Backpacking Light Stealth NANO Ultralight Backpacking Tarp

Bump!

MLD Grace Solo. Remove linelocs, under 5 oz.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=132

Thanks Matt i'm looking in to it right now.

the beak added to the solo pushes it to 5.5 oz.

I wouldn't recommend a hexamid with a bivy. Granted I used that setup for two years but it is less then ideal due to the low head height of the hexamid when the bivy needed to be strung up. A-frame tarp is the way to go for bivy use.

I have looked at the Hexamid tarps but their pitch type is limited to 1 and I want something that is a bit more flexible (although the price is very attractive). I'm actually looking at Zpacks 8.5 x 8.5 flat tarps. This is square and based on my reading that gives you the max number of possibilities for different pitch types.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
CG

Since nobody else is really jumping out to help here, I'll throw in my pennies on flat vs. a cat tarp. I always have a bivy and a tarp on me. I sleep out ~60 nights a year. Of those nights I'll typically only set up the tarp 3-5 times and that's to cover me from rain. So from my perspective, I don't need a tarp that's uber flexible in pitching options, as I just need something with decent coverage and in an a-frame configuration since that works best with my bivies. I choose cat cuts because they're simple to set up and take minimal tweaking to pitch tight. I also always sleep by myself under it though so if you're sharing the space, a bigger flat tarp may be a good option for you.

My tarps are like rain gear for me. Rarely used so my requirements are pretty sparse; be simple, light, and keep me dry.

I would rather get a rectangle tarp not square. 9.5 x 8 or 8.5.

I'm a fan of the hexamid though. Just too easy and good coverage and side entry. I don't have or need a break, pitch low and use a jacket to block spray.

Micheal,
Why would you choose a rectangle tarp vs. a square or Hexamid? It seems like flexibility is a good thing given the many different kinds of scenarios you can run into…. I'm highly interested in your experience/logic on this.

Thanks
CG

Im not an expert. It seems like a better use of material to use a rectangle, because we are as humans Not square. When set up as a A frame I would rather take a foot off the width and add to the length.

Setting up the tarp reduces the width, invariably, so a square is good.

Oware's square tarps are the most versatile I've seen. Though anybody's would be just as good, with appropriate use of tie-outs.

OK so I have to now ask the question about how hard is it to make a cuben fiber tarp and where would be the best place to buy the materials?