On 2/3/2008 12:19 PM Keith Ovregaard wrote:

> A rain fly would be nice, but how do you remove it in a downpour and
> keep the canvas dry? Then, what are you going to do with all that wet
> fabric? How wet are you going to get just taking the fly down? I will
> pass on the rain fly, but YMMV.

I agree. Some of the most robust tents I've ever used are made by
Springbar (www.springbar.com, no affiliation). These are burly cotton
canvas numbers which can take season after season of sun, rain, and snow.
Canvas is not waterproof and soaks through, but the water stays in the
fabric, doesn't drip. In November when I was camping in a gale-force storm
in the mountains around here, the weather side of my poptop had visible
beads of water on it, and while the occasional 40mph+ gust of wind forced
a few drops through the zipper, I was dry inside.

I wouldn't want to have to fuss around with rigging and taking down a fly,
and don't see a reason for one except to keep windows open in a muggy
storm. Fortunately they are rare around here.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR