Bushwalk Australia

OK, I know there's lots of stuff in here about cuben, but I'm after specific advice.
I'm returning to my roots, tarping it during the cooler months in the Blue Mountains.
I have several big tarps weighing 450g which do the job, but I'm after a rectangle cuben fiber number which is about 3 metres long and 2.5 metres wide.
Obviously I want it to be as waterproof as possible.
Z packs ?

I do know Evan at Terra Rosa Gear made a Cuben tarp for Bluegum Mic recently so that is a local option.

Obviously I have a commercial bias to also recommend DIY .

roysta, if you end up getting the zpacks one please post about your experiences. I'm going to the USA in July and was thinking of ordering one while I am there. I'm very keen to hear an Aussie opinion of it!

If you are OK with waiting, MLD make killer equipment. I have a Cuben Trailstar and that's been impeccable.

I have a Maccat Tarp http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/ made up in Cuben Fiber. I notice they still don't list cuben on the website but worth an email because that was also the case when I bought mine.

No complaints on mine - light, tough, tensions really well with the cat curves. The guy who makes them studied engineering and I believe also did some postgraduate studies in engineering specifically about tarps so has some formal cred (as well as general kudos) for his designs.

I have a Z-Packs cuben flat tarp that is 8.5' x 8.5' (2.5m x 2.5m). I added additional tie-outs too. It is a great tarp and at that size can be set up in a huge array of forms. (there is a good link on the Z-Packs website on this). Also, with the flexibility to set up accordingly, the degree of protection afforded is significant.

I also have the Z-Packs cuben/pertex bivy (with mesh hood) and also their bug-bivy for those warmer nights.

The Z-Packs gear is well made and Joe is more than keen to customise. I give the Z-Packs options the thumbs up.

Well there you go, those responses should make your decision a lot easier

They have indeed, Oyster's advice appeared sound so I ordered the exact same one he has, 8'5"x 8'.5".

I have a 7 ' x 9 ', and wish I'd have got one slightly wider. What you've ordered sounds good.

sim1oz wrote:roysta, if you end up getting the zpacks one please post about your experiences. I'm going to the USA in July and was thinking of ordering one while I am there. I'm very keen to hear an Aussie opinion of it!

I'll get a few overnighters in with this tarp through May and June, so will let you know sim1oz.

Actually further to this, I ordered a groundsheet as well.
280g for a tarp and groundsheet has to beat my lightest other option (1200g).
Frankly I would only use this pairing in the Blue Mountains in the cooler months.
In warmer months I would tent or hammock.

icefest wrote:If you are OK with waiting, MLD make killer equipment. I have a Cuben Trailstar and that's been impeccable.

How do you find setting up of the cuben Trailstar, I read reports it can be a bit of a pain to setup because of lack of stretch. Pretty much all the pegs, guylines have to be spot on to get a tight pitch with Cuben. I've not had any issues with my Cuben Duomid with setup.

ULWalkingPhil wrote:

icefest wrote:If you are OK with waiting, MLD make killer equipment. I have a Cuben Trailstar and that's been impeccable.

How do you find setting up of the cuben Trailstar, I read reports it can be a bit of a pain to setup because of lack of stretch. Pretty much all the pegs, guylines have to be spot on to get a tight pitch with Cuben. I've not had any issues with my Cuben Duomid with setup.

Agree. I've seen a few, and more often than not they didn't look right compared to the silnylon version. I think it comes down to the terrain and the skills of the owner...

I haven't used the silnylon one.

Getting it tight isn't too much of an issue, though I think the silnylon one would be faster. The biggest issue is the load on the pegs. I like it nice and tight.

I don't usually take photos of it but here are a couple that I found.

PB High Camp http://puu.sh/7UcWo.jpg
High Moor: http://puu.sh/7Ud73.jpg

I've set it up on a steep hillside in a forest which was difficult but worked. (I suspect I was somewhat hypoglycaemic and exhausted and that was why it was hard)
http://puu.sh/7Udde.jpg

icefest wrote:PB High Camp http://puu.sh/7UcWo.jpg
High Moor: http://puu.sh/7Ud73.jpg

Those would be the best pitches of a cuben trailstar I have seen. The hillside one, not so much but difficult terrain...

Will be testing out the Z Packs Tarp for the first time this week.
The Solo Plus groundsheet is a beauty.
It works.

I used my Z packs tarp in NZ last month. It was great.....but practically not much different to any other tarp, except for the weight savings.

A