pickng up your brain about cuben fiber asym tarp

[jmnicolas]

Hi everyone -

I am a newbie here with limited hammock camping experience.

I own a WBB, a Dutchware half-zipped, and a Yama Mountain Gear Silpoly 8.5'x8.5' flat tarp (pretty cool btw). I am looking to complement my gears with a 3-season cuben fiber tarp (not for winter camping). As I was thinking going extralight, I thought of an asym tarp, like the Dutchware one (another cool piece of gear I also recently bought) but made of cuben fiber. I could only find one at Mountain Laurel Design. It has a 128"/225cm ridgeline though. Isn't it somewhat too short? Any feedback you want to share? I couldn't find any review on this MLD tarp.

Anywhere else I should look? I understood Zpack and HammockGears were making asym cuben fiber tarps but it was discontinued it. Any specific reasons?

Thks,

JM

[Two Tents]

Take your square 8.5 x 8.5 and hang it corner to corner. There is a lot of dislike for asym tarps. I use one from time to time. I will carry it if bad weather is not expected. People bash the coverage but after a learning curve I found them to be a valuable choice. The Dutch one has options with the alternate tie out points is one to consider. On an asym tarp with a longer ridgeline , the higher it will need to be hung to clear the hammock suspension. In storm mode low and tight is best for diamond tarp. Ask questions and do your research and don't be scared off by the hate you'll hear from others regarding asym tarps. And welcome to HF!

[johnspenn]

Check this thread out, sounds like what you're looking for.

The Cowboy D.A.R.T. (Dyneema Asym Recon Tarp) * 90 GRAMS!

[Red Wing]

Keep your eye on the trade blanket.

Love my asym tarp, but I know how to use outdoor gear outdoors.

[Otter1]

You've received good advice. If you go this route, PRACTICE in the backyard each time it rains and blows so you know what to expect. Fewer unpleasant surprises this way.

Asym's require experience for optimal performance.

[WalksIn2Trees]

it all depends on YOU! I used one for a few years. With an Asym or diamond tarp when it's raining, the only dry place to do anything is IN your hammock, or under that small triangle of space NEXT TO your hammock. plus to get enough coverage, you have to hang your tarp low, so anything you do in that little triangle of coverage is done hunched down, and in a down-pour, while hunched down, you can expect to not be able to stay exactly under that little triangle while you try to do things.

THAT is why most people opt for

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[TrailSlug]

If you are going Cuben then I'd recommend going for the Hex or even the standard as the wight is negligible vs the coverage.

[MikekiM]

The asym has a pretty steep learning curve is you're planning to use it regularly and with good results.

I made one last year in 0.9 silpoly membrane. Super light and a neat piece of kit, but I feel too exposed under it. Admittedly, I am an asym rookie and haven't taken time to learn its' ways. For now i use is as a spare/emergency tarp.

[_YEM_]

The MLD 128" Camo DCF is 5oz and the White/Green is 5.3 oz. The Hammock Gear 12'/144" hex tarp is 5.5oz.

for a half ounce, or less if you go white green, I would highly recommend going with the HG hex. I have the hex and absolutely love it for summer trips. I "modded" my Froggs Toggs rain jacket and rain kilt with grosgain loops at the corners and bungee with mitten hooks to basically convert them into doors on each side if I get caught in a sideways storm.

That being said, I was caught in a pretty bad downpour in Shenandoah NP a month back that lasted about 3 hours, never put on my faux doors and was perfectly dry in the morning.

[<-Pointer]

How set are you on CF for an asym tarp? My SLD simplicity asym tarp is 8 oz vs a CF one that cost 3 x more for like a 3 oz savings. (Less material = less weight savings for CF) Silpoly also packs smaller (which I like) but also holds some moisture and stretches (which I don't like.) It just wasn't worth the $ to me to go CF on an asym tarp but that's JMOHO - value is relative.