[pct-l] Tarptent in heavy rain

[wandering_bob at msn.com (wandering_bob@xxxxxxx)]

I've had similar problems with my Tacoma Tarp from Dancing Light Gear. I ordered it without a floor and it handled the rainstorms in Yosemite just fine. As such, it was probably the best shelter I've ever had. Any water wicking down the bug netting was absorbed by the ground. I never run my groundsheet anywhere near the drip line of my shelter. Been there, did that, got the wet gear to prove it.

Last year I had Carol sew a floor into it for the desert and two extra side pull-out loops. Got caught in a driving rain in the Trinity Alps and had water running across the floor in part because of wicking, but also because the bug screen and floor extended beyond the drip line. In erecting the shelter, I neglected to gather the floor in the middle so part of it projected outside. as such, it served to catch and funnel water under the canopy. My mistake; not a design fault. Still, it's a PITA!

IMHO, floors should to be several inches smaller than the shelter footprint so that any mesh walls are pulled slightly inward toward the center rather than allowed to hang straight down. In addition, I'd recommend attaching them two inches up from the edge of the canopy so that 2 inches of canopy provides a weather shield. Water running off the canopy would not be able to wick through the mesh (unless you get severe rebound off the ground from a driving rain). Either way, the user would still have to assure that they did not pitch the shelter with the floor off to one side. Stake-out loops along the floor/wall junctions would help secure the floor, but that adds weight and more importantly, complexity, to what should be a simple and fast set-up. Henry has addressed this issue with his newest tarptent, "The Cloudburst offers excellent 2-person comfort and storm protection. Double arches and steep walls shed rain and snow. Generous front awning and roll-down sidewall flaps protect living space when needed; roll-up to reveal extensive netting for ventilation." http://www.tarptent.com/new03.html

Personally, I'd rather not have mesh side walls if I have a floor. Leave the mesh for the beaked ends. I'll orient the pitch to facilitate ventilation.

As far as size goes, the weight difference between 1 and 2 person silnylon tarp tents today is ridiculously small. Go for the larger shelter, pack the extra 3 ounces, and have room for your gear inside in palatial comfort. Leave a book (not the Snickers) home to make up for the weight.

Wandering Bob


-----Original Message-----
Wrom: QBGJSNBOHMKHJYFMYXOEAIJJPHSCRTNHGSWZIDREXCAXZOWCONE
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 11:19 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Tarptent in heavy rain

However, the bug netting is a pain in heavy rain.  The netting sticks out
from the sides of the tarp no matter how much you mess with it when pitching
it.  So rain that runs down the side of the tarp hits the netting and gets
is wicked (as in "wicking" not like a "wicked" witch) into the interior of
the tarp.  At places where the groundsheet touches the netting, water
literally pours in. 


 The problem then remains the size
of the tarp.  I can't move around much without hitting the walls. (I'm tall
but I'm skinny so that's not the problem).  This not only knocks down
condensation onto all my gear and myself, but it messes up the
rock/groundsheet system so I have to always make sure its set up right. In
long, prolonged rain, I think I would go crazy trying to stay dry.

Has anyone else had similar problems?  Any feedback or comments?

Steve
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l