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Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Integral Designs Siltarp 2 > Owner Review by Kurt PapkeIntegral Designs Siltarp 2
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Name: | Kurt Papke |
Age: | 61 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | 6' 4" (193 cm) |
Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Email address: | kwpapke at gmail dot com |
City, State, Country: | Tucson, Arizona USA |
Manufacturer |
Integral Designs |
Model |
Siltarp 2 |
Year of manufacture |
2008 |
MSRP |
US $120 |
Manufacturer website |
http://www.integraldesigns.com/ |
Color |
Grey Also available: Yellow and Olive |
Weights |
Listed: 13 oz (378 g) minimum (without
stuff sack) Measured weight: same as listed |
Dimensions |
8 ft x 10 ft (244 x 305 cm) |
Materials |
silicone impregnated 30D ripstop Cordura® |
I originally purchased the tarp to use with my Warbonnet
Blackbird hammock (see my test report on
BackpackGearTest.org). Over the last six years I have
used it with hammocks and ground sleeping configurations.
This is a brief listing of backpacking trips and usage of the
tarp - it is incomplete, but at least gives a flavor of the
variety of conditions I have used this shelter in:
Date |
Location |
Trail |
Pitch |
Weather |
June 11-14, 2009 | Northern Wisconsin | North Country Tail (NCT), Chequamegon section | A-frame |
41 F (5 C)to 74 F (23 C), very light winds. Mostly sunny with rain shower June 13. |
July 11-12, 2009 |
Mt Lemmon just north of Tucson, Arizona |
Mt Lemmon Trail (section of Arizona Trail) | A-frame |
60F (15 C) to 88 F (31 C) |
August 29-30, 2009 | Mt Lemmon just north of Tucson, Arizona | Samaniego Ridge Trail | Diamond |
80 F (27 C), low of 60 F (15 C) |
September 12-13, 2009 | Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, Arizona in the Madera Canyon | Old Baldy and
Agua Caliente |
Diamond |
55 F (13 C)
to 75 F (24 C). Thunderstorms developed in
the afternoon and rain persisted throughout the night |
September 19-20, 2009 |
Coronado National Forest in the Santa Rita
Mountains south of Tucson, Arizona in the Madera
Canyon |
Four Springs |
Diamond |
53 F (12 C)
to 70 F (21 C) |
October 9-11, 2009 | Mogollon Rim in the Coconino National Forest just north of Payson, Arizona | Cabin Loop | Diamond |
25 F (-4 C) to 78 F (26 C) |
February 7-9, 2014 | Grand Canyon National Park | Grandview Loop |
A-Frame |
Mix of sun and clouds, 25-60 F (-4-16 C) |
I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Siltarp
2 shelter. It has been bulletproof and flexible.
I've been impressed with the variety of configurations I have
been able to use the tarp in - that is the beauty of the
design and form factor. After 6 years of use and abuse,
it is unscathed today. I have never had to wash or clean
it. It has required no patching or repair - it just
works.
I can only recall being frustrated with it once on a trip
through the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota where it was
*very* windy, and I had some difficulty getting it
pitched. On the flip side, all the tent campers with me
on that trip had the same problem with their shelters - when
the weather is bad there is a bit of struggle no matter how
the gear is designed.
The main purpose of a tarp is to keep the camper dry. I
have never gotten wet beneath the Siltarp 2, and I have been
through some nasty, windy rainstorms under it over the
years. The key is to pitch the tarp with anticipation of
the intensity and direction of the rain.
One thing I do not have a good close-up picture of is the use
of elastic tieouts. I use these more often than not, and
they really help keep a taut pitch in the tarp under varying
wind conditions without subjecting it to undue stress. I
highly recommend their use with any tarp.
The Siltarp 2 is a little heavy and bulky in comparison to
some of the catenary-cut tarps that are now available from
many vendors specifically for use with hammocks. I have
purchased one of these, and will likely use it more often in
the future with my hammocks. When sleeping on the ground
(something I do only when I have to, such as the Grand Canyon
where hanging from trees is not allowed) I will likely
continue to use the Siltarp 2 for its flexibility and
coverage.