Cuben Fiber Monk Tarp

I was considering posting this very same topic as it does seem very appealing..

Isn't the finished width 51"?

I bought one in 2008 made from Spectralite (Cuben's predecessor?) and the posted measurements are 4 x 8.5 feet. I never measured it to see what the finished dimensions are. I've actually never used it – I bought it to use in conjunction with my Gatewood Cape (as a porch of sorts) or to keep in my pack as an emergency shelter for dayhikes. I've carried it a lot of miles because it's just a hair over 7 ounces with the stakes (6), guylines, and stuff sack.

While I don't want to sell it, I'm happy to loan it to someone who wants to try it out. PM me and I can get it to you before the weekend.

Lets Mother Nature get up close and personal. I found it to be a bit too narrow. Especially if windy. It will be a long damp night for you to think about how much larger you want. Me I'd want a 9×9. Seems to be the most versatile size for me. I gave my Monk clone away.

I made a similar tarp about 10 years ago. I used it away from the main tent in bad weather so I could serve my lovely wife the hot freeze dried coffee and dried beans she has become accustomed to.

Putting a jacket or piece of plastic over the opening warmed things up and helped keep wind-blown rain and snow out.

I love the ease of setup and take down. I have sometimes carried it as an emergency shelter for day hikes.

I also fashioned it into a crude poncho for double use. I don't use either of these items now, however, so they must not have been the ultimate piece of gear for me.

I don't know about the monk tarp, but I've used a tarp of very similar dimensions (actually slightly* bigger- the Oware CatTarp1) in bad weather and I didn't like it.

I had a trip in the high Sierra with unseasonable rain years ago; not the typical afternoon storm, but day after day of solid rain. I was using the tarp in conjunction with a bivy.

Even with careful site selection I was having trouble with spray covering my bivy. I also resorted to an umbrella rigged at the front end of the tarp and tried to seal the foot with a rain jacket.

Combined with condensation issues, my down bag was wetting out quickly. I aborted the trip after two nights; I had no opportunity to dry my gear and everything was getting wet enough that I was likely in danger of hypothermia by trying to stay a third night.

It was a good experience in that it taught me that, depending upon conditions, going minimal and saving weight can be downright foolish if not simply very uncomfortable. The few ounces saved by carrying an undersized tarp are often worthless. Looks good on spreadsheets, not so good in the real world. Can it be done? Sure. But I don't think it's very fun. When a Solomid or two-person tarp can be had for a little more, I don't see the appeal.

A tarp that size just didn't work for me in blowing rain.

I didn't like crawling across mud or sandy soil to get in while wet, either.

Site selection ends up being very important and unforgiving. For me another 3 feet of width adds a huge amount of function.

Ok, not 1 person endorses it. I guess to bring on a simple over nighter or 2 with a bivy, when the weather warrants it as an emergency tarp just in case it rains..or for a slight wind detterent..but not for a primary use "most often" shelter.

Shawn Forry used the MLD poncho for his CT FKT. It is very similar in size and he has a nice review of it on his site. He seems to say that it is workable but not generally a best choice unless their is a very particular reason.

The Silnylon Monk is of course 5' 2" wide and the extra 11" makes it just wide enough.

I like what Ron at SMD said about camping out under a poncho tarp in a major blow. He said anyone who's done it knows "the hours until dawn will be long!"

On most of my trips I carry a zpacks tarp which is the same dimensions as the monk. It has worked well as a wind break. I feel in a light rain it would work, but for a heavy storm with lots of windblown rain, I would count on getting wet. Also, with how narrow it is, I find it provides better coverage in a half pyramid than A frame.

Keep in mind that I am in Arizona and don't encounter much rain, if any. If I lived in a consistently wetter area, I would go with something larger.