To get the most versatility, I've added 4 mid-panel guy-outs on a 10 x 10. This way you can pitch the flying diamond with a beak, by using the mid-panel on the diagonal. Of, course, this being an ultralight site, you could probably get away with two and just mark them by using a different colored line( for fast setup )

Enjoy,

Dave

I like lots of guy points. It multiplies your pitch options, but does add weight.
The Oware tarps seem to have good amount of guy points, but some have ordered with an additional center guy point for even more flexibility,

> I'd love to see more commentary on square vs. rectangular tarps
> & the pitches a square unit offers.

Hi James,

I went with a square 9'x9' cuben tarp for its many pitching options.
Most of the time I use the open and airy pitches already mentioned.
When weather really gets CRAZY the square tarp can be set up quickly
into a fully enclosed 9' tetrahedron with a 45" height.
1. Peg two corners of one side
2. Form 9'x9'x9' triangle by bringing two free corners
together and pegging with single stake
3. Fold the loose material over one side and peg at the
mid-point tie-out.
4. Crawl under with pole and raise the center and
ride out the storm.
Here is a picture:



Al

George, who made your tarp? What type of cuben was used? What's the overall weight without guylines?

> George, who made your tarp? What type of cuben was used?
> What's the overall weight without guylines?

Hi James,

I bought my 9'x9' flat tarp from Lawson Klein.
It is all glued and taped. No sewn seams or hem.

It is made of reflective cuben. Looks (and works)like a space blanket on one side and is green on the other (sort of an iridescent green). It is 0.75oz/sq yd cuben but with the reflective coating this cuben actually weighs 0.80 oz/sq yd.

Total weight of the 9x9 with linelocks and the spectra guylines is 9.0 oz.

Here it is in a traditional A frame pitch.

Wow that looks great George. Do you have contact info for Lawson? I didn't find anything via Google.

lawsonequipment.com

@James>

I like Clelland's bomb shelter setup for rain and cooking under the front "vestibule". But it means a 10'X10' tarp to get that configuration.

If'n I HAD to use a tarp it would be a 10'X10' Cuben tarp with all the tie-outs Clelland shows... and a bug net W/floor enclosure inside.

But I'll stay with my TT Moment for now. I'm old and usually too weary at the end of a long day to mess with tarping. Besides, if the wind shifts all I have to do is pull one end stake, pivot the Moment around and re-stake.

I sent an inquiry to Lawson Equipment but got no reply. Maybe they're offline for a while.

Edited by El_Canyon on 11/30/2011 08:33:28 MST.

Hi James,

Lawson may just be enjoying the outdoors for a few days.
He has been responsive to this email: Lawson@mountainfitter.com

While you wait for a response, you may want to read some
Lawson's posts here on the backpackinglight forums.
He has posted a lot of interesting tests with bonding cuben
and making hammocks and tarps.

Al

I read in the forums somewhere that Lawson stopped selling tarps.

> I read in the forums somewhere that Lawson stopped selling tarps.

I've been wondering about that, since his site doesn't have them listed any more. So far, all of the feedback I've seen of his tarps has been positive, so I wonder what happened.