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Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Jacks R Better Cat Tarp > Test Report by Chuck CarnesJacks 'R' Better Cat Tarp Initial Report: January 16, 2009 Field Report: February 20, 2009 Long Term Report: April 22, 2009
I N I T I A L R E P O
R T January 16, 2009 Manufacturer: Jacks 'R' Better Model: Cat Tarp Color: Olive Green Size: 11 ft. x 10 ft. (335 cm. x 305 cm.) Year of manufacture: 2008 URL: http://www.jacksrbetter.com Listed Weight: 19 oz (539 g) Actual Weights: 19 oz (539 g) MSRP: $119.95
Picture courtesy of Jack's 'R' Better PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION INITIAL IMPRESSIONS I did, however, look over the tarp for any loose threads or picks in the fabric. The web loops that are sewn to the corners and sides seem very sturdy and well sewn. The edges of the tarp are rolled smooth with very little extra stitching of added weight. Putting the tarp back into the stuff sack was very simple. I really thought the sack looked too small for it to fit in but I knew it had to fit if it came out of it. I plan to get the tarp in the field along with the JRB Mountain Bridge Hammock where I have plenty of room to fully set it up so I will have more information in my Field Report. F I E L D R E P O
R T February 20, 2009 I
took the Jacks 'R' Better Cat Tarp on a two night trip to Paris Mountain.
This was a very close walk up site that I stayed at for two nights
with my son and a few other people. The temperatures at night was
around 35 F to 40 F (1 C to 4 C) with not breeze or rain. The elevation was
1,050 ft (320 m) according to my altimeter. L O N G T E R M R E P O
R TAlthough the camp site was close I still packed the tarp in my pack as if I were going on a long backpacking trip. It packed very nicely in my 3800 cu. in. (62 L) backpack. After getting to the sit and setting up my hammock I guyed out the tarp over the hammock. On this trip I did not try setting it up in any of the other fashions that this tarp can be set up as. I set it up in the normal 'A' frame style as seen in the picture above. I am so impressed with this tarp. This thing is huge and at the light weight that it is, to me, it's a no-brainer to take it with me every time I go on a trip. I didn't have enough time to play around with the different styles of setting it up but I am looking forward to that. For this time the set up was easy. I wrapped the ridge line cord around the trees and tied it off at both ends. I wanted to give myself plenty of room over the hammock so I tied it off as high as I could reach which is about 8 ft (244 cm). This was a good height because it gave me a little bit of room to stand beside the hammock to get in and not touch the wall of the tarp. At this height the bottom edge was off the ground about 2 ft. to 3 ft. (61 cm to 91 cm). Since the bottom of the hammock was above this, I was not concerned with it getting wet or wind blown if such weather came around. I did not experience any rain so technically I did not need the tarp but there is something about having it over me that made me feel protected. There must have been very good ventilation as neither morning did I find any condensation inside the tarp. Overall I am very happy with the Cat Tarp. I am looking forward to more nights out with it to set it up in different styles. I really like the self tensioning lines as the tarp stayed taught the whole time it was up. It was nice not to have to check the lines all the time to keep the tarp taught. It packs and unpacks very easily in the stuff sack and it fits great in a side pocket of a pack. I like the size of it and how much coverage one can get from such a lightweight tarp. April 22, 2009 Unfortunately,
the two trips that I was supposed to go on with the tarp got canceled due to weather. This concludes this test series. I have a few trips planned for the spring and summer and will amend this report after those trips are logged. Check back in June or July for an amended report Thank you Jacks 'R' Better and BackpackGearTest.org for this opportunity. Read more reviews of Jacks R Better gear Read more gear reviews by Chuck Carnes Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Jacks R Better Cat Tarp > Test Report by Chuck Carnes |