The 10-by-12-foot Siltarp 3 shelters as many as six hungry hikers, packs small and pitches in a variety of configurations.

Problem: It''s raining cats and dogs, but there are bears in the area so you can''t make dinner - let alone eat it - in your tent. Solution: a lightweight kitchen tarp. The 10-by-12-foot Siltarp 3 shelters as many as six hungry hikers, packs small (1 pound 4 ounces, thanks to siliconized nylon), and pitches in a variety of configurations.

"The Sil Poncho (which doubles as a very functional 5'' x 8'' tarp for shelter - and a pack cover) is one of two nonbreathable products in this review. However, unlike a jacket, it offers ample ventilation with its open hem and sleeves, allowing the hiker to remain quite comfortable on the trail. We found that when the poncho was worn over a pack and the hood left open, there was no overheating, even during uphill hiking (assuming the wearer was dressed appropriately underneath the poncho).

For added storm resistance, you can fasten the two snaps down each side and tie a cord around your waist from the rear of the poncho (using the poncho''s guy loops) to control flapping. This worked surprisingly well, though it hindered ventilation significantly.

The large-volume hood makes head-turning difficult when it is cinched tight, because the ultra-slippery fabric doesn''t move with head. However it does provide excellent ventilation and face coverage when not cinched.

Lacking sleeves, the poncho exposes the forearms and hands if the hiker is using trekking poles, but otherwise arms can be drawn completely inside for full body protection as needed.

Although we recognize the primary limitations of the poncho due to the excess of fabric, we like ponchos for their light weight, multi-use functionality (i.e., pack cover, rainwear, and shelter), and wonderful ventilation.

Integral Designs'' incarnation of the poncho is excellent for its very good hood and its design as a quality tarp. A stiffened hood brim and a volume-adjustment drawstring would make it virtually perfect."

Final Grade: A-

"If a serious storm is unlikely, leave your tent in the closet and bring a Silshelter, the lightest 2-person tarp-cum-tent on the planet. This floorless, zipperless shelter snaps up into an A-frame or lean-to with any old four-foot stick and six stakes. A pole cap keeps the stick from puncturing the silicon-impregnated 30-denier ripstop nylon, and 21 webbing loops make it easy to lash down in any terrain. Merely four by eight inches when stuffed, it''s the perfect backup shelter. If the skies are clear, use it as a blanket; should it start to pour at four in the morn, pop it up and go back to sleep.

"System C uses a floorless tarp/tent like Integral Designs'' Silshelter. This tarp/tent shelter provides almost all the benefits of a tent. For around a pound you get complete rain and wind protection and the warmer microclimate of an enclosed shelter. You can now skip the bivy sack as the shelter provides ample protection. A great all around choice."

"Sleeping in a bivy sack is the obvious answer to going light. But let''s face it, when it starts to pour or when you''re campbound for days, the bivy sucks. Enter the George Tarp from Alberta-based Integral Designs. The George Tarp, a super-lightweight single-pole shelter (no pole is provided; instead use your trekking poles or an avalanche probe), and voila, you''ve got a basecamp suitable for waiting out any weather. The George covers and area of 56-square foot, which will easily cover three, and there is an optional mesh wall for hot bug-infested summer nights. A two-person setup, including two bivys and a tarp, weighs under 3 kg (George Tarp 688g) - less than most tents and far more versatile."

"The George Tarp is the only shelter we tested without a floor, and its still fits the criteria of waterproof and bugproof. And, it''s the lightest of the multi-person ultralight shelters currently available. At a mere 1 pound, 11 ounces, the George Tarp is spacious, remarkably easy to use, and it offers a multitude of configuration options suitable for up to three people, or four, if you don''t need it to be bugproof. The silicone-impregnated nylon shell stakes to the ground and two trekking poles or a paddle support the peak. In warm weather, a bug net zips into the front for ventilation and a view. In wet weather, you''ll be happiest on a sleeping pad inside the George Tarp, because there is no floor. That also means that you''ll want to be extra-conscious where you camp so you don''t wake up swimming in your sleeping bag. All in all, the George Tarp does the most with the least. It is a spacious and comfortable teepee-like tent, suitable for all but the wettest conditions."

"Fashioned from ripstop, silicon-treated nylon parachute cloth, the George Tarp weighs only 1 pound, 6 ounces, excluding the center pole. And because center poles tend to be heavy, Integral Designs doesn''t include one, recommending that you tie the tent off to an overhanging branch or link together two trekking poles instead. Ideal for bike tours when you want to get under cover before the clouds burst, the George Tarp packs into a pannier-appropriate 11-by-5 inch stuffsack. For clear-but-buggy overnights, a 4-ounce no-see-um panel zips onto the front. Take care while cooking breakfast, though: Silicon-treated nylon ignites like napalm."

"When the weather turns gnarly, set up the Ski Guides Tarp from Integral Designs to re-group. This pre-formed circular tarp is designed to be used around a pit dug in the snow for up to six people to huddle inside. Stick a pole or ski in the reinforced center, sit on the hold down ribbons with feet hanging into the pit. Brew up some tea and get comfy! The Tarp is made from super-strong, super-light parachute cloth which is stronger and lighter than rip-stop nylon. However, one should be careful around ski poles as it can be punctured. The Tarp has 2 vents sewn into opposite sides. The whole thing weighs 11 ounces and fits into the 6" x 3" stuff sack included."

Quick Summary
Pros: An outstanding sub one-pound 3-season shelter for one (squeeze two). If you want most of the benefits of a tent without the weight, this is your baby. It provides excellent protection from wind and precipitation and extremely fast and easy setup.

Cons: There are some problems with a saggy foot section and central pole that can reduce living area, unless creatively dealt with. No bug protection.

Full Review

Summary
Compared to a coated nylon tarp--The Siltarp 2 is lighter, more compact, brighter underneath, more expensive, more difficult to handle, attracts more dirt, flaps more in the wind, is possibly more waterproof. The many loops make it more versatile than most commercially available tarps. The silicone nylon sheds water like a freshly waxed car. Lucky me, I''ve not endured a rainstorm under the Siltarp 2, but it shrugs off my best garden hose assaults. A shake or three and most of the water rolls right off.

Compared to a tent--The Siltarp 2 is far lighter and more compact; cheaper; brighter and airier, more susceptible to bugs, rain, and prying eyes; takes longer and is more complex to pitch; is less bombproof than many designs.

Positives

Introduction
Over the past five months I have used the SilShelter with much success. This is a fabulous product that I truly believe revolutionizes the world of backpacking gear. The technical performance of the silicon impregnated nylon and the ability to travel light with an effective shelter are important achievements of the manufacturer''s product. I have tested the shelter in a variety of circumstances in Colorado and New Mexico and the following report details my final appraisal and comments.

Full Review