The Problem w Cuben Tarp

[Slack Packhiker]

I’ve roasted in the middle of the day unless under shade. It feels like the heat is intensified. Desire welding strength sunglasses.

I was hanging under the pictured Cuben, ordered Dutch’s Hex in Moroccan Blue for it’s cooler shade. Got a shady spot after all, but super happy with the Dutch Hex. Sending the Cuben home.

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[kitsapcowboy]

I feel your pain.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=1#post1735395
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=1#post1883976

[Moondoggy]

I’ve always had a tough time when it’s cold and windy ! It makes so much noise , that and rain it’s almost as bad as a tin roof ��

[kitsapcowboy]

Dyneema composite has a virtually untouchable weight advantage over conventional synthetic fabrics, but it also comes with certain trade-offs. Before anyone drops coin on it, the suboptimal side of DCF ought to be considered. For me, as the owner of two Cuben Fiber tarps, while I prize them, I put them to use only when the conditions of the trip are such that the advantages of the material are maximized and the drawbacks minimized; this usually means shoulder season use when I want to move fast and light every day without weather extremes in either direction.

If it rains, it will still be loud, though...

[Red Wing]

The camo helps quite a bit with that but you dont get the same shade as silny

[cmoulder]

DCF certainly isn't the material for a sun shade!

However, for me DCF tarps are for backpacking and are deployed later in the afternoon and packed up early next morning.

For multiple days in the same spot where the tarp is going to remain up all day, I would definitely use a silnylon or silpoly tarp. Or maybe even something cheaper (= heavier!) to avoid unnecessary UV exposure... depending of course on how far I've got to schlep it...

The noise does not bother me... kinda soothing, in fact, knowing that I'm staying nice and dry.

[Ohoopee]

Mine is exclusively used for backpacking. However, I was planning on using it when it called for extended rain.

DCF certainly isn't the material for a sun shade!

However, for me DCF tarps are for backpacking and are deployed later in the afternoon and packed up early next morning.

For multiple days in the same spot where the tarp is going to remain up all day, I would definitely use a silnylon or silpoly tarp. Or maybe even something cheaper (= heavier!) to avoid unnecessary UV exposure... depending of course on how far I've got to schlep it...

The noise does not bother me... kinda soothing, in fact, knowing that I'm staying nice and dry.

[HandyRandy]

It certainly is an outlier, ain’t it? I never considered getting one, but that’s interesting to note the lower heat and light block ability. It just makes it even more of a niche product, but not necessarily an issue if used as intended. Which would be for backpacking where it would see little use it the heat of the day. The gap in weight in cost is so big though, I’m sure we will see a new alternative in the future that lies in the middle somewhere regarding price and weight and some improvements to its weaknesses.

If you think about it, because it makes more sense to have this kind of tarp as an option in your gear stash and not your sole and/or primary tarp, that effectively raises the price even more because most folks who are in the market for one have already forked out the cash for a tarp beforehand.

[Ohoopee]

Thats very true for my uses mainly because I am still not really sure of durability. I have only
just begun to use mine and only in specific scenario's.

The material itself gets mixed reviews much of which appears anecdotal. Further complicated
by the fact that older cuben seems to have been .5 and the newer is thicker. The wet out
factor in cuben's favor is further diminished by breakdown of the fibers after much use.

Gets really depressing when I think I can just leave my Leatherman and save the same weight.

[gunner76]

I like the sound of the rain hitting my cuben tarp...reminds me of rain on a tin roof.