Square Flat Tarp: Taut Pitch Advice

[Chris K]

I recently picked up a YMG silpoly 8.5′ x 8.5″ flat tarp. This is my first flat tarp. Despite several days of fiddling with various pitches in the backyard I haven’t been able to get a fully taut “storm mode” pitch. The four edges and ridgeline are all tight, but I can’t seem to get an even tension in that first 1/4 of the panel near the head end:

Any thoughts? Too much tension on the side pull-outs? Pole the wrong height? More guyline on the front corners? Does any of this even matter?

Otherwise, this thing is very well made, reasonably light, half the price of cuben and hasn’t sagged or lost noticeable tension after several days/nights in rain, snow and hail. Kudos to Gen at Yama Mountain Gear.

[Matthew / BPL]

It looks like the first side pullout has too much tension. I think that is why you have those puckers there. Also maybe the front corners should be wider? I’m not an expert by any means but I seem to get the best results by getting the tension right in the four corners  and then using the extra side pullouts to just provide extra support but not shape the tarp differently.

[Bob Moulder]

I’m not a tarp Zen Master (far from it, lol) but that doesn’t look bad… certainly good enough! ;^)

It seems to me that the little wrinkle is caused by the fact that the tarp is pitched so low that the front corner (the one with the logo) cannot be stretched out as tautly as possible. But with the overall pitch so close to the ground it would only be possible to totally eliminate that little wrinkle by opening up that front section a bit and stretching it out more at the corner… but then you lose some of the storm resistance.

The challenge out there on the trail is just getting the darn stakes into the ground somewhere reasonably close to where you really want them while probing for little cracks in rocks, tying off to logs and bushes and rocks, etc…..  “less than ideal” is the norm!

[Chris K]

Thanks, those ideas helped. Wider front corners and generally higher pitch smoothed things out a bit. More practice needed…

And I hear you, Bob! Good enough and less than ideal are the norm out beyond the backyard.

Matthew: while searching for pitch ideas I saw you recently had a square flat tarp, but have moved on to a Duomid. Do I have that right? How’s the Duomid working out?

[Andrew Srna]

Set the front pole to height and guyout, then front corners, then sides, it almost looks like you may be tightening the side pullout before setting the front corner, the other problem is front corner tieout guyline is too short

[Matthew / BPL]

Chris – Yes, I picked up a Duomid and just seam-sealed it today. I’m feeling like this is a better fit for my current needs than the flat tarp but I won’t know for sure until I get it into the field and spend a few nights in it. My current priorities are livable space for two people, solid protection above treeline, and easy setup. The Duomid is a few ounces heavier and packs slightly larger than the flat tarp but my son will probably end up carrying it most of the time so I don’t really care about the weight!

[Bob Shuff]

I must be gear-stalking Matthew because I was looking at the same square tarp I think he bought.  And before buying something new I dug out a 15+ year old Campmor 8×10 flat tarp to try out in the yard.

I did not get it pitched as well as either one of  you guys.

I’m sure I could do better with practice, and the advice given here.

However…On whim I posted a WTB/WTT ad out there and traded some hammock gear for a Duomid XL.  It’s heavier than the flat tarp I had in mind but good for our next trip in June.  I’ll test pitch that one this weekend.

Sorry if this sidebar hijacks the thread.  I think the flat tarp is still in my futue, as a hammock tarp and in storm mode if necessary to shelter sans hang spots.

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