Tyvek Tarp

“I don't claim it's waterproof.

I does however repel bulk moisture very well and I haven't had any problems with mine.

See the "Let's buy some Tyvek" thread.”

“Ran the new (used once) Tyvek groundsheet through the wash and that baby has a whole different personality. No more stiff aluminum foil sounding wrap...now it's soft as a baby's butt and makes almost NO sound.”

“Let us know how water-repellant it still is. ok?”

“I just found some TYVEK that is silver on one side. I have used the standard Tyvek to make a tarp and a f@rt sack, now I will try to make them from this new mateial. I would like to see if it will keep me warmer with the silver side in, and cooler in the summer with the silver side out.”

“I'm about to take my tyvek tarp for it's third week long trip.

So far, so dry. It doesn't stand up very well to abrasion.

Sounds interesting there chip. Be sure to let us know how it worked out.”

“I've been using Tyvek for over 20 years now. Both as a house wrap and backpacking. I don't think that there is anything I haven't done with it. Rain gear, ground cloth, tarp even used it as a water filter, (not well). It will take a dye but only after you wash it once. My 9x12' tarp, hemed and with gromets is a pound. Almost is useful as zip lock bags”

“HPM,
Tarp still going strong. Aside from abrasion issues, have you noted an Achilles tendon? The link at the start of this thread didn't work for me. Is it still active?
I may be getting a 9' square. I want to prototype and show the troop. I'm looking to try some hammock hanging and a tyvek combo is seeming intriguing.
So, you reinforced (taped) the edges and used grommets? If you were to do it again, what all would you change (dimensions, reinforcing, washing, grommets / sheet bends,)
Thanks...”

“No achilles heel other than the fact that you have to buy it by the roll and it won't fold down super small like silnylon.

The link is still good it's just that I occasionally have ISP problems and my service drops out.

I think a smaller size would be better. 9 X 9 sounds good to me but I don't have a specific size in mind.

Originally I thought that adding a bit of leather for the grommets to bite into would be a good idea but so far it now seems like that would be overkill.

Still going and going and going....”

“I've got a 9 x 9 siltarp I wish was just a little bigger sometimes.
Don't use it much since I got the TarpTent.”

“I just ordered one SS.

How long did it take you to get yours? I know the site says 6 to 8 weeks but I was wondering if ole Henery was just hedging his bets there.”

“HPM, the link worked this afternoon.
Thanks.”

“Ha ha. Wishful thinking. You will get it about the time Henry said.
In my case, he was about a week late. He emailed me and said it was going to be late but he could get one to me on time if I really really needed it for a trip.
Henry is a stand up guy.
I've been thinking of getting a one man version to go along with my two man. ;)
Can't wait for his new tent to come out (any time now). It will be heavyer than the tarptent but lighter than most other tents.”

“you can get tyvek by the yard at intothewind.com It's about $2.50/yard. I got some for a groundcloth.”

“The tarptent is great. I have the 2 person version and use the tyvek as my ground cloth. Also, I use a gearskin pack and use the groundcloth to enclose all of my belongings in the pack. Everything is in sil stuff sacks, but the tyvek is an extra layer of insurance. When I get to camp I place the outside face on the ground and away I go.”

“How well does the TarpTent repel rainwater from flowing *with* the lower netting section. It almost seems like the netting would wick some water down and into the inside. I'm sure it doesn't wick volumous amounts or it wouldn't be worth making it.

Does anybody that sat through long downpours want to speak on this subject?”

“It rained one day of our Blood Mt. hike last week.
I did notice water was rolling down the outside of the mesh a little due to surface tension. My ground cloth was on top of the mesh so no big deal.
Stayed snug as a bug in a rug.”

“Budder - I'm thinking of getting one of these from
Oware. Oware has a solo tarp, with 3" catenary chain cut, tapered 6' to 4' wide and is 8' long, weight under 8 oz. $60 plus shipping and handling.
All the hard sewing parts are done. All you would need to do is add some pieces of netting around the sides, and you would have a cheaper tarptent.”

“Woo Hoo!

Henry said I'd have my tarptent in four weeks!”

“The first weekend out in my tarptent I got 2" of rain in one night. Mine was homemade and I hadn't seamsealed it yet. Smooth, right? I got a little misting from the ridge and that's it. The mesh will get wet and saturated, but that's about it. The theory is that you'll have about a 6" "splash" zone around the perimeter. This is from misting getting through the mesh. In practice it seems about right. I have been rained on several times and never gotten wet. The only thing I haven't had is a hard, wind driven blowing rain. I've had lots of wind and I've had lots of rain, but not both. In large, continuous winds I leave out the pole at the foot of the tarp and stake everything except the front pole directly to the ground. Works great.”

“You can purchase TYVEK on EBAY that is nine feet wide and any length you want.
very reasonable pricing too.”

“Reasonable.....?


I GET IT FREE!!!! :D”