Too tall for tarp?

[AUhiker90]

I am 6,4 and have a 6,6 down bag so what i wonder is if a 8x10 would be able to protect my bag from the rain. What sort of setups would you reccomend for someone fairly tall like me?

[generoll]

Check with Etowah Outfitters. They have larger tarps and they are lightweight.

[toegem]

I'm 6'4" also, a 8X10 works fine for me.

[Alligator]

That's two inches taller than me and I use a regular bag 3 seasons but I think you'd be ok. Pyramid style might be a little tight on the ends, but if you put a tieout near your head and feet you might be ok. Also, there's a setup that looks a bit like an AT shelter, 3 sided flat top slopes back to the ground and two straight up down sides. It's a bit low but weatherproof. I forget the name on this one. A low flying wedge shape might do as well because the length is on the diagonal but I'm not fond of that setup.

You could buy a cheap blue tarp and experiment though.

[bigcranky]

I use a tall bag at 6-2, and an 8x10 is good coverage for me. I've used a 5x8 tarp in heavy rain and even a blizzard -- and while it worked, mostly, the 8x10 is better.

Actually, I cut my 8x10 down to 6x10. Makes it 25% lighter (:)), and lets me pitch it in the half-pyramid with a single hiking pole for bad weather. (You can use a second pole to add more headroom inside, like this (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=15166&catid=member&imageuser=266).)

[AUhiker90]

I'm 6'4" also, a 8X10 works fine for me.


What set up do you mostly use when bad weather is on the way that night?

[stranger]

A frame will give the most room, with the foot section set up low to the ground 18 inches or so and head just enough to sit up in, 10 feet is plenty long but beware of both groundwater and blowing rain. When you peg the tarp directy to the ground you lost alot of room....

I would recommend looking at www.mountainlaureldesigns.com and www.alpinlitegear.com for some great tarps

And if you are really concerned, consider a bivy sack under the tarp

[Feral Bill]

I'm 6'3" and often use a flat 8x10 tarp. Set up with 1 corner up, 3 down and a lift in the middle, there is plenty of room, even for two.

[Dogwood]

I'm 6'4" and use 6'6" down sleeping bags with my MLD custom sized 7'6" tapering to 6' 6" X 9'6" long Spinnaker tarp. I stay dry without a bivy or overbag pitching it A frame style. If I expect heavy prolonged rain or foul weather I simply pitch it lower in storm mode style. This size allows all my gear to safely be stored dry under the tarp and I can fit two people under it if I absolutely had to. 8X10 should be fine if you alter your pitch configurations accordingly in the foulest wettest weather and use a ground cloth.

[toegem]

What set up do you mostly use when bad weather is on the way that night?

This one with back set into the wind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkBeZqXU4zk