Campmor Tarps?

[TrippinBTM]

Anyone ever used the Nylon tarps available at Campmor, or similar ones? I'm looking at these two, specifically:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22228

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22220

Are they pretty strong and well made? Would I be better off with silnylon? Or actually, they say "coated nylon," is that the same thing? I notice they only weigh about an ounce less than the poly-tarps, which seems wrong, but if true, is sorta disappointing.

Also, I notice the second one has tie-offs instead of grommets. Is this good or bad, and will they hold well in windy conditions?

[Wise Old Owl]

Anyone ever used the Nylon tarps available at Campmor, or similar ones? I'm looking at these two, specifically:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22228

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22220

Are they pretty strong and well made? Would I be better off with silnylon? Or actually, they say "coated nylon," is that the same thing? I notice they only weigh about an ounce less than the poly-tarps, which seems wrong, but if true, is sorta disappointing.

Also, I notice the second one has tie-offs instead of grommets. Is this good or bad, and will they hold well in windy conditions?

I will be "happy" to clear this up, coated nylon is not sil nylon. 21 tye offs add weight and I cannot think of a need for that, after pitching the Noah equivelent several different ways... 2 lbs? - might as well get a tent.

look up "General" and I think he can make an affordable 8x10 sil-tarp that will be light and knock your socks off PM him.

[amac]

I have this tarp from Campmor and am quite happy with it: http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___20069. Twice as expensive, though.

[Feral Bill]

I have used an 8x10 from Campmor for years and years, It's semi-retired since I got a silnylon one from them. Both are well made and versitile. The Silnylon is lighter/more expensive.

[sasquatch2014]

I got my silnylon one from Campmor as well and so far so good.

[cavscout]

I use the second one in the OP (with all the tie outs) with my hammock setup. I'm pretty happy with it. The tie outs give me lots of options for how I hang it. I chose it for the price and the quick availability since I needed 2 large tarps for a trip on short notice. With more time I probably would have chosen this one from http://www.mosquitohammock.com/ :

http://www.mosquitohammock.com/images/picJungleHammockRickAshworth.jpg

[mister krabs]

I own the second one. I like the tieouts rather than the grommets, they give you more options and you can pitch it low but still give yourself space and ventilation.

It is fairly heavy for what it is, *but* it's also cheap. If you're not sure that you'll like tarping, it's a way to get your feet wet. I will be spending twice though, I plan on getting a silnylon one with tieouts.

[mister krabs]

here's a pic

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/9/6/2751789940_0a6b73ba95.jpg
(http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/9/6/2751789940_0a6b73ba95.jpg)

[Reid]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the new format for campmor?? I have both tarps and for half the price the coated works just as well and is not much bigger. I use the coated one as mister krabs has shown for all kinds of stuff.

[mister krabs]

no, you're not the only one. I like the new one less than I liked the old one, besides the fact that it's unusable with Opera.

[amac]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the new format for campmor??

Not alone. Don't like it at all. And they need to get their specifications back. I'm not gram weenie, but I simply will not buy something unless it has an advertised weight.

[TrippinBTM]

It is fairly heavy for what it is, *but* it's also cheap. If you're not sure that you'll like tarping, it's a way to get your feet wet. I will be spending twice though, I plan on getting a silnylon one with tieouts.

Well, I used a Walmart blue tarp for about half my thru-hike, so I'm ok with it. I like the versatility, but want something lighter. ::Sigh:: I may have to just spring for the silnylon...

[frisbeefreek]

Campmor needs to seriously revamp their web programming and interface. I keep getting bad errors. I had to delete the cookie last night, and that seemed to clear up the problem.

There is no reason why retailers can't have accurate weights (at least, as supplied by the manufacturer) for all items. It drives me nuts when I get a "shipped weight" that includes all the packaging - I usually rely on Google to get me a good weight from some gram weanie at BPL.

[Snowleopard]

I haven't used them but this one is 8x9.5, $19.97, and looks the same (coated nylon, not silnylon). I think they weigh in the range of 21 to 26 oz. This urethane coated nylon usually weighs about 3 oz/square yard (1.9 for the fabric plus 0.75 or more for the coating)
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___90552

[Jim Adams]

I have the urethane coated nylon in 10' x 10' (gromets) and use it for canoeing.
I have the 10' x 12' silnylon and use it for backpacking. Both are several years old, heavily used and still going strong. You can't beat the price for the quality, These are my second set from Campmor...the first set (urethane coated) lasted 15 years.
I don't care for the tarp with the tie offs. The key to NOT having your grommets pull out is to secure the tarp with every grommet needed for the current weather conditions. By doing this, you only add the weight of the needed lines to the equation instead of 21 non-removable tie-offs.
I think that you will be happy with either of them. Do you have alot of tarp experience? If not, try to stay with a square one like 8' x 8 ' or 10' x 10'...square is so much easier to learn with.

geek

[TrippinBTM]

Thanks, Jim Adams, and everyone; I'll take all this into consideration. I'm moderately experienced; While thruhiking, I got a tarp in Hot Springs, a "blue tarp", 8x10, and mostly liked it, save for a few user-error wet nights I had. I want to get better at it, as weight saving is a priority.

I was concerned with the coated nylon ones because they seem to weigh as much as the poly tarps, which is too heavy; obviously the point of a tarp is that it's lightweight.

[Jim Adams]

Thanks, Jim Adams, and everyone; I'll take all this into consideration. I'm moderately experienced; While thruhiking, I got a tarp in Hot Springs, a "blue tarp", 8x10, and mostly liked it, save for a few user-error wet nights I had. I want to get better at it, as weight saving is a priority.

I was concerned with the coated nylon ones because they seem to weigh as much as the poly tarps, which is too heavy; obviously the point of a tarp is that it's lightweight.

I used to use the poly tarps years ago for canoe camping but the nylon tarps not only pack alot smaller, they are alot lighter.

geek

[jrwiesz]

Sportsmans "Guide Gear", pretty fair quality, great customer service, usually competative pricing. The main complaint with them, and most other online retailers, is that they neglect to list the weights of gear. They must think everyone is a car camper, and weight doesn't matter.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/search/search.asp?r=Page%3a+%2fnet%2fcb%2fcb.aspx+KW+Box&s=SEARCH&a=search&k=tarps

Look at:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/guide-gear-tarp.aspx?a=254694

I have this one myself. I forget the weight; PM me, and I will get back to you with the weight, if you want those specs.

[Phoenixdadeadhead]

I have a cheap light weight nylon tarp, and I love it. I did use campdry on it