Bushwalk Australia

Hello

I enjoy the STS 3x3 tarp except that it is yellow and not great for shade. Also only having one tie point each side is limiting, sometimes.

Can anyone recommend a tarp up to 500g that also provides okay shade? I guess a darker grey or brown colour may work.

I am aware that any tarp under the beating sun will be hot. My canvas 3x3 roasts!

Look at Alpkit in the UK. They have a Rig 3.5 Tarp. It weighs about 300g. I have one and am very happy with it.

Tyvek works great as a shade, but may not be robust enough as a full functioning weatherproof tarp. I've glued hems with PVA and added grommets and it has withstood breezes of about 30kmh, but anything more would stress the attachment points. I don't think silnylon will cut it as a shade and UV damage will be fast.

Rig 7 almost there, a bit small.

The Alton 3x3 could be OK.

UD FK tarp is a light grey.

DD ultralight in coyote brown may work...

Neo wrote:I guess a darker grey or brown colour may work.

I don't think so! You want as white as you can get, but it absolutely must be opaque. A silverised tarp (like the more robust type of space blanket) is also excellent; it's cheap and readily available, with tie-out holes pre-made.

ribuck wrote:

Neo wrote:I guess a darker grey or brown colour may work.

I don't think so! You want as white as you can get, but it absolutely must be opaque. A silverised tarp (like the more robust type of space blanket) is also excellent; it's cheap and readily available, with tie-out holes pre-made.

White or a reflective silver work by reflecting light/heat. Note that some silvers are not reflective.

An opaque material will be more effective in heat reduction than a translucent material.

Having said all that .. even a black translucent material will reduce radiant heat. Use what you have, it will help.

Tried the SOL emergency shelter, cool little pegs it is a heavy duty space blanket.
Have the SOL sports utility blanket which has eyelets but is a bit small. Thicker than the other.

For shade a light colour wouldn't block the light...

If you want UV protection and coolness in bright sun and heat, you want as white as you can get as it will reflect radiant heat and absorb/reflect UV. Tyvek delivers. If you want a darkroom you need 100% opacity.

Ok now I get it. When picturing white I thought of DCF or similar. Tyvek would work nicely.

Today I bought a Mont batwing large 480g for $255. 3.4x2.9m in green. Comes with ten sturdy narrow red x profile pegs 90g.

Currently car camping, it is extended over a BigSky Rev2p with one pole (MSR), creating a rain and wind shedding palace

I'm newish to the tarpin' lifestyle - only 5 nights. I have a Mountain Laurel Designs 'Grace' duo tarp in .75/Dyneema (white) which gives great shade. But...
The problem I discovered a few days ago is the tarp condensation in certain cold conditions is extreme and feels (with each sudden 'nudge' of wind) like it's almost raining underneath on my down sleeping bag!
Pitched on the summit of open, alpine Mt. Howitt, (beautiful, clearish cold night) ambient temp 2C, wind a gentle 5~8km/h, tarp condensation 110%! After 2hours I woke and realised my Versalite down bag was becoming soaked particularly around my waist area.
I aborted the mission and climbed into a tent. I love my tarp under the moon/stars but it definitely and sadly has its limitations

Note: Tarp sides were firmly pitched ~30cm above ground with a good air/wind flow through. I use Ruta Locura carbon fibre adjustable poles and stakes.

I had a camp at Vallejo Gantner hut around this time of year a few years back. About 7C but tent had heaps of condensation. No wind. Also cloud inversion next morning in Terrible Hollow. So I would say this is a seasonal thing in this region.

DCF that gives good shade!!!!

I've always found DCF to be pretty much a heat trap.

Tarps v single layer tent re condensation, there shouldn't be much difference. In fact the tarp is normally better due to better ventilation. Double layer tents are better but for the most part, just hide the condensation on the inner side of the outer layer.

Every night is different and camping under foliage helps but generally, condensation is worse in early evening and early morning.

You can avoid that early evening condensation by not setting up until after the sun goes down and the dew settles.

Personally, condensation doesn't worry me, but it can be an issue over multiple days, especially with Down, if you can't dry out your bag/quilt during the day.

Maybe set up the tarp so condensation runs down the sides and doesn't drip on you. I've never seen it that bad, but I've heard it does happen.

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Thanks crollsurf.

Yeah I definitely would not recommend a DCF .75 white tarp for shading from the sun!

I was really surprised the other night with a light 5kmh breeze blowing through the tarp - I just assumed that breeze was enough to rid the tarp of any emitted body warmth/condensation - but it was much worse than the night before (same conditions) with no breeze! When the breeze momentarily (and frequently) 'buffeted' up to 8kmh it would suddenly shed the condensation all over me/sleeping bag. By about only 9:30pm the down bag was obviously becoming soaked and it was already about 0C. Yes - in theory setting up the tarp with a steeper sides to somewhat shed the condensation would work - but in practice it can't be done with my tarp as the shedding angles required would mean no effective area to actually use under my Grace tarp

vvv My MLD Grace tarp on the Mt Howitt summit campsite at dawn vvv

Beautiful campsite.
I use a synthetic quilt or half bag to reduce my worries of damp coziness.
Without wind I find a tarp doesn't drip on me much. Classic or tapered A frame setup. But usually I'm in a tent due to ticks and sometimes likely leeches

Great photo Stew. Unless your lens fogged up, you can literally see the mist in the photo. I don't think anything UL will save you from that. Back in the day, you could run your finger down the inside of an old canvas tent, to direct the water, but that was for the rain soaking through the tent. Not sure that would work with modern materials.

crollsurf wrote:Great photo Stew. Unless your lens fogged up, you can literally see the mist in the photo. I don't think anything UL will save you from that. Back in the day, you could run your finger down the inside of an old canvas tent, to direct the water, but that was for the rain soaking through the tent. Not sure that would work with modern materials.

Can't take credit for the mist in the photo - it's most likely my special effect app I call 'finger smudge on iPhone10 lens'.