MSR Zing Tarp Review

I recently purchased the Zing and also own an MSR Outfitter Wing tarp. The design for both is essentially identical. The Zing is made of lighter weight ripstop material, and that makes it both lighter but also much more compact when stored. The Outfitter Wing is very heavy duty, and the fabric is opaque. That's bound to last longer for commercial users. But the MSR Zing is an excellent compromise between strength and portability. The Zing cloth is translucent, with a pleasant amber color. It's opaque enough to provide useful shade, but transmits enough light to be more cheery on overcast days.

The shape is versatile, relatively easy to pitch, and can be very wind-resistant depending on how you orient it and set up the guylines. Consider getting two additional poles. This tarp sets up really well with four poles providing excellent stand-up head clearance. The concatenary curves allow for smooth tensioning without wrinkles or sags that hold rainwater or flap noisly in the wind.

I was disappointed that the cord guylines provided are not reflectorized. Our Oufitter Wing has reflective cords that are essential to safe navigation around camp after dark. I've had to order reflective cording, and that's a signficant expense to incur on an already expensive product. I'm tempted to downgrade my rating to four stars, but I bought this at a discount from the Amazon warehouse, so I'll be generous.

For accessory poles, I recommend Kelty's Noah's Staff or Noah's poles. The "staff" is not adjustable but these poles are slimmer and lighter in keeping with the Zing's lighter weight. The MSR wing tarps and vastly superior to Kelty's Noah's tarps, so just go for the Kelty poles.

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Product Description:
Bust out the MSR Zing Tarp for epic river trips, mountaineering basecamps, or group backpacking. This ultralight tarp provides 200 square feet of coverage for up to ten paddlers, climbers, or campers. Two tapered poles and the tarp?s inverted wing design give you a tight pitch in high winds, and the lightweight tent fabric protects your group from the scorching sun or pounding rain.

Product Features

Material: Nylon
Dimensions: 200sq ft (18.6sq m)
Packed Size:
Tie Points: 8
Pole Included: Yes, 2
Weight: 6lb 1oz (2.75kg)
Recommended Use: River trips, basecamp, group backpacking
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime

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