I am sure this should be auto merged with my other post and will probably be so when I post it an a different forum that has some "practical aplications" LOL but I figured it deserved its own little spot and 15 minutes of fame. First let my promiscuity come out. I have done work with Joe Volesko ( Zpacks ) in the past. He made me a custom Zilch not offered on his main page a while back and I must say I love it. So when it came time to looking at tarps I naturally went to him. Because I did not want to tackle the job myself just yet and also by the time I bought all the cuben for everything I had him sew up for me it would have come out to about he same as he charged me, and saved me the agrivation of my labor, of which I will gladly pay someone else for (I got more than just a tarp this time around <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />) He worked with me via e-mail extensivly until we both came to a workable idea of what I wanted. He was always helpful and offered true and honest advise from a genuine ULer's perspective and not just someone who was trying to sell their gear. (Now before anyone goes an flames me on this last statement I am not going against other cottage industries at all... I have 90% of my gear from other cottage industries and every piece is a treasure...heck I manufacture some gear for a certain freezer bag cooking site myself...oops did I just sell myself out <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />) Any way I digress. So after "closing the deal" Joe got to work, and my tarp was delivered to my P.O. box today. Naturally I had to go and set it up in the back yard with my favorite configuration the flying diamond. I did one buttoned down and one progressive. The craftmanship and quality of it is bar none. I could never had done something like this my self (yet) and am glad I chose to have him do it. I will be of course testing it out in real conditions this weeked (along with some other gear I am testing for BGT) and hopefully will get a TR up shorlty after that...But don't hold your breath on it.

Any way the technical details:
6x9 cuben tarp
3.75 oz (106 grams)
ten perimeter tie outs and one in the center on both sides....the internal on being so I can hang a light, cloths line, etc.

And now the picures...For the complete set go to my photobucket site look for the cuben tarp album, You can see some of my recent trips there as well.

Nice one, Mugs! Would you be willing to divulge how much $, or at least an approximate figure?

Mugs nice looking piece of gear, and I'd like to see more pitches when you're out. My concern would be how much light gets under the tarp because it seems so translucent? During a full moon I would suspect it would be much brighter than a darker colored fabric. Why did you choose a rectangle vs a square form?

Where's the tarp? I see the envelope it came in, but I can't see the tarp.

Just joking bro. That looks ul for sure.

Lookin' good! I'm glad you decided to go with a larger size. I'd be comfortable in a 6'x9' as well - good choice. Now when people ask how much your shelter weighs, just tell 'em it's the same as a king size Snickers bar! That's awesome...



Cheers,
Eric

To answer your questions.
Yes unfortunatly cuben only comes in this "color" right now. And it did pose a deliberted thought procces in my mind before I went for it. I am very sensitive to light when it comes to sleep, and would have prefured a darker tarp. But I did not want to take the weight hit. A syl tarp of this same size would come to about 9-10 oz if I am not mistaking. And I knew I would eventually transition to this "wonderlust material" any way. I still may make me a syl one just for kicks. But I fiigure I usually sleep with my beanie pulled over my eyes any way so it would not matter. Plus in the evening it will let in more light than other darker colors. Keep in mind I only pitch a tarp if the weather looks iffy, other wise I just sleep out in the open on the ground.

I chose a retangle just for the mere fact of it offers a vast number of pitching options. Equipped to survive offers a polethera of ideas that are fun to play around with, and explains the differnt shapes and sizes very well. Also I knew that I did need at least 8 feet however 9 would be better for my length/heighth. But I did not need more than 5-6 feet for side/width protection. Remember I am actaully only used to about a 4.5 x 7 tarp (army poncho) so this is a big step up in alot of ways when it comes tarps...The only other tarp I have is a Golit Lair II and that is used for my when the boys and I go out. Still nothing compares to my SMD lunar solo but that is for the fringe seasons. Or the expexted deluge on a trip.

Hope this answers your questions. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have worked with Joe also. He is great to work with and delivers quality products quickly. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, back to mugs tarp.

$160-180 depending on how much custom wok is to be done...could be more for alot or bigger sizes.

I must be mistaken Mugs but i thought a square vs a rectangle offered more pitches with a tarp setup <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> i know the site of which you speak, read it about 6 years ago when it was new.

If you wear a hat to bed it should'nt be an issue, but if you stay up late reading with a light that might attract 2 and 4 legged interest <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

To say nothing of 6-legged females with wings!

Thanks, Mugs, for the cost figures!

Uh, uh maybe it is. I am just going off of what I have heard. I actaully have never tested the therory. And knowing me, I am prbably way of and wrong about the rectangle vs square thing any way. For me a 9x9 would be just too big and "weigh" too much for my tatse. I guess that is the bottom line of why I chose a rectangle.

Mugs, I don't want you to doubt the rectangle, heck, I'm the one who never made it through algerbra <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> So I just pitch a tarp away from the wind with a million stakes and call it a day <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It's whatever shape the wind decides to blow it into I tell those camping with me if they ask, 'What's that tarp configuration <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />"

Half the fun of a tarp is seeing how many ways you can stake it down, out, up etc <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Have fun and keep the wind to your back <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />