I agree there is
something to be said for blue. Here is the thing though - if you get in a high wind situation you need to take it down and dive in the tent because the grommets will fail every time. But I agree, for car camping and traveling without portages the blue tarp will serve you well. High winds are tough on any tarp and at some point it needs to come down no matter what.
Needs to come down no matter what?
True for most tarps, but there are several that are designed for and can handle very punishing conditions, including higher winds than anyone would endure in the outdoors given the choice, but the choice is not always given, as on multi-day float trips for instance. Booztalkin, I agree that it’s time to get a new tarp and maybe keep the Noah’s around for backup, coverage in light rain, etc. I have a Noah’s 16 and am right there with you. Santa has promised to bring me a 15x15 CCS Tundra.
Got money’s worth
UV degradation, normal wear etc. BUT, dew point as one responder noted can make a huge difference. Buy a new tarp.
I didn’t really get wet
Due to the discomfort factor under the tarp, I gave up my planned activity for the evening. After dinner I was going to get under the tarp and read my book by headlamp. However, it did suck under the tarp and there was no way to keep my book dry (a library book at that). So, I stuck the book back in its zip lock bag, stuck a flask bourbon in my pocket and went out walking.
There’s a dirt road leading from the camp site to one of the main dirt roads through Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. One thing I like about camping in Patuxent River Park and Merkle is that they close and lock the gates to the place about dark. So at night, the whole place belongs to you and only you, or a few. It was raining, but the mostly full moon still provided plenty of light to see where I was walking, especially in some areas that still held snow cover. I walked up an observation tower over Mataponi Creek, but in the rainy dark, there wasn’t much to observe. I kept walking, and the thought occurred to me that I was comfortable, mostly dry and having an enjoyable walk. It was steadily raining, so I was surprised at the realization.
I walked out of Merkle to the adjoining Patuxent River Park. I passed my truck, parked at Selby Landing. I walked some more and then retraced my steps. I paused occasionally and took a pull on the bourbon, possibly explaining why I have such a positive memory of this walk in the rain.
Back at camp, I spent at least a half hour restringing my tarp, somehow hoping that if I changed the angles and tautness it would drip less on me. Then I went to bed. I put my dry layers into a stuff sack to keep them dry and serve as my pillow. I intended to put my jacket over my face to keep the drips off, but when I woke up the next morning my jacket was lying right where I staged it before crawling into my sleeping bag. I had enough ground cloth to fold it over my sleeping bag and when I woke up in the morning I was surprised to not have any wet spots. I had a great night of sleep. I suspect the long walk and the bourbon had something to do with that, and maybe also with forgetting to cover up my hiking boots–they got drippage inside and were wet in the morning.
So, to answer your question, I was actually having a pretty good time out in the cold wet. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
Well there ya go
Glad to hear that. Some of my most memorable walks have been in the rain, or even at night in the rain. Glad to see a reason to believe I’m not completely crazy, or at least in good company.
I think its wonderful that
some of our most memorable sleeps are under less than ideal bedroom conditions.
We emergency camped on a terraced beach on Lake Superior. The beach was composed of fist sized cobbles. The flattest spot was on a juniper bush. Yes ON the bush which was hugging the ground. The terrace was perhaps 40 inches wide.
Great sleep and best of all no holes in the Thermarests!
I own 3 CCS tarps and swear by them.
They are excellent tarps and well worth the money if you do a lot of canoe tripping. I would not leave home without my CCS tarp. But, even the excellent CCS tarps have to come down sometimes. Especially the big ones - like your 15x15 tundra tarp. 15X15 is a lot of sail. If you have trees to tie off to you are in good shape - but if you are in treeless open country it can be a challenge when the wind gets up in the 20 -35 knot range.
not at all
just rig it with some of it folded in I often use it in half.
Once had a tent
whose fly was leaking. Cliff Jacobson came to the rescue with a recommendation to use Thompson’s water seal. I already had some, painted it on the fly, let it dry for a couple of days and, viola! the tent served for a couple of more years.
Peter
Trust me -
there are times it needs to come down.
Thompson’s water seal
Was that on the underside or topside of the fly?
Topside,
and while I was at it, I did the underside of the floor as well.
Peter
cant wait for the next years reviews
TWS keeps in mold spores and has no fungicide. I would use it only as a last resort. Hope you had any existing mildew out.
Why anyone would essentially wax their tarp or tent is beyond me.
Same problem with my Noah Tarp
I had the same problem with my eight-year old 12 x 12 Noah’s Tarp. Although my tarp was well cared for and stored properly, I was also getting seepage.
I bought a few cans of ReviveX Air Dry Water Repellent Spray from REI and applied liberally. Problem solved!
http://www.rei.com/product/793105/revivex-air-dry-water-repellent-spray-5-oz
Wax?
– Last Updated: Dec-29-13 5:57 PM EST –
See TWS promotional video here -
http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/waterproofing-products/waterproofers/waterseal-sport-seal-protection
No more reviews,
this was about five years ago, the tent started leaking again after a couple of years and I threw it out. It was a last resort using stuff that I had on hand.
Peter