OK, this seems to go against everything holy and good about UL philosophy, but it can just POUR for days without giving up here in BC.
On my last trip I really felt the need for a comfortable outdoor area to hang out and cook under. Just to makes things less totally unpleasant.
Does anyone have any recommendations for something like this that would be suitable for two people? Preferably cheap, but... I really want to keep the weight down to a few ounces or not do it at all, so if cuben's the only answer then I'll just have to save up.

Edit: Just to clarify, this would be separate from a sleeping area. I use a tent for sleeping anyway... just too many bugs and mice otherwise.

Edited by dasbin on 06/13/2010 12:22:55 MDT.

I've also wanted something for rain protection during the day. Years ago I bought an Integral Designs silnylon tarp, 5'x8'. It is easy to deploy it quickly, and seems quite well made. I used it as a cover for my bivy sack in the night, as well as a daytime shelter. The weight of the tarp was worth it for those long periods of rain when you just wanted to sit withoug having to worry about getting soaked more.
Jim

I went backpacking a few weeks ago, and the weather forecast was wet (we got snow). So, in my last-minute packing, I took an 8x10 foot Equinox tarp to serve as a cooking shelter for two of us. That worked fine, but it was way more than what we needed. Maybe 6x8 feet would have been sufficient, but that depends on the trees and the cords you have.

--B.G.--