Editor's Note: I asked David W. to write a review for his cuben fiber Q-Twinn Tarp. David has been a backpacking partner of mine on several trips in Olympic this season. The following review are his words.
As soon as I got the Q-Twinn tarp, in April, I took it out to Rialto Beach on Pacific Coast in the Olympic National Park in where it was predicted to rain heavily and blow hard. The rain poured and the wind blew from sunset till dawn and it performed beautifully keeping me dry and with none of the sagging I get with my silnylon shelters. This was using the standard setup too and not in storm mode where the sides are pegged to the ground. The only surprise was how loud it was when the rain hit it, maybe earplugs should be included. I’ve had it out several times since then and I really like its small footprint, enabling it to fit into tight spaces. I usually set it up a couple of inches higher than recommended so that I can sit up in it, I’m 6 feet tall.
The Q-Twinn tarp is an ultralight cuben fiber tarp that is very roomy for one easily allowing you to store all of your gear under it. The material is very translucent, so much so that you can make out the stars at night through the cuben material. At 8 ounces (228 grams), tarp, bag and guy lines, it is the lightest shelter I’ve ever owned. The tapes where the poles go aren't color coded like the SpinnTwinn in the Gossamer Gear YouTube video. However this really isn’t much of an issue after you’ve put it up a couple of times since the front is much wider than the rear. The tarp only requires 6 tent pegs, 8 if you’re pegging down the sides. This is my first experience with a cuben product and getting a tight pitch is very easy. The line locks that adjust at the top wear new to me as well and make adjusting the tarp much easier if you have to tie up to a tree or rock.
- Manufacturers Specs -
Weight
● 7.0 oz. (197 g.) – tarp (mine is 223 g with the spectra guy lines)
● 0.2 oz. (7 g.) – stuff sack (included) (mine is 5 g)
● 1.9 oz. (55 g.) – 45 in. (114 cm.) front segmented aluminum pole (optional)
● 1.3 oz. (38 g.) – 32 in. (81 cm.) rear segmented aluminum pole (optional)
Dimensions
● 47 sq. ft. (4 sq. m.) – tarp area staked down to ground, not counting entrance overhangs
● 110 in. (279 cm.) – total width of front of tarp (55” per side)
● 83 in. (211 cm.) – total width of rear of tarp (41.5” per side)
● 44 in. (112 cm.) - height at peak for standard setup
● 67 in. (170 cm.) – front entrance width (staked down position)
● 62 in. (158 cm.) – rear entrance width (staked down position)
● 117 in. (297 cm.) - length of ridgeline
● 101 in. (257 cm.) - length of wall at ground
● 12 in. (30 cm.) – front entrance overhang
● 6 in. (15 cm.) – rear entrance overhang
● NOTE: some dimensions will vary depending on setup
Materials
● Cubic Tech CTK non-woven laminate
● EZC2 spectra-core line (275 lb. (125 kg.) tensile strength)
Color
"Black" although it is transparent to a degree (looks more like wax paper)
Gossamer Gear Q-Twinn Rain Test
The Q-Twinn Tarp can be a perfect solution to shaving pack weight and having more of a wilderness experience.
Updated in August 2015 by the editor
Disclaimer: David W. is a customer of GG and was under no obligation for this review. He owns the rights to all the photography and video in this article.
 |
| The Q-Twinn Tarp on the North Olympic Coast |
As soon as I got the Q-Twinn tarp, in April, I took it out to Rialto Beach on Pacific Coast in the Olympic National Park in where it was predicted to rain heavily and blow hard. The rain poured and the wind blew from sunset till dawn and it performed beautifully keeping me dry and with none of the sagging I get with my silnylon shelters. This was using the standard setup too and not in storm mode where the sides are pegged to the ground. The only surprise was how loud it was when the rain hit it, maybe earplugs should be included. I’ve had it out several times since then and I really like its small footprint, enabling it to fit into tight spaces. I usually set it up a couple of inches higher than recommended so that I can sit up in it, I’m 6 feet tall.
The Q-Twinn tarp is an ultralight cuben fiber tarp that is very roomy for one easily allowing you to store all of your gear under it. The material is very translucent, so much so that you can make out the stars at night through the cuben material. At 8 ounces (228 grams), tarp, bag and guy lines, it is the lightest shelter I’ve ever owned. The tapes where the poles go aren't color coded like the SpinnTwinn in the Gossamer Gear YouTube video. However this really isn’t much of an issue after you’ve put it up a couple of times since the front is much wider than the rear. The tarp only requires 6 tent pegs, 8 if you’re pegging down the sides. This is my first experience with a cuben product and getting a tight pitch is very easy. The line locks that adjust at the top wear new to me as well and make adjusting the tarp much easier if you have to tie up to a tree or rock.
 |
| Q-Twinn Tarp |
- Manufacturers Specs -
Weight
● 7.0 oz. (197 g.) – tarp (mine is 223 g with the spectra guy lines)
● 0.2 oz. (7 g.) – stuff sack (included) (mine is 5 g)
● 1.9 oz. (55 g.) – 45 in. (114 cm.) front segmented aluminum pole (optional)
● 1.3 oz. (38 g.) – 32 in. (81 cm.) rear segmented aluminum pole (optional)
Dimensions
● 47 sq. ft. (4 sq. m.) – tarp area staked down to ground, not counting entrance overhangs
● 110 in. (279 cm.) – total width of front of tarp (55” per side)
● 83 in. (211 cm.) – total width of rear of tarp (41.5” per side)
● 44 in. (112 cm.) - height at peak for standard setup
● 67 in. (170 cm.) – front entrance width (staked down position)
● 62 in. (158 cm.) – rear entrance width (staked down position)
● 117 in. (297 cm.) - length of ridgeline
● 101 in. (257 cm.) - length of wall at ground
● 12 in. (30 cm.) – front entrance overhang
● 6 in. (15 cm.) – rear entrance overhang
● NOTE: some dimensions will vary depending on setup
Materials
● Cubic Tech CTK non-woven laminate
● EZC2 spectra-core line (275 lb. (125 kg.) tensile strength)
Color
"Black" although it is transparent to a degree (looks more like wax paper)
Gossamer Gear Q-Twinn Rain Test
The Q-Twinn Tarp can be a perfect solution to shaving pack weight and having more of a wilderness experience.
Updated in August 2015 by the editor
Disclaimer: David W. is a customer of GG and was under no obligation for this review. He owns the rights to all the photography and video in this article.