Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

I just finished making Ray and Jenny's two person tarp. I had had the book for some time and had been wanting to make it for about a year. For a while, you could not order the kit separate from the book, but now you can. So I ordered the tarp kit and the net tent kit.

The directions in the book are very clear and easy to follow. I have a lot of sewing experience, but I think most beginning sewers could do fine with this kit. It took about ten hours. There are lots of good sewing tips in the book about sewing with silnylon. For example: use coated paper clips to hold the hem fold while you sew, instead of pins.

I have not sewed the net tent yet, and I will report on that when I finish it.

I erected it outside yesterday in order to seal the seams, and it is quite roomy underneath. I am going to test it in the backyard over the next couple of weeks, to try different ways of pitching it, etc. I learned a lot about different knots reading the book! I felt as if I was finally able to learn some useful boy scout stuff. In girl scouts, you mostly learn how to sell cookies.

Rating: 5 / 5

Yeah. That tarp is great. It's lightweight. And once you've read the tarp book it's easy to set up (knots, picking location, etc...). Ray has some visual instructions on his website (http://www.ray-way.com/tarp-nettent/pitch/index.shtml)

Surprisingly to me, sewing it yourself (perhap girl scouts have the advantage here?) really adds to the outdoor experience. That sounds strange, but I feel a more visceral connection with the tarp since I created it myself. I know how to fix it. I know what each part is used for, and why, etc...

Rating: 5 / 5

I purchased a "seconds" tarp kit a long while back, supposedly just cosmetic defects in the fabric. It was a bit cheaper than normal. Since then RayWay Products switched to a different silnylon, and I haven't seen seconds again.

Anyway, it was easy to sew and it works great. By chance we have only used it in very light rain so I cannot comment on use in a downpour. But I suspect the time will come soon.

I also sewed a bug-tent according to the Tarp book instructions, and am happy with it. If I expect no bugs I bring a Gossamer Gear Polycryo ground cloth.

I don't know why I'd take anything else except in winter.

Update Nov-2009: I now have lots of experience with the tarp in rain. It works great and has lots of room underneath for you and your gear. Still a perfect 5.

Edited by ewolin on 11/11/2009 11:18:07 MST.