does anyone have any thoughts on wich is better. henry shires tent or silshelter. henrys design seems to me to be great with the benifit of bug protection and beaks i havent read to much about it. the silshelter seems to be way more popular. just wondering why if the tarp/tent has more options for not much more wt. more people dont use them. jigsaw.
jigsaw
I just finished my largest silnylon project yet: Roy Robinson’s Poncho-tent. It is a great design and I love it. I have yet to use it extensively, but it is worth looking in to. It is about a foot longer than poncho tarps on the market and is wider too. It is remarkable set up as a Baker tent. But as a rectangular design has many many options of set-ups. That’s one short-coming of the two tarps you’re looking at. They’re either shaped or sewn in with mesh which does somewhat limit set-up options. But I’ve heard fantastic things about both, so don’t want to sell you short. I guess you have to ask yourself when you’ll be hiking. If in buggy weather, I’d lean towards the Shires. Anyway, my poncho-tent weighs 9.5 oz. and is 9.5’ x 5.5’. Here’s links to the instructions: http://royrobinson.homestead.com/PonchoPlans.html
Sweeper
Oh yeah, to answer your question: the ID silshelter is more popular because it is more widely available. It is also more widely marketed relative to the Shires tarp tent which you have to either make yourself (if you have time, this is worthwhile to do!!!) or order it through the small but very cool moonbow gear manufacturer based out of NH.
Sweeper
wow sweeper that is preety cool. but seeing as im all thumbs i was looking at moonbow sewing the tent/tarp. one ? with the side raised how watertight do you think this is. one more thing whats the best sack for the wt. im thinking about a bivy to go under to keep my bag dry. the only sacks i seem to see are o.r. goretex i dont think i want to spend $100 bucks im new to tarping and am concered about getting my down bag wet. is a ground cloth good enough? jigsaw
jigsaw
Here are some new pics I put up of the poncho tarp (In Baker set-up to give you idea) as well as some other gear:
http://trailjournals.com/picview.cfm?sort=autonumber&from=trailname&with=361&id=5257
and…
http://trailjournals.com/picview.cfm?sort=autonumber&from=trailname&with=361&id=5258
Both the tarps you’re looking at are extremely water tight! They’re made of sil-nylon which I prize as an excellent tarp fabric. The coating is impregnated and contrary to other tent taffetas, does not absorb any water (…or very very little!) The seams are the only areas where water may enter, inquire to see if they’re seam sealed. You can buy some seam sealer and do it yourself too.
Both tarps need a ground cloth to keep you off wet ground. I like trash bag sliced down the sides for a cheap lightweight cloth. Of course, make sure the cloth does not stick out the sides of the tarp’s coverage, or else you’ll be swimming! Also, set-up on level ground, soft earth, and you’re set!
You can also go with a bivy. Check in to the ultralight 6 oz. bivy (silnylon on bottom, uncoated 1.1 oz. nylon on top) sold for around $50 by Equinox. Also, Mountain Hardwear’s conduit SL bivy, or Bug Bivy (conduit weighs 1 lb. and retails around $100, bug bivy is 12 oz. and retails for $50 or so) Both look interesting.
Sweeper
Hennessy Hammock, weight 1.5 Lbs, Bug Proof, Lightweight, Weather proof and the most comfortable sleep you will ever have. Only good above 40 degs however, so you need to stay in shelters on those cold nights anyway.
Jim Deane
Jim Deane
ya that equinox bivy sounds like what im looking for. where do i find it. cant seem to find a web site thanks for your input. jigsaw
jigsaw
equinox bivy:
http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/bivydetail.cfm/EQ3000
Also, I own a HH ultralight, I consider it strickly a summer shelter, but the hammock is an exceptional shelter in the summer. Unfortunately, I do most of my hiking during the “best” seasons: the colder ones. i’m still gonna hang on to that hammock!
Sweeper
Thanks for the kind words on the Hennessy Hammock. It is the 2nd best item I have bought besides my Hiking Poles 
BTW, My son and I made special plans to meet you last year at Cosby Knob Shelter, but we missed you by one day !! You hiked faster than we thought you would. I wish we could have met you, but maybe next time. Keep up the good work and May God Bless.
Jim and James Deane, Rebels with a Cause !!
Jim Deane
Hey Jim and James, yeah I was definately hiking faster than I anticipated. I did not know we missed by only one day!!! That’s insane. I’m sorry we did not meet up, but from the sounds of it, you’ll be out hiking next year and I hope I will as well. Maybe then we’ll get to meet. BTW, a friend of mine and I plan to run the Smokies park and traverse the AT 70-miles in 24-hours over Spring Break in March. Why? Well cause we’re young and crazy and don’t know any better, but anyway if you’re out and about as Smokies angels and surveyors maybe we can meet then. I dunno though, need to do much more training, we just did a 10 hour winter solstice thru-hike of the Art Loeb and I was a tad sore after that 
Sweeper
I hope we can meet, however my son and I have planned our Springer to Franklin Hike sometime in March. When is spring break for you, which weekend?
If we did try to meet you , I can see it now:
Jim: Look James theres Sweeper !!
James: Bye Sweeper !!
( The Rebels feel a swift breeze blow by in the wake of two fast hikers )
Any way, keep in touch and let us know your timetable.
Hmmm, 70 miles in 24 hours, thats almost 3 miles per hour for 24 hours, Thats insane
Jim and James Deane
Jim Deane
Jim, yes it is insane! I don’t have my calender at my side, but “spring” break is ridiculously early if I recall: I think in essence the first week of March. No definate date set, we will most likely wait and judge by weather patterns if we go at all. More logical would be to wait till April but don’t get much time then, so if weather cooperates, we’ll be obliged to go early. Talk about weather! Enjoying the fresh snowfall in NC. We don’t see too much of this in the lower elevations. Just got back from Grayson Highlands this afternoon, just patches there! Happy new year!
Sweeper