Hi...I am looking to make our first tarp. I am confused in the differences between Silicone Impregnated fabric and silicone coated fabric.

I am also trying to find the better of the above two fabrics in a heavier weight that the 1.1 or 1.3 I have been only able to locate.

Thanks in advance!!
Happy Hikes,
Cabana

I think what you are refering to is sil-nylon which is silicon impregnated nylon. This is where the silicon goes all the way though the fabric. This is completly waterproof.

I think the silicon coated fabric you are refering to is DWR ripstop, or durable water repellant (I think). I may be wrong on this.

You are going to want the sil impregnated stuff for a tarp. This is what is people are talking about when they talk about sil. Anything else I think water would come through in a heavy rain, IMHO. You will still experience a little bit of misting through sil in a heavy rain.

Why are you wanting a heavier material? My homemade tarp with cat cuts weighs in at about 15 oz before seam sealing and guy lines. It is 12' long by 10' wide before cat cuts. I'm not sure I would want anything heavier.

Well...we have been using a golite 1.7oz tarp. We have not experienced any problems with severe wind driven rain misting through the tarp. I have had this happen to my solo 1.1oz tarp. Hiking in the backcountry with my wife an 3 young boys presents enough challanges without having to deal with any unneeded discomforts. Thanks for your input! I need as much availible knowledge as possible with this topic.
Happy Hikes,
Cabana

If you want a little more input. Post this over on hammockforums.net. There are a lot of people over there that have made their own tarps and are big into DIY gear.

There are a couple tenters that post regularly, so minus a little joking around no one cares if you hammock or not.

Great idea, I will go the that forum
Best Regards,
Cabana

What does Golite add to their material? It seems to be as waterproof as urethane coated nylon, yet it is as slippery on both sides as Si-Nylon.

from my understanding the urathane coating allows for factory seam sealing. Regular silnylon requires a tube of silicone sealer and mass market calls for factory seam sealing. Small guys can get away with asking you to do it. The urathane coating sounds pretty dumb to me.
TB