Topic

10×10 'mid

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
Kentz Willis BPL Member
PostedJan 8, 2016 at 8:59 pm

I’m interested in a large pyramid tarp for family camping/backpacking. I think a 10×10 with an inner nest should fit the bill. I have found options (for the tarp) from oware and bear paw wilderness designs, with bear paw offering a nest as well. Are there others I’m missing?

Regarding the two (tarps) I’ve found…the oware is quite a bit cheaper and listed weight is significantly lower. Any thoughts on materials and build quality? Are they comparable? I know the bear paw ‘mid has a vent but I’m not sure that it is worth the extra price (to me) if everything else is equal. Thanks for your consideration-

Mole J BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 5:13 am

I’ve owned an Oware Pyramid for some years.  And have seen many bear paw items.

Our Oware 9×9 is simple but well made and easily pitches tautly. Go for the mid panel tie out options and 2 way zipper.

I have a Golite Hex with vents. It still gets as much condensation as the Oware. I’ve never really noticed the lack of vent on the Oware as a problem – conditions trump vents.  upper door can be held open with a stick or something if required.

Whilst they are functional, I see the cut and stitching on some of the Bearpaw items as lacking in finesse and care.

Photos of the Lunas I’ve seen show wrinkles along seams, and less than taut panels. Not a great advert to me.

YMMV

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James Marco BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 6:22 am

The Oware is interesting because it is a basic pyramid. No frills, it requires skill to use it in the back country. You will likely need a piece of netting over your heads and a ground cloth. This is not included in the weight.

The Luna 6 is a pretty much the same except you can add on a floor and mud skirt. Not a real lot of difference between the two other than being able to add on at the “factory.”  The name is a misnomer, though. 6 in a pinch, 3 is more like it.

Pyramids often have leaky edges & leaky doors and they have sloped walls around the entire perimeter. They also have a center pole that takes up real estate making them hard to portion out space. When opening the door, you expose the inner area to the weather.  If you have a sewn in floor, they are difficult to set up, and subject to getting wet very easily. Around 30-50% of the interior space is wasted in rain storms. Everyone wants the center, back.

If the tarp starts leaking or misting, simply coat it with silicone caulk and mineral spirits. I usually plan on this by the second, third year or often out of the box with the new 1.1/1.2oz/yd silconized nylon. It seems they scrimp on coating to save weight. Pyramids and tarps are subject to stretching around the poles, usually reinforced because of this, but may require extra attention to sealing.

Is cuben(dyneema) worth it? Up to you. I don’t think it is with larger tarps/pyramids. For solo shelters, yup. Anyway, you are talking about 15-20oz per person. Not real bad. If you go for a net tent, something more than that.

 

 

Brad Rogers BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 7:46 am

Having owned an Alphamid from Oware and a BearPaw custom inner net, the Oware is by far the better quality.

Dont get me wrong, the Bearpaw is functional and it is really cool that he will do custom work, but the fit and finish looks very MYOG rather than from a professional outfit.

I am much less picky about an inner than I would be about a mid where perfect cuts and sewing are required for a taut pitch.

My advice: go with Oware for the mid and if you want an inner see what Oware can do, but if you want something that they want do go with Bearpaw for the inner.  The thing they have going for them is they will do all sorts of custom work.

J-L BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 8:53 am

Both will be functional, but the Oware will be better made. I’ve handled tarps from both companies

You could also look into the Big Agnes Yahmonite 5:

http://www.rei.com/product/889194/big-agnes-yahmonite-5-tent-2015-special-buy

It is only 9.5″ X 9.5″, but it is essentially a GoLite ShangriLa 5 (Big Agnes bought up some of GoLite’s tents and rebranded them). It comes with a matching inner and a nice, stout center pole. I’m not sure what the weight of the tarp by itself is though

Edit: here is a review for the Shangri La 5 for a family of 4 which also breaks down the weights:

http://hikeitlikeit.com/2013/golite-sl5/

 

Kentz Willis BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 8:03 pm

Thanks for all the info, good to hear the strong recommendations for oware…the price and weight of their mid is pretty appealing, though I might have to take a closer look at the big agnes one as well.

Brad Rogers BPL Member
PostedJan 9, 2016 at 8:23 pm

My Golite Shangri-La 5 fly only weighs 29.5oz.

The pole weighs 13oz.

 

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