u/burning_at_both_ends

I am looking to use a flat tarp for a Colorado Trail thru-hike. From what I've read, it seems 7' by 9' is the minimum size most people recommend, and 10' by 10' is too much wasted material (and added weight) for a single person. Here is what I found from some basic searching:

Tarp	Material	Size (ft)	Weight	Cost
YAMA Mountain Gear 7 x 9 Flat Tarp	15D Membrane Silpoly	7 x 9	8.9 oz	$175 + $35 Seam Sealing
Borah Gear 7 x 9	Silpoly	7 x 9	9.8 oz	$102 + $25 Seam Sealing
Etowah Outfitters Silnylon Tarp	Silnylon	8 x 10	14 oz	$110
Etowah Outfitters DCF Tarp	0.51 oz/sq yd DCF	7 x 9	5.3 oz	$390
Zpacks 7 x 9 Flat Tarp	0.55 oz/sq yd DCF	7 x 9	4.7 oz	$349
HMG Flat Tarp	0.75 oz/sq yd DCF	8'6" x 8'6"	10.6 oz	$390
MLD Supertarp Flat Tarp	0.8 oz/sq yd DCF	8.5 x 10	11 oz	Not Listed

I see there's a wide range of materials, weights (4.7 oz - 11 oz), and prices ($102 - $390) and I'm having a difficult time deciding which one I should get.

I was also looking for a bug bivy (mostly for ticks) that is tall enough to somewhat sit up in (Borah bivy height seems too short). I know adding a bug bivy increases the weight to the same as an ultralight tent, but I do want the flexibility of a flat tarp.

I found two bug bivies that look to be tall enough to almost sit up in:

• MLD Bug Bivy, Silnylon floor, 6.8 oz, $140

• HMG Bug Bivy - Long (Long variant taller than Regular), 0.75 DCF floor, 6.5 oz, $235

Questions for the community:

1. People with firsthand experience with tarps/bivies: Is the quality/durability significantly different between manufacturers. Any strong recommendations?
2. Comparing the 7' x 9' and 8' x 10' sizes, is the larger 8' x 10' worth the extra weight?
3. Is there a significant amount of difference in durability between silpoly / 0.5 DCF / 0.8 DCF tarps? Has anyone had issues with a tarp delaminating or getting punctured?

Any advice is also welcome.

Similar /r/ultralight posts:

• Searching for bug bivy and tarp recs

• Budget Tarp & Bivy Suggestions

• Bivy Recommendations

I am looking to purchase a flat DCF tarp (or convince me silpoly/silnylon is the way to go) size at least 7' x 9' and a bug bivy for a Colorado Trail thru-hike.

I am happy to purchase each separately.

For the tarp, I am looking for a product similar to these:

• Etowah Outfitters DCF Tarp 7' x 9'
• HMG Flat Tarp 8' x 10'
• MLD Superflat Flat Tarp 8.5' x 10'
• Zpacks 7' x 9' Flat Tarp

For the bug bivy, I am looking for one ideally longer than 6' and tall enough to sit up in. Similar to these:

• HMG Bug Bivy Long
• MLD Bug Bivy 2
• Yama Mountain Gear DCF Bug Bivy (doesn't look like you can sit up in this one, only 23" height)

Any advice is also appreciated!