great points Finally! I have tarp camped as bit but with an old MSR e-wing, which is pretty small but even with it I managed quite a few rainy nights without a problem. Luckily I'm not too tall, 5'8" so I'm able to squeeze into smaller areas. But if I had to weather a major storm with blowing rain the MSR wouldn't be enough.

Hey, if you already tried it out...
Some people need to jump in head first, and some people need to wade out a little at a time.
I am a wader.

Still have a Moss Heptawing that, while not the least bit light, offers good coverage and handles wind beautifully. One of those in cuban would be an awfully attractive tarp shelter.

Cheers,

I started with the old blue tarps before I even owned a tent, but that was over 20 years ago and now I come back full circle, we use to only use tarps, back in the day when a tiny one man tent weighed 4 lbs! No thanks, mostly I cowboy camp. I like to be out, I'm not real bothered by mice scurrying across my bag at night, or bears sniffing around. It's all about connecting I guess.

What do you guys think of square tarps, after mocking up I think square would be more versatile. Yes, no, maybe??

Tyson, I see more shaped or rectangular tarps being used by bpers where I hang out online.
How is the snow looking down "there"? MC trip in June/July?
Duane

Still quite a bit if snow, these next few storms will be telling.

Maybe we need to push up the date and go to DV!

Well I decided to buck the trends and went with a square tarp, 8'6"x8'6", cuben. 8.5 oz. I really like the half pyramid set up and with an a frame set up square provides more protection.

Did you get you MLD tarp Duane?

I got my "doo" done on the KLR, ready to roll now. New front tire too. Had to unload in the rain today, no slips. Trying to do a trip with a friend in April.
Surprisingly, the MLD Grace tarp came this week, along with a whole bunch of ZPacks gear. I was not expecting the MLD tarp for a few more weeks at the soonest. I managed to tear myself away and be productive. Molding tore off all around the ceiling and inside corners. I was going to go bping today, but with all the rain, it worked out staying home.
Duane

Shot from today.

Looks purdy. Just a couple inches of snow here, after all the rain. Creek came up quite a bit, but did not flood.
Duane