Does anyone know of a supplier of something similar to BPL-UK's micro tarp? They have been out of stock for quite some time from what I've seen / heard and could well be like that for some time still. If I am going to lighten / reduce pack size then I could do with something similar for when the weather gets warmer and better in the next month or so. Does anyone know if its coming into stock or if there are any alternatives out there in the marketplace? Its 148g and nice and small which suits me on my next stage in the transformation from a 28kg load to my goal of about =<4kg base load. Goal is a 2 or more dayer in a 20litre sack.
I have contacted PodcastBob via the website contact form but just wondered if anyone had some alternative suggestion. I could always make one but I have no experience of sewing myself although I know of someone on another forum who has 32m x 1.45m of sil-nylon for sale at £5 per linear metre (min order 2m) in slight cosmetic seconds.
What needles are best for silnylon? We have some Schmetz 25/080 needles on some hand stitchers or proper machines at work AFAIK. I wonder if they would be ok for making one up with. I guess join two pieces with a kind of roll type join. Also stitch holes at the edges of the tarp are less of a problem than at lifter points in the middle provided the needles haven't introduced a tear but a clean hole.
Hello Paul, what size is their microtarp? Is it a square tarp you'll be using for ground shelter ? I've had good dealings with Brian of OES, he offers a lot of choices in both silnylon and spinn and is happy to customize tarps to custom specifications for very reasonable amounts. Only downside is he's based in the states. Shoot him an email hes a real nice chap to chat with.
If you're thinking about making your own silnylon tarp I'd advise you check out the DIY section of hammockforums, theres a wealth of information there that'll apply directly.
What kind of budget do you have? If you're going all the way what about a cuben tarp from Z-packs? A bit too rich for my blood. I was going to go with a Spinn tarp but I found out even though it's lighter than silnylon it packs down larger!
Also, 4kg baseweight that's awesome! I'm at 6.3kg just now and I'm still using my beat up DD 3x3 tarp. Once that gets changed out I should be just under 6kg
I'm not really at 4kg but if I was to be really strict and minimal I reckon I could get there. I am about what you are at the last time out ut I still take too much stuff. Got plenty of scope to take less.
I've just heard back from Rose at BPL-UK and they now have a new manufacturer who is close to supplying samples. If they are ok they reckon the first order will be placed and delivered shortly. If the price is ok I reckon I will wait.
BTW sil-nylon when new typically only has a HH of about 1500mm and it degrades every time you pack and re-pack the tarp. In no time it could be as low as 500mm HH. I never thought about that but it was some research a guy on BPL-USA posted on there. I always thought that 1500mm HH was the minimu staandard for waterproof clothing so I wonder how dry sil-nylon is. In the HH test the water beads up in micro-droplets just like condensation does so who knows if those condensation drips are condensation, misting or the fabric leaking?? They all look the same apparently.
What is the typical HH of spinnaker?? Anyone know? Also is Spinnaker stronger and lighter than Sil-nylon or less so? Is it strong until catastrophic like Cuben or is it closer to Sil-nylon? Is it rustly like cuben or a crisp packet?
I know that water leaches through silnylon and is not waterproof in the same sense as cuben fibre. AFAIK Spinn is stronger, I know it's definately lighter. I know it doesn't sag when wet like silnylon, and is a noisey fabric (liked to a snaredrum?). Beyond that my knowledge falters - I've been trying to educate myself following topics over on hammockforums as theres more of an UL-conscious vibe in discussions over there which I find really interesting.
As for baseweights, not sure if theres much I could lose to drop below 6kg short of ditching my hammock and UQ (not going to happen), but even then that'd only save me another 1kg approximately. I presume you're a tarp camper rather than a hammock guy?
Tarp and bivvy bag user. I also use a quilt and would have to use a CCF mat I have that weighs 130g. I could cut that down too. My only wish is to be able to get at least a 1 or 2 night kit into a 20 litre sack and still be comfortable. My quilt is an XL golite one as I'm rather tall. Not completely sure what my base weight will really be but I was adding up a good chunk of it when I was reading the 15 or less threads. I hadn't added it all up when I was about 2 point something kilos but it was really only my whitebox stove and meths bottle. I have an 8oz one I think and I'm pretty frugal with meths so all in could get it down to well under 4kg I think IF I went without any luxuries or even was willing to accept a certain discomfort or lack of comfort. I mean camp warmth could be my quilt so no spare fleece, base layer or insulation piece.
I really want to try to see how low I can go but ultimately I would increase it for my ideal kit. I think it is worth experimenting to see how low your base weight can get then you can always increase the weight to improve your experience since low weight is not everything. You might enjoy the trip moree if you had music, say a light MP3 player and even UL speakers. Or a small and light paperback book. I do know someone who chooses their holiday reading by weight. A small front areea book with a enough pages to keep you entertained for the length of the trip but not that thick. A bit obsessive perhaps but all adds up I guess.
I know that once I got below 10kg particularly 9kg or less I found that it was a comfortable carry and I no longer felt the pack was a weight. Now I am thinking of halving that previous weight and even lower to see what that is like. All good. Part of this is wondering why I need an 8'x8' tarp when I have a bivvy that is waterproof. Last year I used my tarp with a mate with the foot of the bivvy bag out in the rain. It was not a problem with me a nd my mate being mostly under the flying V pitch of the tarp. For solo use why do I need to enclose myself completely in the tarp. Colder, windier and wetter weather I would take it but in milder weather with warmth even when raining I don't need that. The 1.4m x 1.2m tarp from BPL-UK weighs 148g. I reckon that would offer plenty of shelter for one person. I'd have thought a square tarp is best for the flying V. Either 1.4m square or 1.2m square.
BPL-UK Micro Tarp or equivalent
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