Ray Mears Super Tarp

[spamel]

Surely when you sever your femoral artery, your clothing will turn red!

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Talking of prices, the cooking equipment section has some nice zebra style billies for £15. So good value.

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Products/Cooking_Equipment/

 

[JonBaker]

In the hope of something constructive coming out of this thread - I was actually looking for a large tarp for next time I go camping with the kids - a roof for a general sitting and eating area out of the rain (or sun - if we are so lucky) + somewhere for me to sleep under while the rest sleep in the tent. I am not sure what size I will need and I want to be able to actually carry it in a ruck sack rather than make a separate visit just to get my tarp.
From what I can see there are several options:

Ray Mears; 3.4 x 4.5m, 1.5kg (inc lines), PU coated Nylon, £140, Lines Included
Aiguille; 3 x 4m, 1.4kg, Silicone coated Nylon, £105, Lines Extra (10m perlon + 30m para 550 = £15)
True North Big Tarp; 3 x 4.5m, 1.8kg, Ripstop Polyester, £91, Lines Extra £15
Hillberg; 3 x 3.5m, 0.57kg, Kerlon 1200, £125, Lines Included
Tanonka; 4.5 x 4.5m, 1.75kg, Polyester, £98.5, Lines Extra £15
Tarps to go; 3.5 x 4.5m, 4.5kg, Polyethylene, £10 Lines Extra £10
DD ? ? ? ? ?

Any suggestions on size, material ?

 

[spamel]

There is a 3 x 4 metre tarp by tatonka that would suit your needs better than a square 4 x 4. I'd go polycotton if there is any chance of sparks from the fire coming anywhere near your tarp. The weight is worth the size of dry area!

 

[mortalmerlin]

Any suggestions on size, material ?

For material no but for size I took one of my kids out under two hootchies stuck together which is about 3x3.5m (ish). I think that would be a tight fit for more than two + kit, you know how kids like to sleep in the direction that provides you with the least space

 

[JonBaker]

There is a 3 x 4 metre tarp by tatonka that would suit your needs better than a square 4 x 4. I'd go polycotton if there is any chance of sparks from the fire coming anywhere near your tarp. The weight is worth the size of dry area!

Nice one - not too heavy either. I must admit that polycotton sounds good. I think I would want a fire aound the edge and I would hate to pay loads of money just to end up with a hole in it from a spark or two.

What is the pack size like?

 

[JonBaker]

For material no but for size I took one of my kids out under two hootchies stuck together which is about 3x3.5m (ish). I think that would be a tight fit for more than two + kit, you know how kids like to sleep in the direction that provides you with the least space

So you would probably agree with spamel that a 3 x 4 would be a good size

 

[mortalmerlin]

you coul always start getting green ones made and sell 'em yourself.

I looked and the RM hootchie has a label in it - Robco products. They have a site http://www.robcoproducts.com.au/ which is of no use at all except for their number. Maybe they do a green one.

 

[mortalmerlin]

So you would probably agree with spamel that a 3 x 4 would be a good size

I haven't tried it with more than one child but yes I would agree with Spamel, that size would seem about right.

 

[SimonM]

Any suggestions on size, material ?

I have a variety of tarps, but my favourite is my Tatonka 4.5m x 4.5m polycotton. Its great for 2 hammocks, with plenty of room to spare. Alternatively you could get 4 ground dwellers with room to spare under it. Also it is better around fire and sparks than the lighter versions.
A picture paints a thousand words...

In defence of Woodlore, I have recently bought a Sabre 75 from them, delivered next day (a Saturday!), for less than I could get one locally from Tamarack - even with my FM 15% discount. Customer service is second to none, and by only selling quality products they ensure customer satisfaction. If you want cheap and cheerful, there are plenty of alternatives .... the choice is yours!

HTH

Simon

 

[JonBaker]

I have a variety of tarps, but my favourite is my Tatonka 4.5m x 4.5m polycotton. Its great for 2 hammocks, with plenty of room to spare. Alternatively you could get 4 ground dwellers with room to spare under it. Also it is better around fire and sparks than the lighter versions.
A picture paints a thousand words...

In defence of Woodlore, I have recently bought a Sabre 75 from them, delivered next day (a Saturday!), for less than I could get one locally from Tamarack - even with my FM 15% discount. Customer service is second to none, and by only selling quality products they ensure customer satisfaction. If you want cheap and cheerful, there are plenty of alternatives .... the choice is yours!

HTH

Simon

Can not seem to see photos

 

[SimonM]

I can see them in my original post and your quotation of the post ... sorry but I can not offer any advice on the technical issues, just that I really rate the Tataonka 4.5m x 4.5m polycotton tarp!

Simon

 

[spamel]

There is also a cocoon colour available from Tatonka, look at Waylands' websites for pictures of what looks like a snady sort of green colour. It is very pleasing on the eye and blends in OK in woodland. Pack size on my tarp is about the same as my old Aussie Hootchie! It fits in a storage bag about the same size as a small travel pillow, in fact that is what I will use the bag for when the tarp is up. Spare clothing tucked inside will make a fantastic pillow! Double the use!

 

[Tourist]

In the 1st world labour will cost you about 20-30 pounds an hour including all factory overheads.

Not in the UK, plumbers excepted, for machinists the rate is nearer £8.00 - £10.00 an hour and normally its on a piece work basis. My departed Mum-in-Law was a machinist for nearly 60 years and worked as self employed for most of that time. She worked for top designers producing one off's for the rich, infamous and royalty and earned around £80 a day for knocking out multi thousand pound £ frocks.

I had a small business knocking out specialist webbing and weapons cases, till the MOD took exception to buying gear from one of its own soldiers. I would expect it to take a machinist less than an hour to knock out one of these tarps. Material costs, if you are buying 70d by the roll in qty is nearer £1.50 a metre.........even, dare I say it, for camo.

But at the end of the day people can make their own mind up what they are going to buy and where they are going to buy it from.

 

[maddave]

I have a tarp, 3 by 2m, 350g, perfectly happy with it. it's beginning to show an occasional hole, but I should get 50 more nights out of it. And for £2.50, I'm happy.

Gaffer tap is your friend another 100nights !!

 

[mortalmerlin]

Not in the UK, plumbers excepted, for machinists the rate is nearer £8.00 - £10.00 an hour and normally its on a piece work basis.

Sorry to dissagree but when you include all overheads, not just the wages of the person your paying, the figure is as I stated (in a past life I used to be an accountant working in a UK electronics factory) .