View Full Version : silicone coated nylon tarps
Hi
wondering what the thoughts are on silicone coated nylon tarps? are they worth the money? I am thinking it would used as a cover over my bivy if i did get one. Would i better off with just a sheet of tyvek to make a shelter out when nessisary? If they are worth the money what would any one sugest as a good one? thanks
4eyedbuzzard
03-04-2009, 22:37
Silnylon tarps are good and very light, and better than Tyvek as far as using it as a tarp goes. Get one with as many tieouts/grommets as possible. OES makes some really nice ones as does Etowah Outfitters, but they're also available from Campmor and others. If you get a rectangular, go for an 8 x 10 or 10 x 10 for ease and flexibility of pitching and decent coverage in the rain. Practice rigging it first before you hit the trail, you'll thank yourself for getting good at it before you have to do it in the wind and rain.
McKeever
03-04-2009, 22:55
It's very easy to order 1.1oz/yd silnylon and make one your self to same $$ or find someone to sew it for you. Quest outfitters in FL is good to deal with. Anyone have a link to a pattern? There's a new fabric that's even better than silnylon although it couldn't be much better because it can't get much better!
freakflyer9999
03-04-2009, 23:20
It's very easy to order 1.1oz/yd silnylon and make one your self to same $$ or find someone to sew it for you. Quest outfitters in FL is good to deal with. Anyone have a link to a pattern? There's a new fabric that's even better than silnylon although it couldn't be much better because it can't get much better!
Do the edges have to be sewn or can you just hot knife it and double it up where you put the grommets?
freakflyer9999
03-04-2009, 23:24
Do the edges have to be sewn or can you just hot knife it and double it up where you put the grommets?
:-?Ahhh....nevermind. It just dawned on me that the material doesn't come wide enough and has to be sewn together to make it large enough.
McKeever
03-05-2009, 00:02
Yep, you sew two halves together and make a center point ridge and seam seal it. Double stitch the ridge and perimeter. Also double stitch on corner patches using cordura with a 4mm cord w/core removed for loops on each corner and center guy line points. Check out Ray Jardines website for photos (and "beaks"). My tarps do not have the beaks and I have never had a single drop of rain fall on me inside. The tarp is the best shelter for a long distance hike. You may ask "will mice run over my feet at night in an open tarp"? And the answer is from McKeever is "yes". Just pile up some rocks to chuck at them before you go to sleep.
Love my OES Maccat. cant say enough good things bout Brian and OES. Speer and JRB make some also. Quite tarps and can be tied very taunt.
Valentine
03-05-2009, 09:17
Tyvek probably can't be tied taught enough to withstand a storm which is when you need a tarp the most. I would stick with a Silnylon tarp. Get one from REI during one of their Sales. MaCcat's are well known as well.
I can sell you my 5x7 silnylon. I ended up with a hammock instead of bivy camping.
Jim Adams
03-05-2009, 20:31
The tarp is the best shelter for a long distance hike. You may ask "will mice run over my feet at night in an open tarp"? And the answer is from McKeever is "yes". Just pile up some rocks to chuck at them before you go to sleep.
No, usually the mice are in the shelters.
geek
McKeever
03-05-2009, 21:20
No, usually the mice are in the shelters.
geek
Usually, which is another reason to avoid shelters. I have only had mice come inside my tarp one time, and that was camping near an abandoned fire pit. I didn't start a fire in the pit but the fact that mice still were tracking scents indicate how long humans impacts the trail and cause nuisances so don't burn anything but paper at fire pits.
You have made my point for me, a tarp works well in place of a tent and it is unlikely that any animal or reptile will come inside while you are sleeping. A tent is a false sense of security.