Tarp questions & ponderings

[ChrisW]

Hi,

A while back I bought a British Army issue DPM basha, and the main reason I bought it was that it was only £30, instead of the £60 for the Aussie one on the Ray Mears website shop. Guess what I did then though, a little while later I decided it was too heavy and bought a Highlander camo basha. Okay, it's lighter, but it's only made of some flimsy looking rip stop nylon, at least the army one looks robust.

But hang on, now I have two tarps and it cost me £60. What a typical kit tart, eh? And I'm not really 100% happy with either if I'm honest. Too heavy, too flimsy looking, too this, not enough that.

So, what's the one on the RM website really like? Is it Aussie army issue? Is it robust? Is it worth £60? Is it available anywhere else cheaper? Is it any better / worse / heavier / lighter than either of the two I already have (I appreciate that the RM stuff may have a certain premium applied to the price tag, but that it will also be good stuff).

I'm quite prepared to splash out on kit if it's decent enough, but I find the thing about a lot of specialist outdoors kit (and I'd count tarps in that category) is that it can be hard to come by physical examples to look at and compare with each other. Consequently you can end up getting two or three of something until you get one you're happy with (thank god for ebay!)

So, come on viewers, pitch in with your two pennies worth on tarps.

Chris

 

[Templar]

Yes its an Aussie issue one... its got more conviniant eyeletes an such and im told its a little bigger than the UK equiv...

They are not bad to use, I did for years, and then again I still do, mine cost me nothing but my time and freedom and they are an alround ok item... as for the price there in the UK thay are too much, you can get them for $5 AUD from a disposals back home, choice of two colours, AUSCAM or OG... Cam is just a fraction bigger... but not noticablly so...

Karl

 

[ChrisW]

$5 AUD? Blimey, but for some reason not surprising.

That's some mark up.

 

[Shewie]

Get the 3x3 DD, it only comes in at 650g

There was an Aussie hootchie on ebay for £30 buy it now a few days ago.

 

[sandbag47]

i agree go with a DD and it's less than have the price of the aussie tarp

 

[Nagual]

One thing you haven't mentioned is how either of the 2 tarps you currently have, have performed. If, for example the lighter one works fine, surely that's a bonus? However if it doesn't perform well, then a good reason to get rid of it, but to base it purely on aesthetics would seem a waste of your well earned money, no?

 

[Noddy]

...............

 

[Tripitaka]

The DD ones are OK but if you want a superb and extremely well thought out tarp, go for the TrueNorth Big Tarp. They come in at under £60 on the group buy going on here at the moment and they are just phenomenal. All the bits are in just the right places for it to be the most versatile tarp I've ever seen.

 

[Asa Samuel]

You have no idea how long I've been waiting to post that...

 

[Shewie]

The DD ones are OK but if you want a superb and extremely well thought out tarp, go for the TrueNorth Big Tarp. They come in at under £60 on the group buy going on here at the moment and they are just phenomenal. All the bits are in just the right places for it to be the most versatile tarp I've ever seen.

To save me trolling through previous posts, how much do they weigh roughly ?

Are they something like 4x3m ?

 

[bushscout1]

Just to throw in another opinion to the melting pot...

After some time contemplating the tarp issue, I've recently got myself a Tatonka Tarp 2TC.

It's 3 x 3 m in size (larger than the Hootchie or GB basha) which IMO gives much better weather protection.

Also, with it being polycotton it has better fire resistance than the sil-nylon ones, which I also prefer.

I realise there is a trade-off with weight, but wanted the other attributes based on previous experiences.

It hasn't got as many attachment points as the hootchie, but has more than enough to cater for all the variations of rigging I can perceive I will need.

It also creates a nice ambient light underneath (I've got it in cocoon).

 

[spamel]

I got rid of my Aussie Hootchie because i found it wasn't long enough to give adequate protection when hammocking, my hammock poked out the ends by miles!

 

[SimonM]

Another vote for the DD Lightwieght & Tatonka polycotton tarps (I have the huge 4.5m x 4.5m).

Both cracking bits of kit and well worth the money.

Simon

 

[Mesquite]

Another alternative is to give Andywinkk on here a PM.

He makes some brilliant tarps for a great price.

 

[sandbender]

I have a Woodlore Aussie hootchie and I find it to be a little too small and a little too heavy.

Instead I prefer to use the extremely light and hard-wearing Hilleberg UL10 Tarp.
Or for a more long term camp where weight isn't an issue, the Tatonka Tarp 1TC

The dimensions and weights for these are...

Hilleberg UL10 Tarp weighs 570g and measures 3.5m x 2.9m
Tatonka Tarp 1TC weighs 2.95kg and measures 4.25m x 4.45m



Edited to add the Hilleberg is quite tough, but not tough enough to be used for constructing a bivvy boat whereas the Aussie hootchie is.

 

[Melonfish]

DD tarp ftw! however if your set on the aussie one, bugger paying £60 for it. browse the net for aussie surplus stores and have them ship it over to you? with it being 2 dollars to the pound you should be able to do this without breaking the bank?

 

[drewdunnrespect]

shewie inregards to true northoutdoors tarps there 4 buy 3.5 and are the perfect tarp once an extra loop has been attached but thats jusst the way i hang it drew

 

[Shewie]

shewie inregards to true northoutdoors tarps there 4 buy 3.5 and are the perfect tarp once an extra loop has been attached but thats jusst the way i hang it drew

Is that an extra loop for the ridgeline Drew ?

 

[drewdunnrespect]

yes and no because as this pic shows

in the picture there is a line coming down the ridge towards us and one at the far end but please note this not the edge of the tarp its at the one 1 qarter stage of it (coming from the far edge of tarp) and you only see 3 quarters of the roof in this picture it is so as you can see i can have a living quarters and sleeping quarters and the loop at the center of the 1quarter ridge line is not there on a brand new one. so you would not be able to hang it like this

 

[drewdunnrespect]

pic hasnt loaded so am
http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/...37;20photos/?action=view&current=DSCF0346.jpg