tarp, bivy, ground cloth vs. UL tent weight/cost analysis

I have no idea if I like trapping, I don't have one.

I have a network and can do all kinds of stuff if I wanted to :)

If you want to try a tarp, go buy a cheap one… not necessarily the lightest and play with it. Tarps are not for everyone.

..is straight out of the twilight zone.

Of course it is. I have posted here and am just a fabrication of your imagination.

"Refer to Dave's post… (e.g., need a new wife)

:)"

She's got plenty of other redeeming qualities to compensate for our disagreements on how much funds to allot to my hobbies. Going on 15yrs strong, and she's given me six amazing kids. All my hobbies just tend to be so expensive…

BM

Nick,
Yeah, I agree the hexamid is crazy expensive per ounce but it was cheaper than tarp/bivy combo he mentioned in his post. Additionally it provides more coverage than a traditional flat tarp. The SMD Gatewood cape is another good option and often can be found used on the gear swap for fairly cheap.

Of course it is. I have posted here and am just a fabrication of your imagination.

I know, I've always had this crazy imagination ; )

Who said anything about trapping?

All my hobbies just tend to be so expensive…

Well, every dollar you get to spend, she gets a dollar for her pleasure to spend as she sees fit; or maybe she should get more if she is at home with the kids more than you :)

Actually, my wife has more discretionary money than me, since I pay all the bills except groceries. But she always saves a lot of the money and then dumps it into our Money Market accounts. Also, we always pay ourselves first (e.g. investments, etc.). So if she wants or needs something she doesn't have to ask. Well, I suppose a Rolls Royce or a Rolex might be different.

But you have to remember that our kids are grown and on their own. So we are now DINKs. It was different when I was supporting a family with kids.

Nitpicking here, but I don't think cost per ounce is the correct way to look at it. Otherwise, for 2 items that were the same price (assuming all else equal), the heavier one would seem like the better choice since it'll cost less per ounce.

Nevertheless, I think the point still stands and the Golite would be a better value than the Hexamid, but I'd look at that example like this: it costs an extra $176 ($245 – $69) to save 2.8oz (7oz – 4.2oz). That is, it'll cost you $62.86 per ounce saved.

"I know, I've always had this crazy imagination"

Are you telling me The Twilight Zone is imaginary????

Are you telling me The Twilight Zone is imaginary????

Maybe. I hope some of this thread I just imagined; it sure seemed surreal.

I made my own tarp(5×9)from some very cheap 1.1oz silnylon seconds and cost me a total of about 20 bucks. I haven's slept under it yet but it will be a good introduction to tarp camping later this spring and summer. If I'm sold on the tarp idea I can then buy a fancier one from someone in the cottage industry or make another one from cuben fiber.

CRUCIAL ERROR #0: You got married. What did you do a fool thing like that for? Now read on and weep…

"Marriage 101:

Crucial Error #1: You weren't watching TV with your wife, you were multi-tasking. Wives don't like that. They want your undivided attention.

Crucial Error #2: If you wife does not backpack, then it is a bad strategy to teach her anything about gear. The goal is for her NOT to know the difference between a poncho or a Scarp 1, or a McHale Pack vs a Flash 18, etc. But she will associate gear with colors, so don't be setting stuff up around the house if she is present.

Crucial Error #3: Never let her know pricing, unless you request an item as a gift. If you have a REI membership, train her to provide your phone number when purchasing gifts, do not reveal the dividend process. She will think it is an Albertson card, where some items are discounted.

Crucial Error #4: You were looking at gear in her presence. You might as well shoot yourself in the foot with a 50 caliber bullet. If you must sneak a peak, get a smart phone and turn the screen. But, Crucial Error #1 trumps. See above.

Crucial Error #5: Sounds like you have not set up a discretionary slush fund for each partner. This is critical in Marriage 101. Encourage her to spend her money and do not look at anything she buys or offer opinions. If she shows you something she bought, act excited and lavish praise on her good taste and shopping abilities, techniques and skills.

Crucial Error #6: Sounds like you did not buy her an inexpensive but thoughtful present without any occasion, prior to the gear hunting expedition. Tsk, tsk."

Steve

Do what she says. You are sweating small stuff.
Oh. Stick with your tent.
Plus on Nick's rules too.

Divorce, just throwing that one out there.

I prefer a tent. Less fiddling.

i'll dabble with a tarp from Wally World and see how it goes. i already have a bivy, just don't tell my wife!

i enjoy being married, but i also like loading up a small subset of my stuff into a bag, throwing it over my shoulder and hiking over mountain after to mountain and sleeping in the dirt. so… i guess it could be worse?

haha

Its all good.

"Maybe. I hope some of this thread I just imagined; it sure seemed surreal."

Your opinion means a lot to me Kat. Could we leave The Twilight Zone out of this and settle for the thread being imaginary? If The twilight Zone is imaginary, my whole theory of the universe is in danger.

"Who said anything about trapping?"

Also with a tent it is pretty much all or nothing. Tarp/bivy combo does give greater flexibility. I'm sweating the choices I have available for a upcoming trip right now. My head hurts.

Ken, didn't you just get a Hilleberg? How are you liking the increased weight (which comes along with a bit more protection and ease of setup)?

And I do mean that seriously. I'm not trying to be snarky.

not really … some tents can be used fly only if you so desire … so basicaly a tarp …

eg. Terranova Laser Elite 14 ozs fly only, plus pegs, sets up like a Moment, total wind and rain protection.

The weight/cost analysis is fine but a good analysis should include function. A tent is not functionally the same as a tarp+bivy+etc combo, there are many differences, pros and cons, and the best option will also be a function of where you're hiking, what season, trip length…

In summary, as Ken said, a tent is all or nothing; the tarp+ gives you choices, it's more versatile, it also puts more responsibility on the user but it's more adaptable to different weather/exposure conditions. At a more psychological level, it has the potential to provide a deeper connection with the place.