Which Tarp

No idea what the size of the one in the article is. I have been carrying a 9 foot long 7 foot in the front tapered to 5 foot in the back for some years now. I do have a bivy and honestly use the bivy 99% of the time and the tarp maybe 10%. Cut the blue one until you think it’s as small as you can get away with it and then make it. You can always make it a little big and cut it down later. Once you find what you like you can make or buy a cuben one to shed the weight.

I have made several out of 2 mil plastic but I guess I am asking shaped vs flat tarp. With a shaped tarp l get less weight but less views in light rain.  With the flat I get more options. I just can’t decide. I am also curious how difficult it is to add a zipper to a beak. That would be a nice option for the shaped tarp.

Mine is shaped. I can still pitch it in some kind of modified A frame pitch to get around a tree or set it up more flat like a lean to. Sure you can’t make a hut but site selection is key with any tarp. I say go shaped if all you want is A-frame pitch. Maybe play around with the beak on your polycro prototypes. I would study Z packs hexamid doors with the overlap, buy one of their metal clips and ditch the zipper.

I am actually looking at changing it up to a hexamid style shelter because I like the idea of simplicity with a single pole shelter. Plus more coverage for less footprint. I use a bivy so splash is not as much of concern. Putting a beak on yours will cut down on the length of Ridgeline you need.

The square. Most versatile. The one from the article is kinda small.

Hmmmm… My “ideal tarp” is the fly of my Tarptent Moment DW solo tent. Fast to set up. light and great in the wind. A Tyvek footprint is my groundcloth.

But that tent is also a 4 season tent if I need it.