Re: Tacoma Tarp

Jimmy,
You probably found my report on the Tacoma in your archives search.  
But, in case you didn't, here it is again with a few additional 
comments.

I've spent a few more nights in the Tacoma since I wrote the 
following so I'll add a few comments.  The tarp did well in a light 
rain.  It did stretch a bit so I tightened the pitch up after the 
rain. On another occasion I sat and watched it hold up very well in 
approximately 20 mph gusts.  I pitch mine quite high (about 50" at 
the peak) yet it still held with no problems in these gusts.  Still 
love the ease of set up after using a 5' x 8' rectangular tarp!
      
TACOMA TARP GEAR REVIEW
The Tacoma tarp is made by Brawny and Rainmaker.  See  
http://www.trailquest.net/dlgctacomatarp.html for photos and 
description.  They can't make any more until mid August when Brawny 
comes off the AT.  The tarp with mosquito netting is $120.  Mine 
weighs 14.5 oz including Kelty triptease guylines.  It is basically 
a rectangular tarp with a 17" beak in front, full netting over the 
front entrance and 8" of netting extending from the other three 
sides of the tarp.  My tarp's finished size is approximately 5' 4.5" 
x 9' 1.5".  A hiking pole is used to support the center of one long 
side, the 4 corners are staked out.  A loop is also provided to 
attach the peak to a tree instead of using a hiking pole.  A 
reinforced loop is attached along the middle of the other long side, 
19" up from the bottom edge.  This loop can be pulled out using a 
second hiking pole or a tree to create more useable room inside the 
tarp.  

I have a total of 5 nights in the Tacoma.  I like it.  In the past, 
I used a 5' x 8' ID silnylon tarp.  The Tacoma is much easier to set 
up.  I stake out the 2 back corners, put my hiking pole in the front 
and stake the guy line, then stake the 2 front corners.  That
may be enough in a pinch but I prefer more space so I put rocks in 
the loops I've
tied to the middle of the 2 short sides and use my 2nd pole or a 
tree to
pull out the back.  I'm 5'10" and there is just enough room for me 
to sleep
diagonally.  I set the front pole high (about 50" I think) so I have 
lots of
room to sit up and get in and out of the tarp.  This gives less room 
to stretch out though.  This hike in Oregon we got no rain but some 
humidity.  I did have slight condensation inside the tarp the 3rd 
night when we were camped next to Eagle Creek.  The two people in 
Europa tents also had condensation.  I tied up the netting covering 
the front entrance in the middle of the night and felt like there 
was more air circulation that way.  The
night I had condensation it was still to a slight breeze.  The foot 
and hood of my sleeping bag got slightly damp from contacting the 
tarp walls.

I don't know how well the mosquito netting works, I've encountered 
few of the
critters while using the Tacoma.  It looks like it will work well.  
The sides of the tarp have 8" of netting.  The sides ride up to give 
an inch or two of ventilation space
under the tarp on all sides.

No rain to test the tarp in yet, but it looks like rain will not be 
a problem.

Things I like: 
Easy to set up
Lots of room to change clothes and sit up
Pretty good ventilation from what I've experienced

Things I don't like or could be improved:
I find it a little awkward to get in under the netting.  The netting 
would get caught on my back as I entered the tarp.  The netting only 
pushes up to within about 10" of the peak.  Don't know if this is 
because I pitch the tarp high.
The beak is sewn in so one long side of the main tarp can't be laid 
out flat to its full length.  The first night I had to jury rig the 
tarp since there wasn't enough room to set it up in a normal 
configuration.  The jury rig worked but was a bit sloppy.  It would 
have been prettier (and the Tacoma more versatile) if the peak was 
detachable or in two pieces so the Tacoma could be used as a true 
rectangular tarp.

Conclusion:
Two thumbs up (my left and right).

Notes:
Brawny and Rainmaker were great to work with.  My tarp arrived with 
one seam apparently not "singed".  They paid for me to ship it back, 
fixed the seam and finished it in addition and even sent me a little 
gift for my trouble.  Total turn around time from me shipping the 
tarp to getting it back was a few days.

The Tacoma without the netting is $75 and weighs 9.5 oz according to 
the web site.  Since fewer and/or shorter guy lines are required for 
the Tacoma vs. a 5' x 8' tarp, the weight of the Tacoma with guy 
lines is very close to a 5' x 8' tarp with guy lines.

Carol Crooker
Transformation Coach