Hi, any and all advice welcome.

I am fairly new bikepacking (and not a backpacker) and I am looking to replace my old chunky British Army Issue Poncho tarp with a much smaller lighter tarp.

My intended use - I currently have a rab storm bivi to use under the tarp but will soon switch to a borah bivi. I also want the tarp to give me more coverage than just my head.
My first real trip will be at the end of the month when I will attempt the inner loop of the cairngorm loop so I can test my gear and set up before doing something more challenging.

From doing a bit of digging around on the tinterweb I have narrowed down options to the two in the title - mainly for weight and pack size v's price.

The only real structural difference I can see between them is the siltarp has a single ridgeline point that the Borah doesn’t. Although this may give it a bit more versatility in terms of setup options I expect my main set up will be the half pyramid using an upside down bike in place of the pole.

Does anyone have experience with either of these that they can share? Would anyone care to recommend an alternative?

I'm not convinced that the Siltarp is big enough to offer much coverage as a half mid unless the weather's good and you're small The Borah's not much bigger but it is bigger, however you might miss the central tie-out* (it's handy on a half mid to pull the back wall out). Both will set up as half mids space will be pretty limited.

It might be a bit heavier than you're after but have you thought about a TN Comp 2? It's 2.5m x 2.9m and weighs just over 500g.

*I'm sure John would add a tie-out for a few $.

How about an alpkit bicycle 7??

bicycle 7s just come back into stock 8-)

Hoorahh, at last the Rig7 is back in stock. I too was looking at Boarah's offerings and the Siltarrp2 but have opted for the Rig7 as it offers loads of pitching options and If I'm honest, I'm happy to lug 510g about as I can nerd out with some tarpology.

bicycle ordered, The extra coverage and at half the price of SilTarp 2 is a no brainer :D

Thanks for all the advice guys.
I too ordered the Rig7.

I was looking at pack size over weight but at the same time I want to have good coverage so the Rig7 seems like a good choice. I am average size - 5'8'' - and thought I would get covered up by the siltarp 1 so thanks very much for the input as I would have been gutted if I ordered it then found out it was too small.

I had been watching the Rig7 for a while but there was no sign of it coming into stock.
I also picked up a hunka to try out. :D

Lughnasadh wrote:T I am average size - 5'8'' - and thought I would get covered up by the siltarp 1 so thanks very much for the input as I would have been gutted if I ordered it then found out it was too small.

No way the Siltarp 1 would cover you completely. I'm happy with mine and a Rab Ascent bivvy bag though.