which size tarp should I get?

Howdy,

Lots of different opinions on this but, for me, a bigger tarp is always worth the weight when you're actually out there and caught in some serious rain. Based on the first few options you threw out, it looks like you want something small. Even still, I'd recommend a 7 X 9. It won't be much heavier than a 5 X 8 in the same fabric, but will considerably more comfortable and functional. Just my $0.02. Good luck in your search.

What do you mean, which tarp? I'm sure you mean which tarps should I get. I mean, this whole ultralight thing only pertains to what is on your back, not what is in your gear closet.

For solo mid February to late September here in Southeast Alaska its a 6 x 8. For heavy rain season that can increase to 7×9. Doubles are a 10×10 or the 9×9 Pyramid.

Don't skimp, you are a lot taller than I, you want something that can be closed on three sides if the wind and rain blows.

My bivy has an event footbox, so I figure I can go with a smaller tarp and let my feet hang out in the rain. But having the all head net area makes me worried that the 5×8 will be too small.

My pack is small (3000ci), so that's another consideration for me. a 7×9 tarp is 23 sf larger than a 5×8 tarp. Not sure if the volume difference is big enough too consider though.

Thanks for the advice.

5×8 will be too small. The eVent strip is not huge (only talking about 10" or so) and it is not like you can hang your feet out in the rain (not to mention you would have other issue with that – no sealed seams, etc.).

8×10 rectangle or a shaped tarp like one of the Grace Duo tarps would be the way to go.

In heavy rain, every modern kind of WP/B barrier will fail. Rely on the event for overspray, not for downpour protection. I think Nate's right – going with a tiny tarp is just chasing a white whale to save a few ounces. If you really wanna get to be that level of gram weenie, then MYOG something long and skinny so you have full coverage.

7X9 will not pack down much larger than 5X8. Yes it's 50% bigger, but 50% more of almost nothing is still pretty close to not much.

I will agree with others that say a 7'x9'. Here in the NE, we get a bit of rain. Most trips I count on having some. 7×9 would be the minimum I would accept. I also use a small pack, 2200ci (2012 Murmur.) I use a bit larger tarp, mostly because the 9×11(homemade) is a bit lighter than the 7'x9' (purchased.) The 9×12 (give or take due to seaming-Integral Designs UL) is also fairly light but packs a bit larger due to growmets. Anyway the 7×9 goes a hair more than 12oz (after seaming, loops.)

The nice thing about larger tarps in most 3 season weather is you don't usually need the bivy. The slightly larger tarp plus a piece of mesh does as well as a smaller tarp and a bivy. (I get bit in both cases, just not as bad as if I had used nothing, though.) At 1.5oz/sqyd this means it is heavier by about .167oz/sqft. Adding about 25sqft(23+seaming) this gives about a 4.1oz difference. Adding about 2.5oz of mesh (likley on the heavy side) this gives me 6.6oz. Your bivy is 7.5oz, it is bulkier to pack, but also warmer in colder weather.

Just something else to consider.

I'm about your height and use about a 4.5×9 tarp. I think 8ft will be too short for you and 9 is about perfect. When it rains in your area it doesn't rain long does it? Around here it can dump for days so its nice to have something you can cook under or just relax. Small tarps are great if you spend little time lounging around. If you plan on relaxing with a book and some hot food under your tarp I'd go 8×10 or 7×9. Small tarps can give you great protection against the elements, but can seriously sacrifice livability.

honestly, i've never been caught in rain for more than a few hours.

I plan on hiking the PCT with this setup. I imagine the worse it would get is a few days of constant rain.

I'm leaning towards the 6'x9' tarp.

It depends on where you hike. In the Northeast, you can get caught in the rain for a few days.

Jeff,

Check out Steve Evans video "On the Trail: Episode 9":

http://www.suluk46.com/

Click on the video tab, then the youtube channel link.

It shows him pitching a MLD cuben poncho tarp 3 different ways. I think he is over 6' so maybe this will help you visualize your potential set-up.

Also, from my perspective, a larger tarp is almost always better than a smaller tarp. The exceptions would be on a short summer trip or a trip in exactly the conditions you mention, i.e., southern CA and/or desert hiking. Maybe Nick Gatel could comment about this, he lives near Palm Desert and uses a hexamid solo (I think).

If you look at the locations of all the posters above (myself included, in the PNW), we all live in places where inclement weather is more likely. This is when a little extra weight/pack size is worth it.

I see two advantages of a bigger tarp size. First big tarps are more flexible in how you can set them up. If you've just hiked for 14 hours do you really want to waist time finding a perfect spot to set up your tiny tarp? I sure don't. I just want to find a flat spot and set up quickly. A larger tarp allows you to do this. Second on a long trip you probably will see more rain. Having room to dress and pack out of the rain is really nice.

I have a 10.8' x 8.6' MacCat Deluxe and it packs down to smaller than a 1L Nalgene in a stuff sack (it can go a lot smaller than the one supplied). While rolled up, I just bent it in half and stuffed it into a .9L Evernew ultralight pot.

It does not take up much space at all in my Murmur 2012.

"I imagine the worse it would get is a few days of constant rain."

Which is why you carry the largest tarp your back can handle. If you have never hiked in constant rain for several days in a row, you don't know how nice it is to have extra coverage on a tarp.

There are some highly experienced trekkers that can use much smaller tarps without an additional Bivy (Francis Tapon comes to mind). I guess you need to ask yourself if you are one of them.

I like a 10×10 tarp for solo use. It's so big, I can walk in/out at a crouch, dress in a kneeling position, and leave the edges 10-12" up off the ground even when the rain is coming down at 45 degrees. I live where it's hot and humid, so breezy is good. If you live where it's chillier or have blowing sand, the big size would allow you to pin the wind-ward edge right to the ground, and still have good coverage on the other side.

The big size also allows me to make a 3 sided pyramid when the rain storm has changing wind directions, or the temperature drops 20 degrees colder than expected. For using the tarp as a pyramid, having tie-outs 2-2.5 feet from the edge is useful since you can use it to get a lot more headroom closer to the rear wall. This makes it "almost, but not quite" big enough for 2 people to use in thunderstorms with little worry about the person near the door getting wet.

The 10×10 fits 2 people well in calm rain, but makes guessing how hard it might blow much more critical. ie: Will pitching the edge 10-12" high be OK, or does it need to be 4" high ? If you are willing to crawl in/out of the tarp, and don't need more headroom over the sleeping bags than someone laying on their side propped up on their elbow, then pitching the edge 4" up will be fine and still not require a bivy to say dry (unless you guess wrong on the wind direction, and it comes in the end of the tarp).

Your bivy will still useful with a bigger tarp to stay warm in colder climates, or the shoulder season of warmer ones. It's about 10 degrees colder feeling in a tarp due to the wind chill.

The earlier poster was right, lots of opinions on this one.

I'm 6' 3", 200 lbs. I use a 9×6 for solo use. Plenty of room for my gear and me and I've used it twice in the rain with moderate winds. With a low profile setup, I stayed nice and dry. I even used it with my 13 yr old son in a light rain. It was tight, but it worked.

I am looking at ordering a cuben fiber tarp, and will likely get the 9×7, just because the weight difference from a 9×6 is miniscule and although still a tad small for 2 people, it could pressed into use for that if needed.