Trying some tarp configs for Dartmoor ground dwelling this autumn (pics)

[zarkwon]

I've been giving the lightweight route a go recently (meaning I may opt not to lug my Banshee 300) and what with the scarcity of trees on the moor and the unpredictable weather up there now we've seen the back of Summer, I may not always have time to find a place to hammock. I figured I'd better re-test my tarp set up knowledge and see which config stands up to a bit of wind the best. I'd love to be able to take only my poncho and bivy for lightness but cannot convince myself that the poncho will cut it and always end up with my tarp. Here's what I took for the day.
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/3472/p1000400pk.jpg

All packed up
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5061/p1000402z.jpg

First off to the woods with the poncho.
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8927/p1000408ry.jpg
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1613/p1000406l.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1968/p1000410t.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2872/p1000411r.jpg

Brad Pitt dropped in for a rest
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4818/p1000412t.jpg
Just enough room to shelter Brad and his pack and to cook. I'll have to muster the gumption to try it overnight.
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/188/p1000414o.jpg

Next off to the moor for a wind test
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3856/p1000435iy.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9020/p1000424m.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1962/p1000422ph.jpg
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/8862/p1000427z.jpg

Getting very windy now.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4354/p1000464u.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7644/p10004654083849.jpg

Leave no trace
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1722/p1000436c.jpg

Thanks for looking

 

[Shewie]

Looking good mate, I like to throw a few ground dwelling nights in too occasionally, it reminds me of how nice the hammock is

Which tarp is the beigey coloured one, is it a Tatonka?

 

[Teepee]

I've been through some storms under my DD tarp in the mountains, I seek them out for some strange reason.

60-70mph winds are the worst I've done on the ground-anythng over 50 is just too noisy for me to sleep though.

I gave up with the open tarp after a few nights of 360 degree winds battered me.I sewed some doors on-I'm still trying to convince myself its not a tent

I always open it right up if possible though-sleeping in the open is so much better. With the doors closed, I don't feel connected to where I am.

Great Pics, thanks for posting

 

[Shewie]

I've been through some storms under my DD tarp in the mountains, I seek them out for some strange reason.

60-70mph winds are the worst I've done on the ground-anythng over 50 is just too noisy for me to sleep though.

That night at Angle Tarn must have been near 70mph, Scrogger got his Terra Nova flattened, smashing a carbon fibre pole in the process. I spent all night getting rolled up and down hill in my Saturn bivvy

 

[zarkwon]

Looking good mate, I like to throw a few ground dwelling nights in too occasionally, it reminds me of how nice the hammock is

Which tarp is the beigey coloured one, is it a Tatonka?

Lol. Doesn't it just? It is indeed a Tatonka. Haven't saved up for a cuben yet. Like your Warbonnet silnylon too.

 

[zarkwon]

I've been through some storms under my DD tarp in the mountains, I seek them out for some strange reason.

60-70mph winds are the worst I've done on the ground-anythng over 50 is just too noisy for me to sleep though.

I gave up with the open tarp after a few nights of 360 degree winds battered me.I sewed some doors on-I'm still trying to convince myself its not a tent


I always open it right up if possible though-sleeping in the open is so much better. With the doors closed, I don't feel connected to where I am.

Great Pics, thanks for posting

Being so close to the sea here can make it tricky to find a suitable config as the wind often reverses direction as the land cools at night. Doors are a good idea. Been thinking about them since seeing Shug's vid with them closed over a year ago. I do love my Tatonka but the emerging lightweight lover in me likes the cuben. I would be able to see the moor beasties coming through it too!

 

[Shewie]

Trunks and I were talking about sharing the shipping and taxes on a couple of z packs cuben tarps, I'm still up for it but it's likely to be after christmas now.

I've not looked at the others yet but I like the look of Adams which Shug bought

 

[zarkwon]

I may well be up for that post Crimbo too. Doub't a cuben tarp would go down well as a present for my 5 year old Not with his mum anyway. I agree, that Hammockgear cuben looked good. I've only bought a down pillow from Adam so far but it's well made. Thinking about an Incubator or Phoenix underquilt too

 

[Teepee]

That night at Angle Tarn must have been near 70mph, Scrogger got his Terra Nova flattened, smashing a carbon fibre pole in the process. I spent all night getting rolled up and down hill in my Saturn bivvy

I remember the post-very jealous of your flying bivi bag.

Being so close to the sea here can make it tricky to find a suitable config as the wind often reverses direction as the land cools at night. Doors are a good idea. Been thinking about them since seeing Shug's vid with them closed over a year ago. I do love my Tatonka but the emerging lightweight lover in me likes the cuben. I would be able to see the moor beasties coming through it too!

Cuben isn't far off see-through, you'll be able to watch as it comes to chew your face off in the night

Like you and Rich, I have Cuben lust too. I've had a DIY cuben in planning for a while now, it would save loads of weight and I like the transparency of it.

 

[zarkwon]

Looking at Shug's video of his, it looks to be made up of many smaller squares bonded together. How hard can it be? Must be cheaper by some considerable margin to do it oneself too. Might have to look into materials acquisition.

 

[Teepee]

Give me a shout if you do, I've got the details to order direct from the factory-9yds minimum order. Sharing the postage would be a big saving too.

 

[Shewie]

Looking at Shug's video of his, it looks to be made up of many smaller squares bonded together.

Is that what it is, I thought those squares came from the way the cuben was weaved, I'll have to look more closely at these now, if those are all seams then I'm not confident of it's longevity.

 

[zarkwon]

Is that what it is, I thought those squares came from the way the cuben was weaved.

It may well be. It crossed my mind too but I couldn't imagine why the material would me made in such a way that there were thinner and thicker areas like that. It would seem odd though to make a tarp from smaller squares if longer lengths were available and why would a manufacturer only make material in 2sqft lengths? Sounds like Monty Pythons string sketch. Teepee says available in 9 yard length minimum so you must be right Rich. Odd though, you'd think either the thinner areas would be weaker or the thicker areas introduce unnecessary weight. Why not find the optimum uniform thickness for strength vs weight?

 

[zarkwon]

Wiki says this:-

Similar to sails made from traditional woven sail cloth, Cuben Fiber sails are constructed from panels that are bonded and sewn together, as opposed to 3DL sails that are laminated over a mold. The material is reportedly more durable than laminated sails of comparable strength while being lighter in weight.

 

[Trunks]

It seems like it's lots of layers of dyneema weave all piled ontop of each other - the patchy look is surely just where the weave crosses?

More info & diagram here:

http://www.na.northsails.com/Sails/RacingSails/CubenFiber/tabid/17421/Default.aspx