Help with a tarp decission

[Rouskof]

I recommend the doors.
Cuben weights very little, and you are happy to have them if needed. They can be used in all kinds of ways, not only like "doors", but like an extension of the roof. If not needed, they can be tied away with tiebacks or shock cord very easily, so they won't bother you. But when the rain and the wind are coming, believe me, you will deploy them and they will prove essential.

[raggydoo]

Does anyone make a cuben fiber grizz beak?

2qzq makes them in cuben. http://www.2qzqhammockhanger.com/

[cougarmeat]

I used a hex for a number of years and didn't need doors - until I did. Because of the tree situation, I had to hang parallel to wind blowing across a 1 mile bay. The first night I was pretty cold. The tarp was an HH Typhoon (or Monsoon) and accessory doors fit on with Velcro. I put them on the second night and it really made a real difference. I was warm the second night and for the rest of the expedition. After that, all my new tarps had doors and I've now upgraded the older tarps to doors.

That's a lot of money for CF and the material is not 100% loved by everyone. Did you see the movie, Wild, about the women who hiked the PCT? That's the kind of packs we used (though not as "full" as hers), those were the kind of shoes we wore. Note that Everest was climbed before the days of 850 fill down. So my point is, do you really need all that extra light gear?

Of course I try to improve my pack load if there is something that works better, but not necessarily something that is just lighter.

So it is fun to gear up. But, in my case anyway, with limited resources, I need to make these decisions carefully. And if I'm not planning some 30+ mile a day marathon hike, my older "heavy" gear is okay.

Back to your question - go for the doors or something that will work as a door. You may never need it. But it only adds a little bit of weight - no mater what the material - and if you do get into a situation where you need it, you'll be glad you have it.

[Phantom Grappler]

I cheated a bit with a rectangular cuben tarp--13 foot ridgeline by 12 foot wide--No Doors. I can make pretend doors by bending the ends inward, if needed.


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[Shug]

Doors...go doors!
Shug

[gbolt]

Neim hit the nail on the head; it's like 90% about peace of mind.

I just finished an AT thru with the standard hex tarp (Cuben all the way) w/o doors. Despite record setting rainfall the lack of doors was really only an issue once, during a crazy 15 min storm that got the foot end of my hammock wet.

So I was happy with just the hex tarp, however, if I were to do it again I wouldn't just get the doors, I'd get the winter palace just for al the space and that wonderful peace of mind.

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+1. Doors are more for weather in all seasons. If going with CF, the doors are not much more money or weight. Better to have them when you need them, then wish you had them. Go Palace if you want it all! I have already proved that it was the right purchase for me and I don't start the AT until 2018.

[SilvrSurfr]

I'm a doors person. I got wet too many times with a hex or diamond. Since I got my HG Winter Palace four or five years ago, I haven't gotten wet since - no matter what the weather.

[MikekiM]

....if you're going to forego the doors but carry other materials (uqp, beaks etc) to compensate, you may just as well have the doors. .

I just switched to a tarp with doors for this very reason.

Admittedly, it isn't cf... But that doesn't matter.

Having the ability to tighten things down when it's raining or blowing is a huge benefit.

However, Installing the doors or a beak takes a lot longer than staking out or clipping back the doors.

Get doors. Clip them back if not needed. Kind of like insulation.. go a little warmer...if you're hot, you can vent or push it aside, but if your cold, your screwed.





Sent from somewhere east of Montauk

[Yosef]

Alright I think you guys talked me into doors. I may look into a tarp with one set instead of 2 but I am going to opt for the doors.

[CeeVee]

Cuben fiber, 12' (for my Ridgerunner) with doors, gets my vote. Only downside I see to Cuben is that it is translucent.

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