Any more feedback on the Slingfin NFT? Flat tarp advice needed.

[Travis L]

Oh wow, its been so many years since I’ve posted on BPL! Almost like a step back in time for me. Anyway…

I’m headed out to the Cloud Peak Wilderness this coming August for a week and was thinking of lightening my pack a bit by combining two shelters into one. What I mean is that I currently am using a Katabatic Pinon bivy with a GG Solo tarp, and the wife and son are in a Double Rainbow. I also carry a tarp for an emergency trailside shelter for popup storms and for communal protection in camp. The GG solo is just too small for 3 people.

I was thinking of getting the NFT as my nighttime sleeping tarp, and have it do double duty during the day as emergency shelter and camp communal/kitchen tarp up until it’s bedtime. All told, its saving about 5-6 ounces over my current two tarps, but it would also mean fewer items to bring and more sheltered space to hang out in camp. (The NFT is much larger than my current extra tarp I bring).

I’ve seen the Ryan Jordan podcast and have read his glowing opinions on the NFT. It also seems like there hasn’t been much written about it for almost a couple of years now and am wondering if there are more people that could give their opinion on if the NFT would serve me well in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. I will be just at or slightly above treeline for two nights, and although I’ve used tarps before, this will be my first flat tarp, and a large one at that.

Am I asking for trouble up in the mountains, or with some practice and common sense, will this do just fine? I’m also open to other tarp suggestions, but I’m gonna stay away from DCF, and I really like the idea of cat cut edges for nice tight pitches.

[Matthew / BPL]

Just in case you missed it, there is some discussion here: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/slingfin-nft/

[Travis L]

Thank you Matthew, I did see that thread. There’s some good info there; just hoping for additional and/or updated opinions on it after some time has passed.

[Chris K]

Hi Travis – after 10 nights of use, here’s my impression: as long as you’re ok with the pros/cons of the size and material, go for it.

cons:

– When saturated the nylon will sag, and dry slowly; silpoly remains taut and dries instantly by comparison (in my experience having both fabrics in the same campsite, see pic);

– It’s big and needs to be guyed out well to prevent billowing around if at all exposed; and some thought has to go into fitting in tighter irregular forested areas.

The cons above are inherent in the size and material so therefore expected I guess. They are also its strengths:

– the fabric takes a lot of tension, doesn’t mind some brushy abrasion, and packs down ridiculously small;

– the size is great for multiple people and feels spacious and secure in the weather, assuming it’s staked really well. Nice color, too.

I vote for giving it a try!

Some pics and a short video in the Rockies

[Travis L]

Hey Chris, awesome pictures! Yes, the cons aren’t really an NFT specific problem, they’d be nearly the same for any flat tarp that size. DCF won’t sag, but it has its own tradeoffs.

Speaking of sagging, your tarp pitches all look really good and tight. I’ve never had anything other than silnylon shelters, and honestly, I’ve never been bothered by a quick tug on a linelok before bed. With the tarp, you can also just reach out and tension from underneath the tarp if needed.

Ultimately, having the right tool for the job is what’s important and if the NFT is an appropriate enough tool, then I can learn how to use it to its fullest.

Thanks for your input.

[Chris K]

Yep, all good points! I think it’s worth a shot.

[Travis L]

*researches truckers hitch and other knots* 😂

[Erik G]

Another happy NFT user here. Sounds like you’re familiar enough with the nature of silnylon that you won’t be surprised or disappointed by the occasional re-tensioning requirement. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s as more of a benefit than a downside in my opinion!

I mostly use it as a group cooking/hang out area, but have also slept under it plenty of nights. Probably about 25 nights of total usage, still looks good as new. I am very impressed by the fabric, SlingFin put a lot of thought into it and how it works as a tarp/shelter fabric. The NFT has a great set of features and is ready to go right out of the gates, no additional lines or stakes required. I love the clamcleat line locks and love that they have them at both ends of each guyline. Don’t even need to get out from under it to re-tension or make small adjustments. I think it’s a winner!

[Travis L]

Erik, good to hear you’re also diggin’ it. Silnylon does not bug me in the least. Funny thing is, every time i’m about to pull the trigger on something like DCF, I find a reason not to. I finally have the ability to afford it, but when I was really looking into flat tarps, all the pros and cons led me personally away from it. Maybe in things like tents or shaped tarps it makes more sense, but that’s not my market at the moment.

I put in an order yesterday, but will definitely be swapping out some of the stakes for lighter options or utilize things like rocks, logs, trees, etc for some of the non-essential stakeout points. I will give the stock clamcleats their fair shake, but i’ve always liked something like the lineloc3 better, and I will be looking at ways to streamline all those guylines.

Do you (or anyone) have any experience with the ridgeline seam leaking? Have you sealed it? Slingfin said that while it’s possible that it can leak without sealing, they haven’t had enough complaints for them to recommend it. Not that sealing that seam would be bad in any way; it would just add weight and possible aesthetic issues.

[Matthew / BPL]

I had a brief love affair with an HMG flat tarp and I drew a couple conclusions from that which may or may not be helpful.

I found linelocs to be annoying with a flat tarp because the lines got tangled more because you end up with two free ends on each line. Multiply that times more guylines than on a shaped tarp and I ended up preferring to run it without any tensioners. Instead I found myself using a combination of trucker’s hitches and Skurka’s hitch where you go through the loop that is tied to the guy out point when it’s short.

My use case was different than yours, it was a primary shelter for 1-2 people and in the end I found that I prefer a shaped tarp for more simplicity/coverage but I did enjoy using a flat tarp. If I decide to try another flat tarp some day it will not be dcf.

[Travis L]

Matthew, yes, I’m looking into ways to best manage my guylines, including using lineloks that hook onto the tarp’s webbing, making them completely removable. 

[Jerry Adams]

I have several clips, but it’s just easier to use a taut line hitch.  Or those other knots would work, like truckers hitch.

It depends on your line.  Sometimes those knots slip.

[Travis L]

I really like the idea of no hardware and just using knots, but dang it, linelocs are just so convenient. I understand that those knots aren’t difficult, and Knots Only Fans swear by them.

[Matthew / BPL]

Oh I haven’t seen those linelocs! Those look handy.

[Travis L]

<p style=”text-align: left;”> I was thinking of leaving the ridgeline guylines attached, and then just having several other lines (figure-8 coiled to prevent tangles) attached to the lineloc clips. Once the ridgeline is up, grab a line, hook it onto the corner webbing/loop, and stake out the corners and panels.  You could even have different color lines to denote different lengths if you wanted.</p>
Take-down, just unclip and coil the line back up nice and tidy. The downside to this is just a little time it takes to coil them up, but that’s true of any line, regardless of how it’s attached or not. In the very rare chance a clip breaks, well, that line gets a knot for the rest of the trip. Hardly an obstacle too difficult to overcome. Stuff the tarp with little to no tangling or guyline fuss.

At least, that’s how it works in my head until I can play with stuff and see.

[Terran]

I’m partial to Lawson line. It makes nice knots and is easy to untie. A taut line hitch can be a little tricky and tends not to slide well with some of the other line. I’ve tried cheaper brands, but I’ve gone back to what works .

I found some titanium mini carabineers on Ali. The regular ones tend to break. These are all one piece.Slide them into the tie out loops, then slide back to hook. Easy. I use a taut line hitch with them. It slides easy and it can be removed.

I don’t mind the line locks on the HMG. I do prefer a shaped tarp. Or one with doors anyway. I’m reluctant to put up a prop. I find myself wanting to protect it more because of the cost.

Carabiners

 

[baja bob]

Check Yama Mountain Gear for some handy tarping accessories like linelocs with clips to easily move guylines.  https://yamamountaingear.com/collections/tarp-accessories. The grommets to make it easier to adjust the distance of your trekking pole from the tarp are nice as well.

[Travis L]

So I had ordered the NFT and it came today. She’s a big’un! Definitely going to have to play with guyline management and pitch options.

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