Integral Designs SilTarp1

[gairym]

sounds like you know a lot more about the area and route than the articles i read already!

[didnothingfatal]

Spent a long time ticking off the 'hills' over there

[didnothingfatal]

Well sorted out the tarp setup, a pipe cutter resulted in a custom length pole that made a good solid setup, with and without wheel! tried various setups under the tarp. Will be trying out a shed load of gear this next week, ok make that whole new shelter and sleeping setup. Main concern is lack of space under it, but if this is going to be my setup I'm looking at more shaped tarp with more area covered.

[gairym]

photos....?

[didnothingfatal]

Can't link from Picassa on mobile device, but stuff here

http://didnothingfatal.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... tions.html

The pole in the photos is a regular length ULOG tarp pole, the final length we didn't picture, but we took about 7" out of it. It's currently raining and still standing!

[gairym]

interesting.....

how do you carry the pole?

is it in pieces?

what do you think is better about using a pole as opposed to using the bike to secure the non-wheel end?

there's still a fair bit of room for driving rain to get in - no?

sorry to bombard you with questions but i'm keen to find a way to use my (similar) tarp and so am interested to hear your thoughts/reasoning.

[didnothingfatal]

No problem, the pole fits in my frame bag no problem, will also fit my handlebar and seat bag no issue. It's shock corded, and folds down, the carbon pole I've sourced is the same. I'm too big to start wiggling past bikes to get under the tarp, it also means taking allen keys to the bike to drop saddles, etc. can't be bothered. I got a couple of metal disks to stand the poles on to prevent them embedding ino the ground, it's easy enough to get under and boil water.

Sideways rain will get in no problem, hence if weather forecast is poor I'll take the Laser Comp or the Vaude Bivvy. If the forecast is cold and dry, the PHD will be fine, sunny the Bugabivy or just the bag. Sideways rain is actually the main issue, the SilTarp1 is small, Ian's design will stop wind and rain from one direction. That's why I'm currently looking at what else is available. The American cottage industry of shelter specialists is good, I'm currently trawling though over 70 specialist 'cottage' gear manufacturers, then you have the larger guys like Integral Designs.

The structure was stable though, the guys locked out brilliantly and the MSR Cylone stakes are serious pegs, all in with 2mm Dyneema guys and tensioners the tarp weighed 252g. Pole around 100g

So yeah it will work, it's going to be tried out very soon. No, it's not perfect in lousy weather, but it is light and packs small. Yes I have my eyes on something else, and I have a cunning plan to improve it's wind resistance (and other tarp based structure)

[gairym]

that all sounds well thought out.

i always keep hoping that i'll stumble upon the one magical solution that i can use for every trip in all conditions but it clearly doesn't exist.

at the moment my options are that small tarp and a large 3m x 3m (800g) tarp which i can make almost weather proof (one end is open) for if/when the weather gets nasty.

i've yet to be confident enough to take the small tarp into the hills - maybe we'll see what the forecast is saying for the upcoming welsh trip (you still up for that?)?