I started to remove the tape and noticed the tarp starting to separate so I just smoothed it back down. I used clear duct tape too (that's the only type I carry in my repair kit) and you're right, it doesn't show unless you are really looking for it. The manufacturer claims that the adhesive on the clear tape is different and stronger than the colored tapes. I hope no one thinks I'm knocking Cuben because I'm not. I'm the first to say that alot of the gear we carry is pushing the envelope as far as weight vs. strength vs. abrasion resistance etc. and Those of us on the edge know that our gear must be taken care of or it will fail us. When I made my tarp, not many people were using Cuben except for sailing. With no durability tests to rely on, I decided early on that a thru-hike wasn't the time to test this material long term.
It seems to me that a lot of people are now using Cuben tarps. Considering how expensive they are, I'm sure we would have heard quite a bit of grumbling if they were not performing as expected.
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