Tarps???

[hillbillyhunting]

In effort to economicaly save weight when going on solo trips this year, I am switching to a minimalist bivy in combination with a tarp for shelter.  What tarps do all of you minimalist backpackers use?  What are the lightest? Most durable? Cheapest? How do you set it up?  Do any of you use a tarp above tree line?

[couesbitten]

Lot's of tarp options out there. Tarptents, Kifaru, Z-packs, Bearpaw Wilderness Designs, Itegral Designs, Mountainsmith, etc.  Tarps are light, but pose a challenge when trying to keep the mosquitoes and blackflies out.

[NoImpactNoIdea]

Im in for the forthcoming answers.

[romaknows]

The lightest and strongest will be one made from cuben.

[kentrek]

The lightest and strongest will be one made from cuben.

   but its spendy but still tempting...i kinda like the super cheap poly tarps you can get anyplace..that way you dont need to worry bout hurting it..ive tore/burnt up some of the fancy tarps and i felt really dumb..5x8 

seems like every time i set up a tarp its always alil different..pretty much any way that will keep the water out is fine with me

if i have a small fire under it i like to have it at least 4ft above the flames on the fire side

also since you are gona have a bivy dont be afraid to give your self more room and have the lower portion of your body outside the tarp

[fillthefreezer]

In effort to economicaly save weight when going on solo trips this year, I am switching to a minimalist bivy in combination with a tarp for shelter.  What tarps do all of you minimalist backpackers use?  What are the lightest? Most durable? Cheapest? How do you set it up?  Do any of you use a tarp above tree line?

ive been in talks with john at bear paw wilderness designs abotu just such a thing, prices and weights seem good

[MLHSN]

If you know someone who sews well, make your own.  My wife and I made our own tarptent.  It weighs a 1.5 pounds and you don't have to use the bivy bag and it keeps the bugs out.  I just throw some rocks on the netting to keep it down.  We just rolled over edge and sewed it in and then sewed in reinforced nylon webbing on the guy out points. 

$50 should be all you need to make a tarp with 1.1 oz silnylon.  I think $20-30 if you wanted to the bug netting and zippers.

Just a thought.  You can build a tarptent for 1.5 pounds for $70.  Or you can buy a bivy bag for $100 min.  which weighs about a pound on average and then another 3/4 of pound.  Just my  .

[NoImpactNoIdea]

If you know someone who sews well, make your own.  My wife and I made our own tarptent.  It weighs a 1.5 pounds and you don't have to use the bivy bag and it keeps the bugs out.  I just throw some rocks on the netting to keep it down.  We just rolled over edge and sewed it in and then sewed in reinforced nylon webbing on the guy out points. 

$50 should be all you need to make a tarp with 1.1 oz silnylon.  I think $20-30 if you wanted to the bug netting and zippers.

Just a thought.  You can build a tarptent for 1.5 pounds for $70.  Or you can buy a bivy bag for $100 min.  which weighs about a pound on average and then another 3/4 of pound.  Just my  .

Did you use plans or just figure it out as you went?

[MLHSN]

I used plans:

http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html

I did the tarptent for two.  Saves a lot of weight and it fits me and my wife.  Although, he'd have to be a pretty close buddy to share my tarptent with 

I avoided having to buy tentpoles by getting three piece trekking poles to collapse really short for the rear pole.  If I want to dayhike from camp I just find two twigs and cut them to lenth to replace with my poles so I can have them hiking. 



tent by mlhsn1, on Flickr

[fillthefreezer]

If you know someone who sews well, make your own.  My wife and I made our own tarptent.  It weighs a 1.5 pounds and you don't have to use the bivy bag and it keeps the bugs out.  I just throw some rocks on the netting to keep it down.  We just rolled over edge and sewed it in and then sewed in reinforced nylon webbing on the guy out points. 

$50 should be all you need to make a tarp with 1.1 oz silnylon.  I think $20-30 if you wanted to the bug netting and zippers.

Just a thought.  You can build a tarptent for 1.5 pounds for $70.  Or you can buy a bivy bag for $100 min.  which weighs about a pound on average and then another 3/4 of pound.  Just my  .

you havent checked out the borah gear bivys have you?

[MLHSN]

I havn't.  Enlighten me. 

[Jeeper]

I tried the floorless shelter once.  Long night, mosquitoes died down after an hour or so, but the large black ants started marching marching all night long!!

[fillthefreezer]

I havn't.  Enlighten me.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?5745-Borah-Bivy   

[MLHSN]

I havn't.  Enlighten me.

The bug netting on my tent is bout 6 inches long and loops under.  I grab flat rocks and lay them around the edge.  I've never had a problem with bugs getting it.  I try to be careful and not set up around ants.  I avoid heavily used campsites so I think the ants are maybe not quite as bad.  I do always have visions of a snake creeping underneath the netting to get some warmth so I end up stocking rocks all the way around.

[hillbillyhunting]

Thanks for all the responses.  I really like some of those bearpaw products.  I am leaning more towards the cheap blue tarp though.  Not too worried about the bugs... you can learn to ignore them.  More worried about the rodents, but will have to learn to deal (I have been woken up by them running across my face before.)  Anyone know how much a typical blue 8x10 (or close) tarp weighs?  I already have the bivy.  I used my dividends and cupon to purchase the minimalist bivy.  Weighs about a pound.