Tarp Recommendation

Ray,

Need more specifics. You only want cover for afternoon rainstorms? Do you plan on sleeping under it or just sitting and waiting out adverse conditions?

Personally i use a GG SpinnTwinn, but I use a tarp/bivy sleeping setup. You could get away with a walmart tarp if all you want is some occasional rain shelter.

– Dana

I really like my Etowah 10×10 sil tarp. 18oz of protection.

waaaaaaaaaay overkill for just waiting out some rain. You can easily get away with a 5×8. That's why i asked :)

I plan to camp under it and cook dinner under it if necessary due to rain.

I see now.

Well being partial to the GG SpinnTwinn, I would recommend it, but it's a bit overkill. I just love the extra coverage it provides for ~10oz.

Gossamer Gear has a cheaper SilTwinn (made of silnylon) that is the same size and only slightly heavier.

If you want to be a little more minimalist with coverage, I would look at MLD Solo Grace tarps. They come in a variety of materials as well but have a smaller footprint.

I have no idea as to your budget but you can also check out 5×8 tarps from companies like Equinox, insert-me-drawing-a-blank-here, etc. that don't have catenary curves. They're much cheaper.

Poncho-tarps are also popular as well as the gatewood cape.

This is a generic question so I'm not sure what you're looking for exactly.

An 8×10 flat tarp will give you maximum pitching options and great coverage. Material is your choice but sil or cuben are going to be the stronger options for stormy weather. You'll also want some kind of bug protection that won't kill you in the humidity and will provide some protection from morning dew if you use down insulation. A traditional bivy is not going to be very good with down in SE summers.

what chris said

How would a MLD Super Light Bivy work with an 5×8 or 8X10 flat tarp in the SE during summer? Is the 5×8 enough protection?

I'd go with the larger tarp and forget the bivy.

REI sells an 8 x 6 polytheylene tarp for $3.50. It weighs 13 ozs, grometed corners, probably nothing you'd want to take on the trail in a storm, but for $4, you could practice pitching, etc, and see if a tarp is what you really want and if the size is adequate.

I have one I used as a groundsheet for awhile car camping, and that's my plan this summer, before I invest in a 'real' tarp.

I haven't tested it but I'm pretty sure a superlight will be way too hot in the summer here due to the small amount of mesh. A TiGoat with full net hood or the SMD Meteor would be better options. Any of them would pair well with a 5×8 or poncho/tarp though. They would also be fine with an 8×10 along with a bug tent or at the least some type of headnet. Again, if you're using down for your bag I wouldn't go more than 2-3 days bare bag here…..we just have too much humidity and too much dew on the ground.

Thanks for all the info and replys.

Ray, I use a MLD superlight bivy and an integral designs 5×8 silnylon tarp. I'm backpacking in Appalachians in VA and NC. I do shy away from the summer times because of the heat … three season to me is Fall, Winter, and Spring. I would recommend the integral designs tarps as they are functional, durable, light weight (mine weighs 6.8 oz) and fairly inexpensive. As pointed out I would think the MLD superlight bivy would be hot got summer….but awesome outside of that. If going without bivy you may want to go slightly bigger tarp.

Jamie

Ray,

Do what Chris said: get the bigger tarp. Also use a Serenity from SMD or MLD for comfortable bug protection. A bivy will be too hot in many places in the SE. That leads to this question:

WHERE in the SE?

Big low temp difference between TN mountains and FL.

Todd

I lusted after a SpinnTwinn for a looooong time but no one was willing to sell me a used one so I bought a new SilTwinn.
MMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I do not think five feet is wide enough. Add another foot at least. Five foot is easier to make because most bolts of material are just that wide. Owareusa will make you a 6 x8 without having the seam down the middle.

Etowh Outfitters makes a 6×10 for $78, weighs 9oz. I have one and like it very much. I really like their tarps. Good quality that is made in Georgia, USA.

I have an 8×10 Equinox silnylon tarp. It's awesome. I think the space inside is more than adequate. It does weigh more than other tarps, but it's pretty cheap. It's quiet when wind is blowing, too.

Just curious, with the SpinnTwinn are you pretty much stuck with one way to set it up? I really like that I can set my rectangle up a multitude of different ways, including folded in half for a small lean-to.

I am primarily hiking in North GA, Foothills Trail in SC,Great Smoky Mountains National Park,NC and TN. Trying to get out once a month and am looking to do the Art Loeb Trail the first weekend of May. Thanks again for everyone's comments.

Diane,

I don’t have any pictures of my SpinnTwinn setup in alternate configurations but take a look on page four of GG’s Manual

clickity click click

There are just as many options available for pitching the tarp even though it’s cat cut. Just takes practice like all the others :)

I’ve yet to try the half-pyramid setup but I can’t wait to try it out tomorrow at the park. I’ll post some pictures of how it goes. I’m thinking it’ll be tricky but possible.

I just use either a low end A-frame pitch or the “Storm pitch rear/open side” setup when the weather gets nasty. Varying of course, but that’s the jist of it.

– Dana