flat tarp

I have a 8.5×10 cuben tarp from Zpacks. I think it's great – huge coverage & lots of pitching options. I really like the simplicity & flexibility – cooking under the tarp without worrying about burning the floor, the ease of packing under the tarp, etc. Plus I just don't see how you can get anywhere near the weight with a tent unless you spend big bucks. But I've noticed that lots of people have a negative emotional response to tarping – they want a fully enclosed shelter.

I sometimes use an 8.5 x 10.5 silnylon tarp which I sewed myself. Other than the fact that I went a bit overboard on durability of the tieout points and seam sealing (weight = 20 oz), it's great. I don't use a bivy, but I also have to be careful not to be overly-optimistic with my pitch.

Last month, I did a well-protected but hasty half-pyramid pitch in an open area when there was rain changing to snow and gusty, shifty winds. Six inches of the entire long side of my pad and that edge of my down bag were soaked come morning, yet I was perfectly comfortable. The down in my bag was dry–gotta love Montbell's DWR, which I suspect has been adapted from alien technology. ;)

The night before, the biggest problem I had was a large slug on my cheek in the middle of the night, and briefly waking up due to a mouse scurrying across the top of my bag. :)

I often use a 8.5 x 10 cuben flat tarp from Zpacks. I had some extra tie outs added to the perimeter and a couple mid-panel on each side. Lots of coverage and lots of flexibility in terms of pitching options in a relatively lightweight package.

I switch to a mid-style shelter if I know I'm likely to run into really challenging weather on a trip (i.e., snow, strong winds, etc.) but otherwise, I've fared well under the flat tarp.

We (wife) have a cuben SuperTarp from MLD, 10×8.5. It is enormous. In a rain storm in the Wind River Range, we were very comfortable. We use bivies but the small amount of rain blow wouldn't have been an issue without them. I'm currently shopping for a smaller tarp (undecided on cat or flat) for a solo thru hike of the Colorado Trail. For the two of us, flat is best for flexibility. I would not use our 10×8.5 solo. I know many others on this forum like the size even for solo but, to me, it is overly huge. Big = more coverage but also = more surface area to catch wind and more challenge in tight spaces if you don't need the extra material.

"The night before, the biggest problem I had was a large slug on my cheek in the middle of the night, and briefly waking up due to a mouse scurrying across the top of my bag."

And THAT is why I don't tarp in the SE US :) Slugs and mice are two of the nicest things I could find on my face. ZPacks Duplex is my jam.

My sense is that people who can flat tarp are just better than me. It's possible that if I kept at it, I'd have gotten the hang of it, but: I used to own a flat tarp (Zpacks); I still own a DuoMid.

Admittedly, a flat tarp is more versatile (way more versatile) but it's also more fiddly. When I get into camp, I don't want to spend 20 minutes getting that drum-tight pitch, I just want my shelter up. I halfheartedly tried to get good at it for a few weeks but was never committed — from the first pitch, I knew that that thing was probably going to go. Again, for people who have put in the time, this is likely not an issue — devoted tarpists can probably get it done in a few minutes — but I found I was less interested in versatility than simplicity.

I have an 8×10 zpacks, TONS of coverage. I might have gone for an 8×8 (with a UL bivy), keeps the footprint down and I like the square pitching options.

That said, I'm super happy with mine. More than enough coverage for 2.

I got it this year, and I've taken it on 4 trips now. Did the West Coast Trail and it rained for a few days. The tarp was AWESOME, WAYYYY better than a tent in the rain. While everyone else wore their raingear and ate outside in the rain, I was under my tarp in pants and a tshirt, relaxing but still able to see the great outdoors and converse (eventually they decided that looked more comfy as well).
Here's a picture of a typical setup, in among the driftwood. Titanium stakes also works as nails, pound an inch in the driftwood and you've got an awesome anchor.

I've taken my 3 y-o out to the mountains with it as well, the weight/space savings are a MAJOR point in that.

I've also used it for hunting in the mountains, where weight and space are again at a premium (7lbs rifle, 10 lbs in optics/tripod, misc other stuff, makes for a heeeavy solo load).

I did have mice run over my bag a couple times on the WCT. Usually I don't stay in super busy campsites like that, but wherever there's a constant stream of people camping, there's lots of mice. Also, bugs can be an issue for sure. Solo'ing, I don't mind taking a UL bivy and camping where there's less bugs (waaayyyyy up), but it's not something I'm taking to Jasper in July to camp at lower elevations with.

There's DEFINITELY many many times when I'd rather have a shaped tarp. I'm not the biggest fan of the straight a-frame pitch tho, so I'd lean more towards a duomid rather than a cat cut. However, there's many times when I'm extremely happy to have a few different pitching options. I initially thought I'd use the zpacks tarp as well as a camping tarp when I take a bigger tent, but it costs too much for me to justify that. I usually take a silnylon tarp for that purpose.

Thanks for replies. I think 8.5×10 is going to be really big for solo but nice when my son comes out with me. I only will need to pitch it if it rains/snows because I am just fine in my bristlecone bivy or bug bivy. My toughest decision now is whom to buy it from…hmmmmm..

I'll chime in. Flat tarps suck. Sure, you get way more pitching options, but none of them are very good. If you want a-frame, get a cat cut tarp. If you need more protection, get a mid.

"I'll chime in. Flat tarps suck. Sure, you get way more pitching options, but none of them are very good. If you want a-frame, get a cat cut tarp. If you need more protection, get a mid."

To each is own. Depends on the person, terrain, etc. Personally I have used one for many years and it has spoiled me — I just love the airy shelter with palatial room. Enclosed tents just seem so restrictive these days, even though they are necessary sometimes.

–MV

Flat tarps suck, lol. More pitching options..but none of them are very good? You lost me there. Could it be user error? Or does it really just suck? Like I said..I have LOVED my patrol shelter..except for the issue with the beak getting in and out in nasty weather (pulling the stake out and putting it back in during the night in some rocky terrain). What sucks about tarps?

Tarps don't suck, but flat tarps do. Versatility sounds nice in theory, but most people stick with just one pitch.

An A-frame pitch with a flat tarp is not going to pitch as tight as a catenary cut tarp. Of course you'll be limited to A-frame.

You can also do tarp origamy and come up with some great pitches (I could pitch my old flat tarp as a half-mid), but if you try to shape a flat piece of fabric, you'll get sagging. Add as many guylines as you want, the material still won't equally strain as well as a shaped tarp.

Just my opinion having used (and later sold) a 8×10 flat tarp. Now I own a catenary cut and shaped tarp. Think of what pitch you like the most and go with that. For you, it sounds like a-frame, so get a catenary cut tarp.

Joe,
I know you have the canopy tarp up for sale, but since it's wider, did you find it easier to get in and out of than the patrol shelter? Can you tell I'm going through the same decision making issue!?
BJ

Yes the canopy 2 is easier getting in and out of then the patrol..it's also huge!!
Yes, I like the A frame style and I was seriously considering the cuben grace from MLD. Then I got to thinking..what if I wanted one end pitched close to ground? My patrol shelter was kind of closed at the foot end which I liked in nasty weather..but if it wasn't too nasty I would have liked to had that end open higher for some views..Hence where the flat tarp came into mind..more pitching options..I could pitch it and still get 360 degree views..or I can lower one end or 2 or 3 ends…more options.

I have a silny grace solo. I can drop the foot a lot lower and still keep the head up high. Come to think of it, I always hit the side of my face on the guyline when getting out. Especially if the tarp is wet and I try not to touch it.

Another question for tarp users. The guy lines..do you leave them on or just carry them seperate? Some on some seperate?

We leave them on. When we expect A-frame set up most of the time with our 10×8.5 flat tarp, we use six four-foot lengths on the four corners and the two mid-points along with two eight-foot lengths (one for each side of the ridgeline).

Lines on usually with a couple spare sections to make up needed length.

The two long lines for the ridge and the four short ones for the corners stay on. I keep 2 or 4 more short sections loose with the stakes in case I need to stabilize for high wind.

So I ended up going with MLD Cuben Grace duo and solo tarp. I have set up the duo several times already in my backyard and my initial impression is WOW. I love it! I recieved the solo today and have not had a chance to set it up and check it out yet, but I will this weekend for sure. Once again MLD has blown me out of the water with a superb tarp. The Grace tarp is EXACTLY what I was looking for, though I loved my Patrol Shelter, the beak and closed foot – end did me in on it. I wanted views and easier entry/exit!! The Grace has it all for me and it is so simple and fast to pitch. Thanks to everyone whom chimed in here, I really appreciate opinions and thoughts and advice. Of course as I get to use it I will give feedback about it..

After seeing your ongoing shelter searach saga here over the last few months,
,its good to see you found what you were looking for.

Did you order them direct from MLD or pick them up second hand?

yay! My backpacking buddy has the grace solo in sil. Fine looking tarp.

the cuben grace duo I got from MLD directly
the cuben grace solo I picked up through BPL

Joe thanks for the info..