Helikon Tex 10x10 tarp. $60

Started by Moab, May 04, 2024, 02:40:30 PM

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Moab

This is my favorite tarp.

This isn't so much a deal as it is a review. But the price has come down to $60 from it being closer to $80 for years. It comes in many different colors. And many other sellers within a dollar of that price. Offer those colors.

I think this tarp is in a sweet spot. It's almost 10x10 (3mx3m?). Has guyouts all around and across the middle. Which gives you many more options to set it up in different shelter configurations. It's what I would call an intermediate weight. Somewhere between a poly tarp and a cheap, thin silnylon. And at 1.5lbs is a great weight for backpacking or your BOB.

I find anything less than 9 or 10ft square really limits your options for rain coverage and shelter configurations. If your 6ft or there are two of you that still gives you 1.5-2ft on each end for rain coverage. Thinking your going to stay dry under a poncho is not realistic. That coupled with the real difficulty of having to dry out your sleep system makes this size tarp worth it.

The guyouts are sewn pieces of nylon webbing. Strong. But not over weight. And again at 1.5lbs it's just bombproof enough without being to heavy. A real ounce saving piece of kit. Without sacrificing durability.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126462450343?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1PAwiowvTz2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=OOH5b8UqSIO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

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Crimson_Phoenix

How are these vs. the USGI poncho and USMC reversible tarp materials? Eventually want to add one for my camping setup as a rain fly and another to keep in my car for a lean-to shelter.
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majorhavoc

Quote from: Moab on May 04, 2024, 02:40:30 PM[snip]

I find anything less than 9 or 10ft square really limits your options for rain coverage and shelter configurations. If your 6ft or there are two of you that still gives you 1.5-2ft on each end for rain coverage. Thinking your going to stay dry under a poncho is not realistic. That coupled with the real difficulty of having to dry out your sleep system makes this size tarp worth it.

 [snip]
 
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Agree most lightweight tarps are too small for two people.  And good point that the practical consequences of a wet sleeping system justify the extra weight of a larger tarp. 

Can anyone point to a video or website that illustrates how to set up that second configuration?  It looks interesting.
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Moab

"Ideas are more dangerous than guns. We don't let our people have guns. Why would we let them have ideas?" Josef Stalin

Moab

Incidentally there are two 10mil - 10x10 tarps for $23 on Prepping Deals today. Says package contents are 7.5lbs. So probably 3.5lb tarps. But for $12 vs $70. Might be best for mechanized movement. 

Limited-time deal: GUARD SHIELD Tarps Heavy Duty Waterproof 10x10 Feet Black Poly Tarp Cover Square Outdoor Thick UV Resistant Tarpaulin with Grommets 10mil (2-Pack) https://a.co/d/2IwVPaD
"Ideas are more dangerous than guns. We don't let our people have guns. Why would we let them have ideas?" Josef Stalin

Moab

#5
Quote from: Crimson_Phoenix on June 02, 2024, 12:30:53 AMHow are these vs. the USGI poncho and USMC reversible tarp materials? Eventually want to add one for my camping setup as a rain fly and another to keep in my car for a lean-to shelter.
The big difference is weight. The tarp in this thread is 1.5lbs. And costs $60-$70. It also has guyouts along its ridgeline and all the way around the outside. Which are all made of nylon webbing and can be field repaired. Resewn.

The second tarp I just posted. Or a regular poly tarp in 10x10 is about 3.5lbs. And only has guyouts around the edge. Probably tougher if not setup correctly. Or snagged on something. But maybe to heavy and not field repairable like the lighter one above. If you were to take a tarp backpacking.

So I would say the more expensive one for backpacking. And cheap poly for in the car.

You can get tarp clamps that clip onto the tarp anywhere you want. And it creates guyouts. Say along the ridgeline. But the center of the cheap poly tarps are not reinforced for that. So they may fail or tare at those places.

In heavy winds like where you live (Alaska). The more guyouts the better. The more you are displacing the force across more guyouts. But snow load may favor the cheap poly. But only if you were to leave a heavy snow load on it. And just the strain of weight pulled on it. I think the poly probably has a higher pull strength. So the lighter tarp should be cared for a little different. Meaning don't let a great deal of snow build upon it. Meaning bounce the snow load off maybe once or twice a night in a heavy snow.
"Ideas are more dangerous than guns. We don't let our people have guns. Why would we let them have ideas?" Josef Stalin

NT2C

While a tad heavy for hiking, I keep at least one of these in each vehicle (Jeep has three):

https://a.co/d/btrZbiZ

While small and heavy they do work well for shelter in the field, particularly when using the silver side to best effect. And yes, two of mine are the alien version.
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