Buying a tarp

“xl, mind if i ask what you paid for it?”

“i found this guy on the MEC site...at 1.5 lbs and only $32 US that's pretty good...you think a 9.5 ft long tarp is long enough for a 6'2" person?

Gear Notes:
MEC Scout Tarp


Weight: 700g



On this specialized rectangular tarp, the removable stuff sack can hold a staff, paddle, ski pole, etc. as an internal support, or the tarp can be suspended from the corresponding outside loop. Both options allow you to rig the tarp pyramid-style. Thanks to the thoughtfully placed grommets and corner webbing loops, additional set-up options are limited only by your cunning and imagination. Possible configurations include the A-frame, or two diagonally opposite corners high and two corners low.

Fits two people.
Dimensions are 2.1 x 2.9m.
Made of 75-denier ripstop polyester - polyurethane-coated for waterproofness to 2000mm.
The centre seam is taped for waterproofness.
The side grommets are solid nickel-plated brass for strength and corrosion resistance.
The side grommets are set into triangular Cordura® patches that both provide reinforcement and direct the lines of tension for minimum bagging when rigged.
Packed size of 21 x 29cm.
Sewn in Vietnam, materials from Taiwan.”

“I think I got the larger tarp the 2.9x3.9...or something. Paid $50.00 for it...here is the site

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442505753&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702975&bmUID=1156856745403

Looks like 2 lbs and some change....”

“I like the MEC tarp - heavily looking into spending more on siltarps because of the lightweight fabric.

Trying to tarp shop myself and am interested in the Kelty Noah for $55. It's 1 lb 3oz - coated poly taffeta. 9x9.

Anyone used that before? Anyone swear by siltarps?”

“there are people who still don't use silnylon?

do you carry your canvas tent in a burlap rucksack still?

geesh people, let's move into the 1980's at least.”

“Burlap??

Silly boy, rucksacks are canvas!

Burlap is for hemp seeds.”

“the tent is canvas. everyone knows you can't have a tent and rucksack together from the same materials.”

“All the siltarps are mega-expensive - as much as a tent? The Kelty Noahs isn't sil nor is that MEC one - that MEC has the sil version available for $105. I liked the looks of the MEC. Still - a tarp is a tarp! How can they cost so much! Might as well throw in the poles, stakes, and floor if you're going to pay that much.”

“OK Sacco, I'm forgetting Flying Spaghetti Monster's instructions.
last edited: 8/29/06 11:33:10 AM”

“smokey -

see the gear wanted thread. make your own silnylon tarp for a few bucks.

i've made a few - so anybody can do it.”

“Cool - will do!”

“never forget FSM marko, never forget...”

“MarkO Johnson is right about what Olsen Johnson said.”

“so what's the difference between silnylon and this:

Made of 75-denier ripstop polyester - polyurethane-coated for waterproofness to 2000mm.

is there that much better protection from silnylon than from polyurethane coated or is it just a weight thing
last edited: 8/29/06 3:20:10 PM”

“Just the weight, silnylon is only water resistant and given a hard enough rain can mist through the fabric where that is not likely to happen with PU coated fabric. At least not new fabric anyway.”

“i'm sold...i think i'd rather pay a few extra bucks and buy one already made than to try to make one myself...i have a history or turning $20 projects into $80 ones real fast and considering i don't have a sewing machine and don't know how to sew i think i'll just buy one”

“Thank you Rich, I was wondering about the Sil stuff....I know I have been in a DRIVING rain in a tarp. Granted I was about 4 foot off the ground in between 3 logs that gave horizontal cover, and we had a nice groundcloth (TYVEX) so it was kinda neat. Never got wet, until we had to take the tarp down.”

“i just compared two identical tarps on the MEC sight...would have had it faster if it weren't for the stupid metric using canucks ;)

both tarps are 6'10" X 9'6"

the silnylon one just under a pound and is $58.00

the poly version is 1.5 pounds and is $31.00

so it's a matter of what's more important to you, the price or the weight...i think you know my answer ;)”

“Your welcome, PU coated tarps work just fine and people were using them for years before silnylon came on the scene. Your tarp will just weigh more since PU coated fabrics are generally sold in slightly heavier weights per square yard. Despite the misting I mentioned, silnylon is still good for tarps and it usually takes heavy rain for it to happen at least with 1st quality fabric. I've only experienced it in one storm with my Oware siltarp that is made with 1st quality fabric. The rain was result of a tropical storm that came up the coast and it rained 2.5 inches of heavy downpours in one morning with huge hard raindrops. The tarp was only a year old at the time, seam sealed well and didn't see much use so the misting wasn't a result of the age of the fabric.
last edited: 8/29/06 3:41:59 PM”

“that sounds perfect for what i need...i only do maybe one long trip a year, other than that my BPing is mainly one and two nighters during the summer so i'm trying to get my back down to just a tarp, fleece bag, food and water

oh yea, thanks for the advice
last edited: 8/29/06 3:43:40 PM”

“Enjoy your new tarp.”

“XL,

Do you have any photos of how you string your bug net with the tarp?

Here is another source for good tarps, and the "details" page has lots of technical information on tarps,
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarps.shtml.”