Anyone else use a GoLite Tarp. I just picked up a GoLite Lair 2 SilTarp. I can't belive how light these things are. I set it up in the back yard yesterday evening, and left it up overnight. We had a heavy dew this morning, and the sides of the tarp were damp (like a tent would be) but the ground was nice and dry, right up to the front. I Can't wait for the second or third week of bow season, when the Mosquitos aren't out as much, I will definitally pull an overnighter or 2 under this thing.

I picked it up at Campmor, they have it on sale for 109.00

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores...mberId=12500226

I really like the lightness / small packable size factor - but I just can't swallow that price. I got an REI half dome for the same price last year.

I have an 8x10 Ultra-Sil Nylon Tarp from BaseGear. I think it was about $80 and weighs in at under 14 oz. It also folds down to a pretty small form factor. That goes in the back pack and the PSK has a heat sheet in it.

I have Campmors' less expensive 9'x9' nylon tarp. Folded, it fits nicely in my hi tech BOB, a german army daypack. Be aware, all these tarps will suffer from UV breakdown given enough field use. Mine slips nicely into a cloth map envelope against the back, making for a little comfort improvement. All tarps should have pre cut and knotted tiedown lines. Sometimes in the field when a storm comes up, or you've dawdled to long and the suns gone down a few minutes can mean the difference between comfort and misery. I count a quality sleeping bag and tarp right up there with the knife and firemaking in these 'top 10 lists.' The psychological placebo given by 'place' is very powerfull, regardless of how thin the material.

I tried to do the tarp thing using a silnylon tarp, but I don't think i like it too much. About the only advantage they have is weight savings, but it's not enough of a weight savings to make me give up a tent.

Two issues I had with a tarp was insects and rain. A tarp does nothing to prevent insects from buzzing around my head, if I didn't have a bivy with mosquito netting, I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep. Also, when it rains, how do you keep your stuff dry? If you set up the tarp ahead of time, then maybe you can keep the ground beneath it dry, but what if it's already raining? then the ground is already wet.

I've seen all those tarp shelters with the add-on mosquito netting and ground cloths, but once you add up the weight of a tarp+bivy+ground cloth+mosquito netting, you're pretty much at the weight of a one person tent. I've always wanted to try one of the henessy hammocks, but with my luck the next time I go camping I probably won't find any trees to tie it to.

Try to find one of the backpacker mosquito nets and a tyvek ground sheet. That will make the tarp much more comfortable. I like a tarp, even as an augmentation to my tent, it is a place to sit under in the rain and cook, eat and move around. Being stuck in a tent all the time in a good rain is not real fun.
Enjoy the tarp, they are very well made and light as you know. Cheers!

I use a golite hut 1 and like it alot.

I've been tempted to try the henessy hammock too, but haven't had the chance to personaly justify the expense when my paid for 2-man tent works just fine. The henessy hammock can be set up without trees. Use trekking poles one each end and bring a ground cloth (tyvek) to lie under it.

Yeah... you don't need trees... 2 Land Rovers or 2 tanks are OK too ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
(see HH web site for pix !!)

Just joking ! I had a few opportunities to use my HH this year (with trees..!!) and it's just fine. Only problem : when wind's direction is changing, I have not yet mastered the proper tarp positionning technics...