What are the differences in nylon tarp materials? I had a Hennessey hex tarp and think it lasted 6 months, even less than that before the holes started developing and not being abused.

If I am looking at CCS or Bushcraft Outfitters or some other tarp, what nylon material lasts?

I've used my 1.1 oz silnylon CCS tarp for many years, four or more trips/year without issue. If you keep it away from the fire I don't think it will be subject to holes.

I have the 1.9 oz silnylon CCS tarp. It has lasted for many years now. Very well made. Go to the CCS web page and read about Dan’s tarps.

I've had a Kelty Noah's tarp for 8 years. The only damage is from a medium sized branch that dropped on it 5 years ago. Had it repaired by a seamstress and it's good to go. Use is 2-3 times a year for a week each time.

It's a stick-on patch that was stitched, then seam sealed. No issues since it was done.

Can't speak for the CCS tarps but he makes quality gear (I have a hybrid pack from him and its bulletproof) and I hear nothing but good things about them. I do have four tarps from Bushcraft Outfitters. 2 ripstop and two silnylon. They have all held up great going on four years now.

I have a 10 x 10 from Campmor - 15+ years - $80 then - and can't kill it. I want to kill it so I can buy a CCS 1.1 but hard to justify.

blackdawg9: "What are the differences in nylon tarp materials? I had a Hennessey hex tarp and think it lasted 6 months, even less than that before the holes started developing and not being abused.

If I am looking at CCS or Bushcraft Outfitters or some other tarp, what nylon material lasts?"

Many DIYers use Ripstop by the Roll as their source for hammock and tarp fabrics. You might start with the Coated Fabrics Comparison Chart from their FAQ page.

Durability is only one characteristic to consider when selecting your tarp fabric. Weight, stretch when wet and/or dry, UV resistance, water absorbtion are a few other factors you might consider.

Good Luck

There are so many variables in the base materials, not to mention coatings/ treatments and then construction techniques. Most nylon tarps are made in China, other south Asia countries are chipping away at china's dominance in this area with the tariffs that have been levied on China's products. The base nylon can be a type 6 or type 6.6. Type 6 being the more prevalent formulation of nylon, it is less expensive, weaker, and has a slightly lower melting point than type 6.6.
The size/ weight of the threads that make up nylon tarps is quite varied from 20 denier to 420 denier. Check out denier on the web.
As far as the construction of the fabric Thread counts of how many threads in the warp and woof of the fabric and whether or not their is a ripstop weave in the pattern.

Coatings/ treatments are endless. Urethane coatings , Silicone coatings , proprietary blends DWR Finishes, UV resistant chemicals, not to mention how much they put on per yard of material. Urethane coatings weaken the base fabric.

While traveling in China for my past life as a mechanical engineer I took the opportunity to go into a fabric manufacturer and coating factory and was given a detailed tour as they tried to sell me that they could be CCS's choice for fabric. Watching the operation going from looming the threads into fabric till the final coating process and then visual inspection of the final product gave me an appreciation of the manufacturing process.
Testing of the fabric to standards is usually done on every lot of fabric but was done on the trial run and as long as the process stays the same the outcome is assumed to be the same. The US mil spec inspections are done on a dye lot or more often basis and are documented and signed off by the testers and what equipment was used to test, with the ability to check on when the inspection equipment was last calibrated. Resellers of raw fabric on the consumer level rate their fabrics to other fabrics they offer without giving actual certified values. (For example1.1 sil nylon {not a technical term} is sold from a 3.5 to 12.5 lb tongue tear strength)
Construction techniques are also quite varied- types of cuts of the fabric, types of seams used to join the fabric, the types of stitching used to join the panels of fabric together. How the edges are finished, the kind of tie out points and how/ if tie outs are reinforced.
Long winded and incomplete information at best. The consumer is often left with the balancing act of what features are valued, the wallet can handle, trust in reputation of the manufacturer, and if the where it is made has any bearing on the decision.

Well spoken Dan, thanks for the primer! It is common knowledge that you make the finest sil-nylon tarps out there, but now you have me wondering what the tongue tear strength is on my 1.1 Tundra tarp!

Don’t listen to Dan, he doesn’t know anything about fabric!

With that tongue in cheek, I have a Dan Cooke tarp and it is one of the finest assets in my pack. I’ve used it many many times for many many years. Top notch. And made in USA keeping Americans working.

Keep in mind if you go down the route of just buying rip stop nylon and it’s not coated, it will drip like a leaky faucet right through the fabric.

unshavenman: "Well spoken Dan, thanks for the primer! It is common knowledge that you make the finest sil-nylon tarps out there, but now you have me wondering what the tongue tear strength is on my 1.1 Tundra tarp!"

CCS uses 12.5 tongue tear strength 30 denier 6.6 type nylon in the 1.1 oz/ sq yard fabric (before the silicone coating).

thank you dan.
that tear strength is something , i was missing on looking at tarps. i just thought 70 denier was 70 denior across the field

Thanks Dan. Learned several things today!

I still use a tarp I bought at United stores. It’s fairly close to the end of its life but it still works just fine. Forty years of heavy use, not bad for a $20 tarp

Thanks for the tutorial, Dan--I was totally unfamiliar with the tongue tear strength test and was surprised with the wide range. Very interesting.

TZ

blackdawg9: "thank you dan.
that tear strength is something , i was missing on looking at tarps. i just thought 70 denier was 70 denior across the field"

Take the same lot of 70 Denier type 6 nylon and Urethane coat it and you end up with a 5.5 tongue tear strength take the other part and silicon coat it and you end up with 15lb tongue tear strength. Numbers from the manufacturer/ seller of the fabric.
The other problem with polyester urethane is that it is water loving and will absorb moisture even from the air. That will lead to the sticky coating issue and foul smelling that develops from that coating breaking down.

billconner: "I have a 10 x 10 from Campmor - 15+ years - $80 then - and can't kill it. I want to kill it so I can buy a CCS 1.1 but hard to justify. "

I had the EXACT same problem with the exact same tarp, lol. I finally just packed it away and got a 10 by 12, 1.1 oz anyway, and so glad I did. Get the special stuff sack and rig for continuous ridgeline with prusiks and you have an easy 5 minute set-up. It survived a 70 mph storm with only a slightly stretched seam!