View Full Version : Aldi Tarp?
Has anyone else noticed this -
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/media/offers/08_week_28/sun_shelter_Wk2846.jpg
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_6529.htm
My inital thought was cool - would be good if it was waterproof......... I wonder what it is made from and whether I could proof it myself
then I read further.........
Factor 25 sun protection
Taped seams
2000mm water column
Storage bag
Easy set-up
Size: 450 (L) × 450cm (W)
2000mm water column..... Hmmmmmmm thats a measure of its waterproofness isn't it?
is this good or is it telling us nothing?
I guess it means it has a 2000 hydrostatic head, which is the height at which a coloumn of liquid gets to before it lets thru the material, i think bivi bags and gournd sheets are about 15,000, and most cheap argos tents are about 2000, which i think is okish, im no expert.
Does not say what weight it is in kg.
not bad for £20.
Graham_S
07-07-2008, 12:54
Someone posted this up on BB. I'll probably pick one up. 2000 isn't bad for a tarp.
the real bonus is the 4.5x4.5 stat.
That's a big tarp.
Sounds pretty good, if the water column is say a 2 metre long pipe and the material is secured over the end and the pipe filled with water and nothing leaks it probably is to all intents and purposes fairly waterproof, it would depend on the diameter of the pipe as to what actual pressure the water imparts to the weave.
The smaller the pipe the less likely it is to leak, so it may be just advertising BULL.
Without some one buying one and testing properly we'll never know.
Wallenstein
07-07-2008, 12:57
I guess it means it has a 2000 hydrostatic head, which is the height at which a coloumn of liquid gets to before it lets thru the material, i think bivi bags and gournd sheets are about 15,000, and most cheap argos tents are about 2000, which i think is okish, im no expert.
Does not say what weight it is in kg.
not bad for £20.
HH 2000mm is standard for UK camping - will resist pretty much any rainfall the UK has to offer.
For mountain use it goes up to 3000-5000mm when the rain will be driven hard by wind etc.
Someone posted this up on BB. I'll probably pick one up. 2000 isn't bad for a tarp.
the real bonus is the 4.5x4.5 stat.
That's a big tarp.
thats exactly what i was thinking!
and a quick look at the argos site and 2000 seems pretty good....well they have some WAY lower than that! ;)
Bob_about
07-07-2008, 13:07
£20 for 4.5 x 4.5 - thanks for the heads up
Aldi may be worth a trip this week
also saw these http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_6532.htm on thier website
not sure what the warmer is like, but possibilities for fire use??
small I know, but may be useful on a hobo?
stu1979uk
07-07-2008, 17:44
I read somewhere for it to be classed as waterproof the HH has to be a minimum of 1500.
bushscout1
07-07-2008, 20:53
Sounds pretty good, if the water column is say a 2 metre long pipe and the material is secured over the end and the pipe filled with water and nothing leaks it probably is to all intents and purposes fairly waterproof, it would depend on the diameter of the pipe as to what actual pressure the water imparts to the weave.
The smaller the pipe the less likely it is to leak, so it may be just advertising BULL.
Without some one buying one and testing properly we'll never know.
Not sure that's quite right, IIRC it shouldn't make any difference on the diameter of the pipe as pressure is measured in weight per area (eg pounds per square inch / psi). The weight is a function of gravity on the volume of water, which is related to area & height but this is then cancelled as the pressure is calculated by dividing the weight by the area - hence the pressure is directly related to the height of the water column (otherwise known as the hydrostatic head when measuring the pressure of water required to overcome the waterproofness of a material).
However, whilst the above is true in theory, having just looked at Terra Nova's website it mentions that lower HH results are achieved from the British Standard test as it uses a larger surface area of fabric !!!
Just in case you were wondering, the Mountain Hardwear Trango tent has a flysheet with a hydrostatic head of 2000mm, whilst the Terra Nova Quasar tent has a flysheet with a hydrostatic head of 8000mm (both very expensive tents - as used on Everest).
Almost confused myself when reading that back through, I hope its of some use.
fast but dim
07-07-2008, 22:21
great find.... i love aldi
Singeblister
08-07-2008, 00:24
I got one of those tarps a couple of years back looks the same , I used it a lot it was great , it does tend to leak when you get pools gathering in an area on the tarp but you would get this on any tarp i suppose , the last time I used it was a middlewood not the last one but the one before when it was really rough and that saw it off the wind tore a big rip in it , but well worth the money , if you use at the bushmoot you might get the "have to have a green tarp" brigade laugh at you but hey who cares :D
Wallenstein
08-07-2008, 11:37
if you use at the bushmoot you might get the "have to have a green tarp" brigade laugh at you but hey who cares :D
Combine it with a pair of crocs and a Bear Grylls Craghopper Shirt to really get them hopping... ;)
Singeblister
08-07-2008, 22:18
Combine it with a pair of crocs and a Bear Grylls Craghopper Shirt to really get them hopping... ;)
Pushing your kit in a wheel barrow LOL :notworthy
This will be ideal for my "family field kitchen", when I go family camping we have to take everything and the kitchen sink :o
So I set up a tarp as a field kitchen area, this is bigger then the tarp I use and it won't quite break the bank:)
jeroboam
10-07-2008, 15:37
I've just posted the below on British Blades, thought I'd replicate it here for the benefit of you lot!
:)
Picked one of these up this morning, immediately got SWMBO out in the garden to have a play..........
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g241/hjohc/Picture001.jpg
What's in the box:
A Carry Bag, containing;
Instruction booklet,
The Tarp,
Twelve Guylines with "three hole" tension adjusters,
Eight conventional "skewer" pegs,
Four "heavy duty" pegs,
Four 1.8m steel poles,
Four 0.4m pole extensions.
Four pole top caps
The poles and the pegs each come in their own bag.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g241/hjohc/Picture003.jpg
First pitch (poles at full length)
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g241/hjohc/Picture004.jpg
The nylon tie points seem to be fixed quite well as do the eyelets for the poles.
It went up quite quickly, would have tried more configurations and taken more pics but the heavens opened.
I've left it outside in the rain for the last couple of hours, nothing coming through the seams as yet.
First impressions are that, at £20 it's an absolute bargain!
:)
J
jackmcmanus21
10-07-2008, 15:44
it looks big....whats the price on it?
I got one of the tarps this week but in darker colours (does that make me part of the 'Have to have a green tarp' Brigade?).
I went to Aldi's to get a cast iron pan but noticed they were selling the tarps in two colour ranges.
The other colours are a green and brown, though still quite bright.
I am taking my daughter wild camping this weekend at Lupus's place and will try it out there and post up my thoughts on it next week. I intend to leave the poles at home and use dead wood instead for any uprights that are required.
If they are any good I will be getting a couple more for my SeaCadet training.
Cheers
George
Jedadiah
11-07-2008, 09:39
I saw someone using one of these at the moot last year, can't for the life in me remember who it was. Stephen (Guillane) was pitched up next to them. Any road up, i went directly to Alsi in Bridgend and bought on (they were £9.99 then) and, i've got to say, they are excellent pieces of kit. One word of warning though; the poles can bend a bit when it get's really windy, but that's to be expected. Highly recommended, even at £20.
We had one up at the Moot last year covering the door of the tent, it's a good bit of kit, for most uses you could dispense with the poles, I like the quick buckles that allow me to clip it on to my roof rack easily.
I'd not go for one as my main tarp but as something that can be used on occasion it's fine and it's waterproof enough, i've not had it leak at all.
Singeblister
11-07-2008, 20:36
I saw someone using one of these at the moot last year, can't for the life in me remember who it was. Stephen (Guillane) was pitched up next to them. Any road up, i went directly to Alsi in Bridgend and bought on (they were £9.99 then) and, i've got to say, they are excellent pieces of kit. One word of warning though; the poles can bend a bit when it get's really windy, but that's to be expected. Highly recommended, even at £20.
That was mine Jed , it wasn't used as a main tarp but just for sitting under with the fire right at the edge it as great, as I said above I have used it on a few meets now and had my moneys worth out of it ,,bargain
The 2000mm refers to the height of a column of water over I think a 1cm square piece of the fabric. 1500mm is the minimum to be called waterproof (if all seams are sealed). 3000mm is common for ground sheets and should be the minimum for tents. The higher the figure the longer it will last since UV degrades the fabric (nylon quicker than polyester). BTW Polyester is heavier but cheaper so this is likely to be polyester which is more resilient to UV degradation. Ground sheets are mor commonly 5000mm Hydrostatic head. As you'd expect the higher the figure the better the waterproof it is and the longer it will remain so (loses HH over time as the UV degrades and thins the fagbric). I have a single skin tent at 8000mm fly and 10000mm groundsheet (Vango Force 10 Vitesse). This is a very water proof tent just as with single skins the condensation is a problem.
This tarp is good value. The closest is the Robens tarp at £40 or £45 with poles and only 3.5m square. They also do 4.5m square one. Robens has a higher HH and is better made. I will get a 3.5m one soon and ditch the poles for lightweight camping.
Aldi and Lidl do some very good kit at ridiculously cheap prices. They had a £19 altimeter watch a few months ago that sold out in hours.
Andy2112
15-07-2008, 16:03
Decathlon tarps, you missed them on your list mate
How do i set the laser printer to stun? - Andy2112
can use the reader from a cd drive to make a laser pointer capable of setting fire to stuff. Is that any use? It is on one of those sites offering hacks and stuff to make. Only need a radio shack or equivalent to get a few parts from.
BTW are these comments after peoples posts randomly generated or have they set up so they appear after their posts?
BTW are these comments after peoples posts randomly generated or have they set up so they appear after their posts?
go to your users CP and select edit signature.
Tried the tarp out at the weekend and was quite impressed with it.
As it is so large you really do need to get the slope right to avoid pooling. In one corner there was about 3 inches of water and it did seep through but that was soon fixed.
I have the Decathalon tarps as well and the material seems similar in feel.
I left the poles at home and just used some suitably located trees and some poles cut to length.
I will though only be using it as a group tarp and try and get hold of some more Decathalon tarps to give out to the cadets as the Aldi tarp is I feel just too big for the kids to set up easily.
George
I'm still trying to get hold of one - wasn't able to get to the shop on the day they appeared :( Asked the other day and they'd sold out. Might try the Trowbridge store.
G
I'm still trying to get hold of one - wasn't able to get to the shop on the day they appeared :( Asked the other day and they'd sold out. Might try the Trowbridge store.
G
not sure if there wil be any left - think there was only one left when i went in last saturday.....
there is a store in melksham as well if that is any help!
not sure if there wil be any left - think there was only one left when i went in last saturday.....
Bu**er :(
there is a store in melksham as well if that is any help!
That's the one I tried :(
Must get my finger out next time :banghead: :censored:
G
I'll try and pop in on the way home from work tonight if you like;)
I'll try and pop in on the way home from work tonight if you like;)
That'd be magnificent if you could. Don't worry if you're not able to.
G
Thanks to g4ghb I now have one :You_Rock_
G
Jedadiah
17-07-2008, 10:01
That was mine Jed , it wasn't used as a main tarp but just for sitting under with the fire right at the edge it as great, as I said above I have used it on a few meets now and had my moneys worth out of it ,,bargain
Course it was John, how could i have forgotten. Need a notepad and pen nowadays! Yeah, little fire and the old 'anti-mozzy' candles on poles around. Bargain and no mistake! Thanks for reminding me mate.;)
Thanks to g4ghb I now have one :You_Rock_
G
No problem mate! - glad you got it ok :)
Mesquite
17-07-2008, 16:38
Thanks to g4ghb I now have one :You_Rock_
G
Likewise I got one today. Went for the green and grey version as I'm one who prefers to blend in rather than stand out ;) I'll be taking it with me to the midlands moot tomorrow to give it a try out.