Trail Bird
Trail Bird
Estimated Weight
The foot-end width is greater than the head-end width. Please verify that this reverse taper is intentional.
Total packed weight includes the tarp, stuff sack, and all selected accessories. Weights are approximate and may vary slightly.
Need your order by a specific date? Please contact me before ordering to check rush availability and fees. Current Production Time: Approximately 3–4 Weeks. Priority Shipping does not speed up production time.
Couldn't load pickup availability
The Trail Bird is a tapered backpacking tarp that lets you vary coverage from one end of the tarp to the other while reducing unnecessary material where less coverage is needed.
Choose the head and foot widths that best fit your setup, along with your preferred length, tie-out hardware, and optional attachment points.
Features
- Customizable head-to-foot taper
- Available in 9' or 10' lengths
- Catenary curves along the ridgeline, head end, and sides
- Eight perimeter tie-outs (two ridgeline, four corners and the midpoint of each side)
- Optional bivy attachment points and ridgeline tie-outs
Backpacking Tarp Options & Setup Guides
For more detailed information about tarp fabrics, tie-out hardware, configuration, accessories, and maintenance, see the Backpacking Tarp Options Guide (opens in a new tab). For setup guidance, see the Tarp Setup Basics (opens in a new tab).
Choosing Your Taper
A wider end provides more coverage at that end, while a narrower end uses less material. A greater difference between the head and foot widths creates a stronger taper.
Included
- Trail Bird tarp
- Seam sealing
- Stuff sack
Share
I was interested in an ultralight tarp with roughly the same dimensions as the Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp, but without the durability issues they've apparently had. Jared's tarp fit the bill perfectly. And it squishes down to basically the size and weight of a hoagie sandwich. I pair it with a Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter and I've got a fully enclosed shelter system that weighs a little over a pound and goes up tight tight (thanks to the catenary cut to the tapered tarp) in five minutes flat (I just leave the two clipped together and store them together in a single sack). I've only tested the combo on rainless day hikes so far, but the system hangs easily between trees. The only minor issue I've had is the line locs slipping when cinched down tight. I tried different cordage but couldn't fix the issue, so I decided to not use them at all and just tied several loops on each line, which has worked great and eliminates the possibility of slipping entirely. Highly recommend working with Jared. He's responsive and his turnaround is lightning quick.
Another great piece of gear from SLD! Love my new Trail Bird tarp! Excellent quality, and amazingly fast delivery, even with the non-stock color I requested Two thumbs up!
Excellent communication! The tapered tarp is well made, everything you need to keep a bivy dry, and nothing you don’t. Cat cuts are easy to pitch, no more putting around with a square tarp when all I want to do is throw it up and go to sleep. Would buy again!
Let's see, I ordered the Trail Bird 4 days ago including a weekend and here is.
It is beautiful. The silnylon is high quality. Tie outs are strong. Seams and hems are well stitched, strong and well sealed inside and out. Catenary cut is perfect--not so extreme that you couldn't bring it right down to the ground if you had to, or so extreme that it has a 15" beak. Enough to hold a taught pitch and shed wind.
The repair kit is better than any I have ever received with a shelter: a full size, 1.5oz, tube of silicon, two different brushes, more than 1.5 sq feet of matching silnylon and extensive instructions that tell you the best technique. Maybe I've been missing something but I'e not seen that technique explained before. I learned it piecemeal.
The stuff sack is a great addition to my collection of sacks waiting for a fitting something that needs one.
Of course, haven't had it out yet so I guess this is more of an "unboxing." But I feel confidence that it will see a lot of trail and I'm looking forward to first pitch.
Very happy with my Trail Bird with straight edges (no cat cuts) and made by Jared with Dutch 0.9 Xenon silpoly. Construction is immaculate, and the excellent seam sealing is better than any I've ever done myself! Weight with ridge line (one-piece) and guylines is right at 9oz/260g and will be about 8.5oz or less once I trim some of the excess after I've used it on the trail a few times. Pretty darn good for a 9'x7'x5' tarp!!