cooking tarp shelter

[Paul S]

We use an MLD Cricket when we snow camp, as a cook shelter, to provide a place to cook/eat/rest instead of the tent. We basically just sleep in our tent, we don’t want food smells/spills in our tent.

The Cricket is great in winter ’cause we can dig trenches in the snow to make a palace. But the cricket wouldn’t be so good on solid ground, where we can’t dig down. The sides come in at such an angle that, if we’re sitting on the ground, it’s too low…there’s no way to sit two people comfortably without our legs/feet sticking outside the drip line of the beak.

So, we are thinking about some other kind of tarp for the non-snow season here in WA state. We are envisioning something we could set up with two trekking pole as we are often above treeline. So, maybe a rectangular tarp? If So, what dimensions? Flat, or cat curves?

Your ideas/suggestions appreciated!

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

Why don’t you just pitch it higher?

[David Hartley]

How about this one discussed in another thread: https://www.stoneglacier.com/collections/tents/products/skytarp-10

10d silnylon might be risky for a primary shelter, but perfect for a cooking tarp with minimal weight penalty

[DWR D]

Longer poles

[Bruce Tolley]

For two people, get a 8X9 or 8X10 flat tarp from MLD, Rab, or your favorite cottage manufacturer and pitch it high enough to sit under.  You can start with a basic A frame then experiment with different pitches. The flying diamond is nice in summer or spring to block wind or provide shade.  You can lash two trekking poles together if needed with 3 mm cordage to get a longer pole.

[Paul S]

Diane “Piper” SoiniBPL MEMBER
“Why don’t you just pitch it higher?”

 

Good question. The answer is that we want it to block the wind, and wind driven rain. If we get it off the ground it begins to not serve our intended purpose, to have a shelter from wind, and wind driven rain here in the Pacific Northwest.

[Paul S]

David H, thanks for the suggestion of the Stone Glacier tarp. Looks like Slingfin actually manufactures it. They sell the same tarp. We have two Slingfin tents and really like the companies products. We might just get that tarp! It also goes along with Bruce’s recommendation of a 8x 10 or 8×9 flat tarp.

[JCH]

The Stone Glacier tarp certainly does look like the Slingfin NFT.  If it is in fact the same thing, I wonder why it is $30 cheaper and available now while the NFT is pre-order only?  Just curious.

[Michael Sirofchuck]

We use ‘mids of various sizes depending on size of group for cooking, etc., winter and summer.  Seek Outside, HMG, etc.

 

[David Hartley]

They (the Stone Glacier and Slingfin tarps) do look identical. I have no idea if Stone Glacier actually has these in stock – could be delivery is the same for both and only one company reflects that reality on their web site.

[Bruce Tolley]

I bought a footprint for my SlingFin Crossbow from Stone Glacier.

I was told that Stone Glacier licenses the SlingFin designs which I presume to mean Stone Glacier buys direct from the contract sewer overseas and not that Stone Glacier re-labels stock bought from SlingFin.

I would suppose that the Stone Glacier product is cheaper right now than an equivalent SlingFin design because you are seeing last season’s price, and Stone Glacier still has stock.

[Glen L]

Really any rectangular tarp can be set for cooking and lounging purposes. An 8’x10’ is luxurious for two and a 5×7 can work in a pinch. You will need four hiking poles, four stakes, two long lines and two short lines. Tie a figure eight loop at the stake end and adjustable grip hitches at the tarp end. We like Triptease for the lines with its lightweight, strong Spectra core and woven nylon sheath that holds a knot well. With very little practice you can have it up very fast. For shade thick nylon works best. For rain light silnylon works excellently with reduced weight to carry. The set we like for a view is two poles up front with the other two poles jammed somewhere near the center. There are a bunch of ways to set it. Play around a little before you go.

 

This is for shade while doing some rambling in the north end of the Petrified Forest near an area called the Black Forest. We have done this for cooking in the rain in other climates. The back of this se will block wind. A tent footprint will work great too.

[Charlie Brenneman]

“Stone Glacier tents and shelters are designed with weight, performance, and function at the forefront of the process. A backcountry shelter is a serious piece of gear that cannot be compromised. This is why we sought out the most experienced tent designer in the industry, Martin Zemitis. In collaboration with Martin and his team, we designed and produced a unique line of shelters unlike any in the hunting industry. Utilizing patented innovations, top-of-line textiles, and unique features, Stone Glacier tents will keep you safe and comfortable on backcountry excursions across the globe.” Link

I agree not sure why the Skytarp is $30 less than the NFT. I can’t tell if there are any major spec differences.

[Author]

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