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Friday, 17 July 2009

Tarps, tents or tarptents video

In between heavy showers I spent a day with Cameron McNeish recently making some instructional videos for a new TGO website, which should be on line in September. The site will feature videos and we’ll be making plenty more in the future. Cameron was photographer, director and editor while I talked about and showed gear and techniques. As a taster Cameron has posted one of the videos on his website. This is about shelters for backpacking and the difference between the various types. Cameron and I hope you enjoy it and would like to know what you think. I’m sure some people will disagree with some of what I say!

Photo info: Tarp camping on the slopes of Ben Mor Assynt. Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm@21mm, 1/50@F8, ISO 200, raw file converted to JPEG in Lightroom 2.4

12 comments:

  1. Dave Hollin17 July 2009 at 16:24

    Hi Chris,

    just out of interest what is the tarp you were using as shown in the photo?
    Is it a Hilleberg UL 10?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris Townsend17 July 2009 at 17:54

    Hi Dave, yes it is the Hilleberg.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dave Hollin17 July 2009 at 18:23

    Hi Chris,

    thanks. I saw one of these on sale in a local outdoors shop but seeing as I already have more tarps than I can shake a stick at I decided against the purchase .....

    I looked at the video you did on Cameron's website. I was tempted at one point to get the Shangri-la 1or2 but reviews for it were mixed. In the end for my tarp tent I opted for the Six Moons Lunar Solo instead and its a fine shelter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chris Townsend17 July 2009 at 18:43

    Hi Dave,

    The Hilleberg tarp is nice and long but a bit narrow, even for one. The Shangri-Las are pretty good but really need side guys for stability. The Lunar Solo looks more wind resistant.

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  5. Tony17 July 2009 at 21:49

    Hi Chris,
    That tarp does look narrow, what happens when it rains, don't you get soaked?
    Best
    Tony

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chris Townsend17 July 2009 at 22:09

    It is a bit too narrow unless pegged out with such a low profile you have to crawl under it. In rain I'd use a bivi bag as well, like many tarp campers do. I prefer a larger tarp though.

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  7. Anonymous17 July 2009 at 22:15

    Doesn't your head get wet, even with a bivi?
    Tony
    PS - does look kinda cosy, I must admit. Think I would miss my bed! Any room for a soft matress LOL ;-)

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  8. Chris Townsend17 July 2009 at 22:20

    Not if you pull the bivi over your head Tony! I've slept out in a bivi without a tarp in heavy rain and stayed dry. The only hassle is when you get up.

    Plenty of room for an inflatable mattress under a tarp!

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  9. Hendrik M27 July 2009 at 14:34

    Chris, that link is broken. What is a good "beginners" tarp in your opinion?

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  10. Chris Townsend27 July 2009 at 15:04

    Thanks for pointing that out Hendrik. Cameron's site was offline at the weekend. Now he's taken the video off the site so maybe it was using too much bandwidth. It should reappear on the new TGO site sometime later in the summer.

    Any large sheet of material can be used as a tarp. A groundsheet is good for a first one. Backpacking Light.co.uk's Solo and Duo tarps are okay but are out of stock at present. Integral Designs tarps, available from Winwood Outdoor and Ultralight Outdoor Gear are good but expensive.

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  11. Unknown28 July 2009 at 01:45

    Hi Chris, just found your great site.

    I use a Snow Peak Penta tarp. Probably not the lightest, but the shape is pretty versatile and it's stood up to some very rough conditions. Plenty of room for two as long as you don't mind your feet sticking out!

    Mark B

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  12. Unknown28 July 2009 at 07:43

    Thanks Chris, I'll have a look at those!

    ReplyDelete