View Full Version : Alternatives to Silnylon Tarps?
erichkopp
04-19-2009, 18:46
I've been considering using a tarp for shelter and getting rid of my 1-man single wall tent. I'll probably buy a silnylon tarp online, but was curious if there were any cheaper alternatives that would also work. I was thinking maybe along the lines of Tyvek or an Adventure Medical emergency blanket (the orange one. Less noisy than a normal space blanket). The only problem with those is that I'd probably need to sew 2 sheets together, and I'm not sure if Tyvek is actually waterproof. Any other ideas?
take-a-knee
04-19-2009, 19:13
I've been considering using a tarp for shelter and getting rid of my 1-man single wall tent. I'll probably buy a silnylon tarp online, but was curious if there were any cheaper alternatives that would also work. I was thinking maybe along the lines of Tyvek or an Adventure Medical emergency blanket (the orange one. Less noisy than a normal space blanket). The only problem with those is that I'd probably need to sew 2 sheets together, and I'm not sure if Tyvek is actually waterproof. Any other ideas?
No, the best alternative to silnylon is the more expensive Spinnaker fabric, lighter and more waterproof. If I were shopping for a single person shelter it would be the Gossamer Gear tarptent in spinnaker.
erichkopp
04-19-2009, 19:19
I probably should have emphasized that I'm looking for a cheap alternative. I'm a college student with very little money.
I probably should have emphasized that I'm looking for a cheap alternative. I'm a college student with very little money.
Just keep an eye on Ebay and sooner or later something is bound to show up. There are lots of materials available, but I couldn't recomend one that's cheap and super light. I know I'd like to experiment with Cuben fiber, but that would be an expensive experiment. :-?
erichkopp
04-19-2009, 19:48
Has anyone tried using some of those cheap plastic drop-cloths in the painting department at Home Depot? They might not be all that durable, but super cheap and light if I could fit a few together.
I probably should have emphasized that I'm looking for a cheap alternative. I'm a college student with very little money.
An old school way is to use a thicker painter's drop cloth. The rolls are cheap, it is fairly strong (6mm should work) and you can a whole roll for $7:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=125849-968-02612/12FF&detail=&lpage=none
(The one above happens to come in 8x12, slightly larger than the standard 8x10 tarp most use. If you find a large roll in your hardware store, cut down as appropriate).
You can dirtbag it and make some grommets with heavier duct tape, or just buy some grommets as needed.
The blue plastic tarps are really cheap, but I think the thicker painters drop cloth may be a bit sturdier.
No idea of the weight..less than a traditional tent though!
Get some Tyvek (free at construction sites) or 3mm drop cloth for a ground cloth. Buy some parachute cord and bug netting (optional) and you can get a fully functional, reasonably light shelter probably for under $30.
Good luck!
Has anyone tried using some of those cheap plastic drop-cloths in the painting department at Home Depot? They might not be all that durable, but super cheap and light if I could fit a few together.
Heh..too funny, I was typing up my response as you posted your question. :)
Go with the 6mm. Anything less may not be as sturdy.
FWIW, I just remembered Ray Jardine mentioned the use of that in his book BEYOND BACKPACKING.
Snowleopard
04-19-2009, 19:54
Tyvek comes in wide rolls. You might be able to pick up enough for a tarp for free asking someone in construction for scraps. Or, this place sells 9' wide tyvek by the foot: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/tyvek.shtml
From what I've read tyvek can be noisy.
OR: Cut yourself a tarp out of cheap plastic -- look in the painting section at HomeDepot. Won't last for a thru hike but will for a shorter hike.
OR: Cheap blue poly tarp from hardware store (also comes in brown in some stores). $4.00
OR: PU (polyurethane) coated nylon tarp, $19.97 8'x9.5' http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___90552.
OR: Cheapo silnylon tarp from campmor 8'x10' $64.99.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___20069
OR: Sew your own. Silnylon comes in 5' wide for a 10'x7.5' tarp you need 5 yards at $6.40/yard for silnylon 2nds at http://thru-hiker.com/materials/coated.php This is easier than it sounds if you do the simplest rectangular tarp. You need a sewing machine, or even better a mother/girlfriend/relative who sews.
I'd say for $19.97 it's hard to beat the Campmor PU Nylon tarp. It's heavier than silnylon, but probably still weighs less than 2 lb. If you just want to fool around a bit to see if you want to go the tarp route, just go to the drop cloth area in the paint dept at Homedepot and see what they have cheap.
Tyvek and the $4 blue poly tarps are kind of noisy in the wind. The PU nylon material is stronger but heavier than a silnylon.
--Walter
I'd post your need in the wanted to buy section here. I don't see any reason that you couldn't obtain a used silnylon tarp at an inexpensive price from someone here who doesn't use his/hers any longer.
The Campmor silnylon tarps (sewn by Equinox) are fine for almost any use. They have grommets which aren't quite as strong as a well sewn nylon loop, but I've used a 10x12 over a bug shelter and as my primary hammock "tent" in the winter - no problems.
Bootstrap
04-19-2009, 20:39
I have a 10 x 12 silnylon tarp and a 10 x 10 urethane coated nylon tarp. I like both, and I like either better than the cheaper woven polyethylene tarps I've tried. It's just nicer being inside them.
These urethane-coated nylon tarps are made out of 1.9 ounce material instead of the 1.1 ounce silnylon. It's almost twice as heavy, but these tarps still wind up being a lot lighter than a tent. The blue woven poly tarps are 4 ounce material, almost 4 times the weight of silnylon.
Here's a blue no-name 8' x 9.5' urethane coated nylon tarp for $19.95:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___90552
If you just look at the specs, it's similar to the Equinox urethane coated nylon tarps, there may be no difference. But I have experience with the Equinox ones:
10 x 10 with 21 tie-outs, $40.00:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22220
10 x 10 square, $40.00 (I use and can recommend, but do seam seal it):
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22226
8 x 10, $32.00:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22217
10 x 12, $41.00:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22218
Shower curtains have been used in the past.
Snowleopard
04-20-2009, 11:25
...These urethane-coated nylon tarps are made out of 1.9 ounce material instead of the 1.1 ounce silnylon. It's almost twice as heavy, but these tarps still wind up being a lot lighter than a tent. The blue woven poly tarps are 4 ounce material, almost 4 times the weight of silnylon.
...
If you just look at the specs, it's similar to the Equinox urethane coated nylon tarps, there may be no difference. But I have experience with the Equinox ones:
The weights 1.1 oz silnylon and 1.9 oz PU nylon are before the waterproof coating. 1.1 silnylon is 1.3-1.4 oz per square yard after the silicon coating. A light urethane (PU) coating on 1.9 oz is .75 oz/sq yd.
1.3 oz/sq yd versus 2.96 oz/sq yd. Heavier coatings are sometimes used, but not needed for a tarp. The PU nylon is also more waterproof. REI has a tarp that looks like the campmor 8x9.5 coated nylon $19.97 tarp and lists the weight as 21 oz (it's twice as expensive as campmor). REI has an Equinox 8x10 silnylon tarp at 14 oz (and $95 :-?)
I've read that the campmor tarps are Equinox.