Trail Bird Tapered Backpacking Tarp
Trail Bird Tapered Backpacking Tarp
5.0 / 5.0
(6) 6 total reviews
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The Trail Bird is a tapered style tarp that maximizes coverage at the head end, where you want it most.
If you choose a U-Pick color(which only applies to the solid colors and not any specialty printed fabrics), these are ordered as needed from either Dutchware(Xenon Sil lines) or Ripstopbytheroll (Silpoly lines), so please verify colors and availability at their respective sites.
Features:
- You choose the Taper (Head/Foot widths) you want
- Available in 9’ or 10’ lengths (measured along the sides, as the ridgeline goes across the angle of the fabric, so is slightly longer than the sides)
- Catenary curves applied to ridgeline, head end and sides
- Seam Sealing & Stuff Sack Included
- Tarp comes standard with 8 tie outs (each corner, center of head and foot end, and one in the middle of each side)
- Tie outs in middle of sides are not necessary to setup, but nice for stabalization.
- Optional Bivy attachment points are set in @ 12" from each end (please note that bivy hooks are not intended to hang heavier items like water bottles, lanterns, etc.)
- Tie Outs for the top of the Ridgeline Seam are available on my backpacking tarps. A small loop is bar tacked in place at the selected locations.
You can choose between:
- One that is centered
- Two, with one at 1/3 length and the second at 2/3 length of tarp
- Three, with a tie out at 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 along the seam
Optional Accessories:
- 2mm Orange Reflective Guyline in various lengths (Does not work with Line Lock V's or Line Lock Lites (10mm version)
- Tie outs can be configured with:
Loops Only
Line Loc 3's (standard on my tarps, work best with 1.5-2.5mm line)
Line Lock V - Small "v" groove can hold line as small a 1mm
Line Lock Lite (10mm) - works well with line around 1.5mm)
Line Lock Lite (15mm) - lighter version of Line Loc 3's holding 2-3mm line)
D-Rings (1/2") - (6) Aluminum Y-Stakes or UL Titanium Hook Stakes
Weights will vary depending on options chosen
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I was interested in an ultralight tarp with roughly the same dimensions as the Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp, but without the durability issues they've apparently had. Jared's tarp fit the bill perfectly. And it squishes down to basically the size and weight of a hoagie sandwich. I pair it with a Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter and I've got a fully enclosed shelter system that weighs a little over a pound and goes up tight tight (thanks to the catenary cut to the tapered tarp) in five minutes flat (I just leave the two clipped together and store them together in a single sack). I've only tested the combo on rainless day hikes so far, but the system hangs easily between trees. The only minor issue I've had is the line locs slipping when cinched down tight. I tried different cordage but couldn't fix the issue, so I decided to not use them at all and just tied several loops on each line, which has worked great and eliminates the possibility of slipping entirely. Highly recommend working with Jared. He's responsive and his turnaround is lightning quick.
Another great piece of gear from SLD! Love my new Trail Bird tarp! Excellent quality, and amazingly fast delivery, even with the non-stock color I requested Two thumbs up!
Excellent communication! The tapered tarp is well made, everything you need to keep a bivy dry, and nothing you don’t. Cat cuts are easy to pitch, no more putting around with a square tarp when all I want to do is throw it up and go to sleep. Would buy again!
Let's see, I ordered the Trail Bird 4 days ago including a weekend and here is.
It is beautiful. The silnylon is high quality. Tie outs are strong. Seams and hems are well stitched, strong and well sealed inside and out. Catenary cut is perfect--not so extreme that you couldn't bring it right down to the ground if you had to, or so extreme that it has a 15" beak. Enough to hold a taught pitch and shed wind.
The repair kit is better than any I have ever received with a shelter: a full size, 1.5oz, tube of silicon, two different brushes, more than 1.5 sq feet of matching silnylon and extensive instructions that tell you the best technique. Maybe I've been missing something but I'e not seen that technique explained before. I learned it piecemeal.
The stuff sack is a great addition to my collection of sacks waiting for a fitting something that needs one.
Of course, haven't had it out yet so I guess this is more of an "unboxing." But I feel confidence that it will see a lot of trail and I'm looking forward to first pitch.
Very happy with my Trail Bird with straight edges (no cat cuts) and made by Jared with Dutch 0.9 Xenon silpoly. Construction is immaculate, and the excellent seam sealing is better than any I've ever done myself! Weight with ridge line (one-piece) and guylines is right at 9oz/260g and will be about 8.5oz or less once I trim some of the excess after I've used it on the trail a few times. Pretty darn good for a 9'x7'x5' tarp!!