Hyperlite Mountain Gear Flat Tarp

Huge Dyneema tarp with tons of tie-out points. Can go into lots of configurations. Heavier weight Dyneema that has been durable. Perfect for the Pacific Northwest—can make a great big rain shelter, can be pitched in c-configuration which provides ground cover, can pitch beaks or flaps for privacy.

I have been using this tarp for several seasons for solo backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, including the Olympic and Cascade mountains and section hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.

The tarp is showing no wear. I pair it with an ultralight bivy sack and put my rain gear on the ground for a ground sheet, or if I expect rain I carry a section of the lightest painter’s plastic drop sheet. It is plenty big for two backpackers or a backpacker and a dog.

What I’ve noticed is that when it rains, I stay dry under the tarp even when packing up, getting dressed, eating etc, while my buddies with tents get much wetter, because of rain fly, going in/out, and needing to pack their tent into their backpack (wet tarps go in outside mesh pocket). 

Background

I’ve used multiple nylon tarps of different sizes for backpacking shelter. This is my first Dyneema tarp. I’ve owned it for two seasons, roughly 200 miles.

This is an ultralight, absolutely waterproof tarp for multiple day hikes. It is of very good quality and it fits into the storage bag it comes with.

I replaced the guy lines, and the 8'x10' flat tarp now weighs 320g including the stuff sack without stakes.

I have used this tarp on four multi-day hiking trips in the Dolomites/Italy and it shows no wear. I use it with the Katabatic Gear Bristlecone Bivy, and there has never been any condensation on the bivy.

It is easy to set up. I always use my trekking poles.

It is completely waterproof. I used it for one week where it rained all night every night.

There is lots of room if you use it for one person. You can cook underneath the trap when it rains and look at everything around you.

Even when wet, it always packs down to the same size and will always fit into the storage sack it came with. I have never used the interior body tie outs.

This is a phenomenal product. Light, exactly what one would expect, and very strong.

This is a great product. It does exactly what one would expect a flat tarp to do. Multiple tie outs for guylines. Extremely lightweight cuben fiber. Extremely strong. I've used this on multiple trips, for sun shade and rain protection.

It pitches as one would expect — in any fashion you can imagine. If you make the pitch taut, it stays that way through wind, rain, etc.  

I wish it were available in more sizes, especially for larger groups who want to go ultralight.