How do you tarp?

[Gary Pikovsky]

Just recently switched over to Zpacks hexamids and tarps and really liking it.

However, when bugs, wind and rain have been involved, nature won and I went back to tenting.

How do you all do it and (key point) manage to enjoy it?

[Randy Martin]

Bug Bivy under the Tarp. In my case I use the Yama Mountain Gear Bug Shelter 1.0 under my Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn.

[Miner]

Because in bad weather, I stay dry. It takes a little more skill and more careful campsite selection then with a bathtub floor tent, but once you know what you are doing a tarp is very weather worthy. I've been in a variety of bad weather including in high winds and have remained dry. I prefer a tarp to a tent in bad weather as I usually have less condensation issues then my camping buddies using a single wall tent. I also don't have the issue of packing up a wet tent and having to set it up wet the next night while drying the inside floor out (my floor isn't packed with the wet walls).

Bugs? Thats what's my bivy is for. Though in the mountains out west, bugs will often leave a bit after sunset as the temperature starts to cool down (no humidity to hold the heat). The reason using a small space like this works is I don't hang out in my shelter for hours. If I have hours, I'm normally hiking. I'd rather stop during the day at a nice place to hang out for a while rather then do so in camp. In camp, I might be eating (if I didn't stop earlier to eat) and then I'm going to bed. Its a matter of your personal camping and hiking sytle. I'm more a hiker then a camper so this works for me.

As a general rule, I'm cowboy camping so a bivy makes much more sense for me since I can still use it without setting up my shelter. I'm lazy and hate doing camp chores so I will not set a shelter up unless I absolutely need it. Setting up camp is just stuffing my quilt and sleeping pad into my bivy and throwing it on the ground. Breaking down my camp is just as easy. Only if its raining will I setup my tarp. Therefor I want the lightest thing I can carry as a shelter since I most likley won't be using it very much. Current tarp/bivy combo weighs 10.7oz (Zpacks hexamid tarp wo/beak and Borah Gear cuben bivy).

[jimmy b]

Randy, what is the total weight of your system less the hiking poles? Thanks, jimmyb

[todd]

I cheat!

Either a Wild Oasis (problematic w/fire ants, etc) or a Gatewood Cape w/Serenity inner for total protection. You can rool back the door for views when desired.

More full coverage than most tarps.

[Gary Pikovsky]

@Sean – I have the Zpacks Pocket Tarp and Borah Gear bivy as well. Was out in the woods last night and got completely soaked in that set up – heavy rain came through from front after 30 min and since there was no beak and bouncing raindrop covered the bivy. A puddle formed and sinice the BG bivy has now bath tub floors, the water literally rain into the bag… I could've chosen a more high up site, but it all was flat… What do you do in this situation?

@Randy – from the pic you posted I can easily see windswept rain being able to get in. Am I wrong? Do you add anything in storms?

[Jay Wilkerson]

A good bug shelter is important and nice tight pitch!

[dirtbag]

I use Bearpaw Wilderness Design bug bivy with my MLD Patrol shelter. Weighs about 1 pound combined and packs away small in my pack. I love this combo.

[Gary Pikovsky]

@Joe – What's that first bug tent inside?

@Jay – In windy rainstorms, do you ever rain from the front of the Patrol Shelter? Seems like there's a lot of space for it to get in.

[Gary Pikovsky]

@randy – who makes that bug bivy you posted? What's the weight?

[Jerry Adams]

Pyramid tent with no floor is surprisingly good for bugs. For some reason, they tend to congregate up above. I've slept comfortably when there were mosquitoes out. Probably not the best solution in Alaska or Minnesota during bug season.

4 foot circle of bug netting can be effective.

I like to cowboy camp when it's not raining, so I sleep in bivy with waterproof bottom. Since bivy has waterproof bottom, there's no need for floor on tent.

Bathtub floor can trap water on either top or bottom. With a bivy and no floor, any water will just soak into the ground, rather than run over to my sleeping bag.

Either floorless tent with bivy or ground sheet, or a bathtub floor tent should be waterproof, but I've occasionally screwed up with both.

[Randy Martin]

@Jimmy – My total weight is
11.0 oz GG SpinnTwinn
9.9 oz Yama Mountain Gear Bug Shelter 1.0
20.9 oz Total

[Randy Martin]

@Gary – My bug shelter is seen here (bug shelter 1.0)

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/net-tents/

Unfortunately, Yama Mountain Gear isn't selling right now while they re-tool their business to handle the growth they have seen. Plenty of other options from MLD Bug Bivy to Bearpaw Minimalist Bivy etc..

Shelter location is important if you really anticipate a strong storm. I don't camp above treeline generally and so just find a spot with some protection from wind and wind driven rain. Alternatively you can get solid panels on the ends of the bug shelter and be fine. I have weathered some pretty strong storms with this setup though.

[spelt with a t]

Wind and rain require site selection with natural protection and often something other than an A-frame. For me. I'm aware some folks are exclusively A-frame or have a bunch of experience camping exposed, but for me the key is practicing mutliple pitches at home and conservative site selection.

[Gary Pikovsky]

Thanks Randy.

@jay – who makes your bug bivy? What's the weight? Looks solid.

[todd]

FWIW,

Jay's bug bivy won't work in the Hexamid due to shape.

MLD's bug bivy or SMD's Serenity would work great. Side or top entry is a must with a side entry shelter. I have both.

Some have positioned theirr umbrella in the entry to keep rain out.

[dirtbag]

Not sure if the @joe was referring to me? I use Bearpaw Wilderness Design bug bivy..I like it because I can pitch it anywhere and the small pole keeps the netting away from my face. I don't need trekking poles to pitch it either. My patrol shelter is PLENTY big enough to keep the rain out. The beak in front helps also with this. I only pitch the patrol shelter if it's raining and I can pitch it in less then 2 minutes if needed. It's that simple!

[Andy Anderson]

My Dream Hammock Darien and Hammock Gear CF Hex tarp do the trick. Total weight is about 25 oz. After you make the switch to hammocking,you'll realize that you actually enjoy a little rain at night. Hammocks have provided me with the best sleep and kept me the driest of any sleep system I have used.

Also, Cuben Fiber is by far the best fabric for rain. It doesn't absorb water like my silnylon systems did.

[Gary Pikovsky]

From your comments, it seem Patrol Shelter with a bathtub floor or bug bivy may be the best thing and lightest combo.

I'm hesitant on just one thing – the blowing rain. Seems like it would still get in. I don't carry an umbrella. Do you all think the blowing rain is not a problem for tarps like Patrol Shelter?

What's the minimal height of poles you use for the Patrol Shelter?

Thanks!

[Tony Wong]

Gary,

From what I am reading you are looking for something that is bomb proof in really bad rain situations.

You might want to consider something like a MLD Solo Mid.

Like others here, I only setup my tarp for bad weather and spend most of my time with just my bivy.

In my case, I have a MLD Soul Side Zip eVent Bivy with "stupid" light postage stamp of a cuben tarp.

I have been giving thought to what would cover me in really bad rain, where it is blowing and I am thinking that a SoloMid would be the way to go.

Plus, a mid would allow you to sit upright, which is great.

Having been through a 13 hour rain storm that ranged from drizzle to tent shredding winds, being "trapped" laying on my back, side, and belly got old fast as I was waiting out the rain.

Just a thought for you to consider.

A Cuben Solo Mid is around 10 oz, but really expensive.

If I save up my money, I think that the Solo Mid is where I will be going for bomber rain shelter.

Tony

[Randy Martin]

One thing I would add is understanding the climate you predominantly hike in. If you frequently hike in environments with lots of rain and wind or exposed environments (e.g. Scotland, PNW etc..) then I would definitely opt for a Mid (e.g. Solomid or Duomid) or even the GoLite SL2. Those shelters provide 360 protection. I hike in Colorado where storms tend to be brief. A Tarp provides all of the protection I need. If I am expecting really bad weather I probably am not going on the trip anyway.

Also think about whether you like to hang out inside your shelter for more than sleep. If you do then Tarp probably isn't for you and you would want a shelter that allows you to sit up (i.e., Mid).

[Randy Nelson]

"Pyramid tent with no floor is surprisingly good for bugs. For some reason, they tend to congregate up above. I've slept comfortably when there were mosquitoes out. Probably not the best solution in Alaska or Minnesota during bug season."

+1 I use just the fly from a Golite SL3 without any bug protection and I've never had a problem. I think it's the airflow out the vents that attracts them to the top but who knows. I also try to camp where there's a breeze. More for the hanging around camp then the sleeping part but it helps. From what I've read, bugs are a much bigger problem other places than they are in Colorado so YMMV.

Wind and rain aren't a problem. I always pitch it as high as possible for the most airflow and there's enough room where rain isn't getting on my gear. If it's REALLY windy. I pitch the windward side low. I did have a problem with hail last year that was bouncing under the bottom. I just had to pull the panel down by my head to keep most of it out. Didn't feel like getting out of my bag to adjust it while it was hailing.

[dirtbag]

Go with cuben version with the beak. I use MLD cuben Patrol shelter. Worth every penny. Rain is NOT a problem. I can pitch it hi or low to the ground. If needed I can even make the adjustment from under it without having to go out in the rain. I can't comment on any other tarp systems because this is the only one I have ever bought and used, and most likely the only 1 I will ever need. I do my backpacking in NY/NJ/PA area and this WORKS! I can sit up in it if it is pitched a descent height, if it's pitched low to ground for a storm then I can not sit up..only lay. This does not bother me as I like to hike most of the day and use my bivy/tarp to make a quick stealth camp and sleep the night away. It is expensive but worth EVERY penny if it is what you want. It sets up so easily and quickly, I can pack up all my gear under it so everything stays dry and break it down last and stuff it in outside mesh pocket of my pack. I wouldn't trade this system for anything else out there. It works for me and most everyone that has one also loves it.

[Gary Pikovsky]

What's the word with condensation in mids vs. Patrol Tarp?

[dirtbag]

From what I have researched and personal experience with patrol shelter..next to nothing if not any at all…

[Author]

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