Kelty Noah's Tarp

[SA Bill]

Has anyone used one of the Kelty tarps? They look like they are well thought out and they get mostly good reviews. Price is a lot less thatn some of the other sun shade thingies. I'm considering one for the GUMO trip in April to provide some shade in the camp ground since there are no covers in the camp sites, as I recall.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Kelty-Noahs-Tarp/KEL0607M.html?CMP_ID=SH_SHP001&CMP_SKU=KEL0607&mv_pc=r110
   Bill

[randell]

Has anyone used one of the Kelty tarps? They look like they are well thought out and they get mostly good reviews. Price is a lot less thatn some of the other sun shade thingies. I'm considering one for the GUMO trip in April to provide some shade in the camp ground since there are no covers in the camp sites, as I recall.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Kelty-Noahs-Tarp/KEL0607M.html?CMP_ID=SH_SHP001&CMP_SKU=KEL0607&mv_pc=r110
  Bill

Hmmm.  I was in GUMO last April and we never needed any sun shade.  You could use a regular tarp if you a thought you might want some shade.  Or you could buy this if that money is burnin' a hole in your pocket.

[jeffblaylock]

I wouldn't bother with a sun-shade that didn't also double as a waterproof tarp to cover your no-tent sleeping self. Take an umbrella instead. Doubles as waterproof cover for your hiking self.

[leigh]

FWIW, I own the Noah 9; I do a lot of canoe camping on gravel and sand bars, and I love it. It has performed admirably in mild wind and rain.Haven't yet been in worse. I was looking somewhere online yesterday at  backpacking tents, and noticed the Noah 9 on sale for $48.   I think the weight w/o poles is 1lb. 7 oz.
leigh

[JRD]

I own the 9 and love it.  I’ve used it as a sun shade, wind, shade, and as a rain cover.  It may not be 100% waterproof, but because of the saddle shape it keeps you pretty dry.  It is light enough to use for backpacking (I pack it if the weather looks bad) and I use it for car camping and tailgates; it just stays in my truck ready to go.

The biggest drawback is because of the small grommets you pretty much have to use the Kelty poles (if you want to use it with poles), and those make the set-up even more pricey than it ought to be.

[randell]

If you get it, before you buy the Kelty poles get an extendable paint roller pole and drill a screw into one end to put in the tarp grommet.  I have three of these poles that I have used to erect tarps.  They are cheaper than the Kelty poles and you can still use them for painting your house or practicing your kung fu.

[fartymarty]

Tarp?...at GUMO? 

It sounds like an unplanned parasailing event waiting to happen.

Bill, please take a helmet. (and a camera as Homero and I love aerial photos. )

[Al]

Tarp?...at GUMO?  

It sounds like an unplanned parasailing event waiting to happen.

Bill, please take a helmet. (and a camera as Homero and I love aerial photos. )

Tarps work GREAT in the Guadalupes unless the wind blows!

Al

PS Actually you can set a tarp to work well in high winds.  Set it low and hope the wind direction doesn't change.

[homerboy2u]

Bill, please take a helmet. (and a camera as Homero and I love aerial photos. )

...now,nobody is letting me ask the official question now a days..

[SA Bill]

Hey...I've been to GUMO a couple of times when the wind wasn't too bad. Really! I could probably rig the Kelty tarp to be stable since it's a catenary cut and can shed some wind. I will however, take pics if I get airborn!

No money to burn Randell...just thinking about an afternoon of relaxing with a book...with some shade. I hear you about the poles. I have no intention of buying the Kelty poles. I have at least one of the adjustable painter poles so picking up one more is an easy thing to do. I'll post pics if I go through with this insanity...er...I mean project.

Thanks leigh and JDR...that's the kind of feedback I was hoping someone would be able to provide.

Jeff: The material is basically like a tent rain fly so it's waterproof and could be used as a sleeping bag cover for sans tent camping. I'm partial to a tent and since I'm not doing any backpacking, my base camp will be my usual REI tent + a Kelty tarp...if I go through with this idea.

I always have some ear plugs with me when I camp Al! No problem with a tarp at GUMO.  

Thanks all for the input!
  Bill

[homerboy2u]

Bill;

  Check this one out,from Guide Gear...plus if you pick it up you will get another star at Ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com/BXXBK-79978-New-Guide-Gear-12x12-White-Tarp_W0QQitemZ310202005505QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item48397af801#ht_1361wt_949

 Good Luck!!

[perterra]

New guy here, if ya dont mind a quick question. Where are you staying. I was there last March, camped at Dog Canyon. Enough trees in the tent camping area to give a good shade but I drug a little tent trailer up and the area at Dog Canyon for trailers is zero shade, just a picnic table and corrals. My version of a self portrait.

[SA Bill]

Bill;

 Check this one out,from Guide Gear...plus if you pick it up you will get another star at Ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com/BXXBK-79978-New-Guide-Gear-12x12-White-Tarp_W0QQitemZ310202005505QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item48397af801#ht_1361wt_949

 Good Luck!!

Thanks Homero but I pulled the trigger and bought a Kelty tarp last night. Not an eBay purchase but it was cheap and had free shipping.

I'll set it up and take some pics once it arrives.
  Bill

[SA Bill]

New guy here, if ya dont mind a quick question. Where are you staying. I was there last March, camped at Dog Canyon. Enough trees in the tent camping area to give a good shade but I drug a little tent trailer up and the area at Dog Canyon for trailers is zero shade, just a picnic table and corrals. My version of a self portrait.

Hi perterra! Welcome to the board.

I'll be staying in the Pine Springs camp ground. Not much shade. Hence the desire to make my own. I've been to Dog Canyon once or twice but this time I'm staying down at Pine Springs.

I like your self portrait style! Here's my version from on top of Casa Grande.
  Bill

[perterra]

   Your view is better.  I was planning on Pine Springs for a couple of days, when I pulled in two different car alarms went off while I walking to the ranger station so I just picked up the key to the sand dunes and bugged out to Dog Canyon. Had one other couple staying there and they left after the second day.

If you make the drive to Dell City for the sand dunes the little Mexican food place there is pretty good.