Tatonka Tarp 1 - Polycotton or Polyester?

[Deleted member 4605]

Ever since seeing Wayland's Tatonka tarp at the moot earlier this year I've been hankering after one, and every so often I go and price one up.

Now I've seen the 20% off offer at Tamarack - who happen to sell Tatonka tarps - and I've having a hard time resisting...

So two questions (instead of the one I originally planned):

1) Is £79.50 (inc P&P and discount) a good price for the Tarp 1 (4.5m x 4.5m)?

2) Should I go for Polycotton or Polyester? The Polycotton is 1kg heavier, but I'm not planning on hiking far with it. In fact it mostly live in the back of my Explorer.

Oh, and I've thought of another question:

3) Do I really need more kit?

 

[HillBill]

I'm after the same tarp as you for a week long camp in January, i'll be interested in the answers people give also.

More kits always good

 

[Wayland]

Mine's the Poly cotton one in Cocoon colour, (sandy rather than green).

If weight isn't an issue the cotton is quieter in the wind but it does take longer to dry out.

 

[SimonM]

I have that model in polycotton and love it.

It is plenty big enough to get 2 hammocks under, and still have room to live under if the weather turns nasty. When bivvying, I can easily get me and both kids under it, again with room to live if the weather turns nasty.

If you intend to have a fire anywhere near your tarp, polycotton is the fabric of choice.


HTH

Simon

 

[Mastino]

Ply-cotton here too. The big advantage is that you'll risk less when you light a fire in front of it. Obviously not for the ultralight hikers...