Kifaru paratarp vs megatarp

[welpro222]

I am gathering gear for my next mountain hunt in NW Washington, can't decide between the para and megatarps from Kifaru. Last year I used a hammock and took it back to REI, will never use that again. Don't get me wrong a hammock is good, but I could not sleep in it myself.

At the moment I have a paratarp that i have not tested, but am thinking of maybe getting the bigger megatarp.

I'd like to hear about opinions and experiences with both of these tarps. Thanks

 

[gmajor]

Oh man, I'd for sure go for the megatarp in a straight gear comparison. The space inside, the modularity...I just had mine with the annex and stove running. Two of us in there, other guy was like 6'4", the wood for the stove, our packs. Double entry was AWESOME. It has a surprising amount of space in there when you crank those sides out. Without the annex three of us waited out a thunderstorm in one with room for more folks if we wanted. I have used mine frequently over the past year, and have done so in every season.

Plus it's pretty light. 1lb 5oz for the canopy.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I prefer the extra room of the Megatarp. I don't know if i would want three people in there, but for me it's nice with two, and a palace for one.

 

[gmajor]

I prefer the extra room of the Megatarp. I don't know if i would want three people in there, but for me it's nice with two, and a palace for one.

You probably weren't responding directly to the scenario in my post, but just to reiterate, the three of us were in the megatarp during a storm. All just sitting down with our gear stacked up. It certainly would not have worked sleeping 3 people in there!

 

[280twoeighty]

I don't have either, but for the Mega tarp $ I would look at all options. Tent tarp possibly?


There is some great gear when you start talking that kind of $, fwiw

 

[Beastmode]

Just out of curiosity why are you not considering the supertarp? Is it just going to be you or with a buddy? Do you move each night or once you pack in do you leave camp in one spot?

 

[welpro222]

We just setup one camp, or at least we did on the last hunt. The supertarp doesn't seem that much bigger then the paratarp. It will just be me in the shelter, my brother in law brings his hammock. I'm considering the megatarp more for the head room then anything, but the paratarp is nice because its more smaller (easier to find a place to pitch it).

The double entry is nice too, and the megatarp looks to be more stove friendly.

 

[PMcGee]

The paratarp is small pitched in the traditional A frame but there's many different ways to pitch it. I have a stratosphere 2 now but I still carry my paratarp in my pack for if I want to stay the night away from camp.

 

[Beastmode]

We just setup one camp, or at least we did on the last hunt. The supertarp doesn't seem that much bigger then the paratarp. It will just be me in the shelter, my brother in law brings his hammock. I'm considering the megatarp more for the head room then anything, but the paratarp is nice because its more smaller (easier to find a place to pitch it).

The double entry is nice too, and the megatarp looks to be more stove friendly.

If your wanting more room definitely go with the mega. The extra weight would be worth the palace. It also will work good if you bring a buddy too.

 

[welpro222]

I think I am now sold on the megatarp. I am going to bring a megatarp and sheeptarp (for away from camp or additional shelter). Thanks guys for the input.

 

[Grunt-N-Gobble]

I bit the bullet myself and ordered a megatarp today. I gave a serious look at other options, but its what I liked the best.

 

[ridgefire]

I have the paratarp and it works fine for me. It's small but you can pitch it pretty much anywhere.

 

[luke moffat]

Mega tarp no doubt. Though anything smaller than a sawtooth out of the Kifaru line up wouldn't be in my sights of wanting to run a stove is a possibility.

 

[Lawnboi]

I love my paratarp, and the beauty of it really is when you don't pitch it in the traditional a frame way.

If all your going to do is the a frame pitch then don't do the para, also if you wanna use a stove, I would recommend not getting the para.

I haven't used any of the bigger tarps, but I will never get rid of the paratarp. I'm a smaller guy at 5'6 and 150 so I fit no problem in it in the a frame pitch, but if your any bigger it would be tough. The paratarp isn't too big, to where finding a site is hard. It can also be pitched in many ways. The paratarp and bivy is my go to 3 season shelter when I want to go light, and I do not foresee that changing for some time.

 

[reaper]

paratarp is perfect,i really like the A frame for winter with the parastove,last week i used exterior poles and paracord and a carabiner clip to fix the annex,it was huge space inside without poles.It depend of what gear youll have and what you gonna do.You said you have a paratarp? go outside and pitch it in the yard and test it like if you were camping,youll see.

 

[reaper]

View attachment 32405 no interior poles.

 

[lintond]

I ran the paratarp for one year. It worked but I felt too confined. Every time I'd move or sit up I'd brush against the walls and get condensation on me. With the megatarp I don't have this issue as often. I can use it as a two many shelter or a palace for solo trips. I haven't run a stove yet but can only imagine it would be true luxury at that point.