Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp Review

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Introduction

The Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp ($210 in silpoly) is a one-person, 2-trekking pole, side/end-entry full-perimeter tarp shelter. It can be combined with the Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter ($165 in silpoly) to create a double wall tent weighing about 23 oz (652 g).

yama-mountain-gear-1p-cirriform-min-tarp-review-1 — Photo: Yama Mountain Gear

As a double wall tent, the Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp and matching 1P Bug Inner become a viable option for the lightweight backpacker that requires balance in terms of modularity, ease of pitch and weather resistance. Throughout this review I will be referring to this tarp and inner combination as the “Cirriform tent”. I need to clarify here that these two items must be ordered separately from Yama Mountain Gear. The manufacturer also offers a 1P Cirriform DW shelter ($355) that is very similar to the combo featured in this article. However the design of the tarp is slightly different, particularly around the vestibule, which results in an increase in weight of almost 3 oz (85 g) in comparison to the combination described in this review.

Also, Yama offers the 1P Cirriform Min Tarp in DCF, which results in a reduction of 2.4 oz (68 g) in weight in comparison to the matching silpoly tarp featured in this review.

About this Review

This review of the Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp is based on 7 nights of field use in New England, where my camp was exposed to light rain and light winds. I ordered the long tarp and regular length inner. I did so in different colors, since this made it much easier to pitch the full tent when leaving the inner attached to the outer the previous day by being able to easily distinguish what was the floor and what was the fly.

Features and Specifications

Fully enclosed tarp.
Options to purchase in 20d Silpoly and DCF, with two different vestibule arrangements in silpoly.
Both head and side entry options standard.
Optional bug netting to convert tarp to double wall tent.
1P Bug Shelter can also be pitched on its own, separate from the tarp.
Tarp weighs 10.9 oz (309 g) in regular length and 11.2 oz (318 g) in long size.
1P Bug Shelter is 9.6 oz (273 g) in regular length and 9.9 oz (281 g) in long size.
Weight competitive with Dyneema shelters at a significantly lower price.
Pitched with trekking poles or tent poles (the latter available from Yama).
Easy to pitch, with 6 to 8 stakes. 9 may be needed when setting the head pole outside the shelter.
Magnetic door closures.
Corner stiffeners in the bathtub floor.
Two generous pockets on the head end door of the 1P Bug Shelter.
1P Bug Shelter features a solid fabric foot end.

yama-mountain-gear-1p-cirriform-min-tarp-review-2 — Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Tarp & 1P Bug Shelter, with a wide pad inside.

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This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by HkNewman.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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Mar 2, 2023 at 11:57 am #3774636

Iago Vazquez
BPL Member

@iago
Locale: Boston & Galicia, Spain

Companion forum thread to: Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp Review

The Yama Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Min Tarp ($210 in silpoly) is a one-person, 2-trekking pole, side/end-entry full-perimeter tarp shelter.

Mar 2, 2023 at 7:57 pm #3774657

Chris K
BPL Member

@cmkannen-2-2

Nice overview. It’s surprising to read Ryan’s report of subpar performance in winds over 15 mph, considering the good reputation this shelter has online for general wind-worthiness. Gen does say the long version is more prone to catching wind than the regular length though.

Mar 2, 2023 at 9:14 pm #3774663

baja bob
BPL Member

@bajabob
Locale: West

I can’t recall any review I’ve read stating the Cirriform is anything but rock solid in wind. Here are some videos that are supposed to be 25 mph with 40 mph gusts according to the person who made the videos:

https://photos.google.com/shaYama Mountain Gear Cirriform VS Zpacks Hexamid-Solo. 25 MPH Winds – GIFs – Imgurre/AF1QipMvXCSJptgd6hOcePEzIuE0jgKNKiPDbNT8Cfq4XUB9kTmq6hS86hhDvQGNdm1j_w?key=WXh3Zmk0ekF0YnB5YU9hRm5MbE0wMzZqTHpHX0Jn

DCF Cirriform: https://imgur.com/gallery/8lWWsjf

Mar 2, 2023 at 11:43 pm #3774667

Jon Solomon
BPL Member

@areality
Locale: Lyon/Taipei

I guess we’ve all read the same reviews/comments here and there about the robust storm protection.

Perhaps this just underlines the importance of measured wind speed.

Indeed, I get downright ecstatic to see references to measured wind speed. Even mentioning that one did not have access to an anemometer, as Iago does in this review, is an important step towards recognizing the importance of measurement.

In his supplemental comments to the review, Ryan suggests that the A-frame design inherently limits wind resistance:

There’s just too much unsupported fabric between the foot and head end of the tent for it to remain stable in anything but the lightest winds. That’s not a criticism of the brand or model, just the nature of an A-frame style like this.

But in a separate thread, Ryan appears to suggest that the Slingfin Splitwing, an A-frame model made in a high performance sil/sil silnylon fabric, may perform better:

it pitches tight, stays tight, and is really strong (minimal flapping in high winds).

Perhaps this difference could be addressed somewhere later on.

Mar 3, 2023 at 2:57 am #3774674

Monte Masterson
BPL Member

@septimius
Locale: Southern Indiana

The similar designed Trekkertent Stealth has a supreme reputation for wind worthiness. All the countless testimonials about how it performs in the persistent Scottish winds can’t be wrong. A low profile, cat cuts and a swooping trapezoidal shape make it more aerodynamic than most other 2 trekking pole shelters. I like the way the front doors form a wedge the way the HMG Echo and Slingfin does. Can’t say why Ryan’s test showed poor wind performance of the Mini Cirriform. Does seem surprising. Just look at the Stealth. It doesn’t appear to be an A frame that inherently limits wind resistance.

Mar 3, 2023 at 7:40 am #3774677

Chris K
BPL Member

@cmkannen-2-2

The Splitwing has two midpanel perimeter tieouts per long side. And both the Splitwing and the Stealth have a tie-out up on the panel, the Cirriform does not. Although that feels a little Band Aid-ish to me.

I wonder how much the fabric plays into it. Yama uses recycled silpoly I think from RBTR, which does have some stretch according to Yama. (Back to that old chestnut, Jon!)

Mar 3, 2023 at 10:00 am #3774692

Jon Solomon
BPL Member

@areality
Locale: Lyon/Taipei

Yup, I’ve definitely noticed that those 20D silpolys from RBTR are a bit lacking in spine, so to speak (I have shelters made from them). Hence, the chestnuts…

Mar 3, 2023 at 4:07 pm #3774733

Jason McGrath
BPL Member

@pnwruddyman

Huh, I just received this same setup last week. I needed to add another 1p shelter to the xmid I already have. I’m going to wait until there’s some decent wind and rain in the forecast and set them both up side by side to see how they compare in wind and stretch.

Mar 3, 2023 at 5:04 pm #3774734

Nick Gatel
BPL Member

@ngatel
Locale: Southern California

It’s an A-frame tarp. Good for rain and light wind. Set up properly, even light snow. Inherent in the design. Good shelter when matched to the environmental conditions.

Mar 5, 2023 at 8:22 am #3774911

Michel S
BPL Member

@mossie23

I’ve used the Stealth1 in super windy conditions in Scotland and Iceland and it has always done a great job. Maybe because of the pointed shape of the vestibule it does a much better job at shedding wind than the rather flat front of the Yama? (or that’s the way it looks in the pictures)

BTW, surprised the Stealth1 was not mentioned in the overview.

Mar 5, 2023 at 1:27 pm #3774936

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

As one of the $7 club members, I was unable to read the OP’s post. However, I have owned the Stealth 1 and the Cirriform long with regular net tent, albeit both for a short time. The following is my opinion. Stealth. I like the Stealth for being able to spike it to the ground. Footprint too small fo me as a front entry. The included inner is front entry and is hard on my knee bones. I tried a side entry inner with a third stick to porch one side. Worked ok but not optimum since it’s not designed for this. I believe a Stealth 1.5 with a small inner would be fine. I would have liked the length of the fly to be a foot longer. BPWD La Garita is a similar shaped tarp. Tried their 2P but quality was a disaster. YMG. I tried the Cirriform long, because the extra 6″ is an extra 6″. The 1P net tent is almost perfect on many levels. The eight inch bathtub is pretty much needed since the tarp pitches about eight inches AFF. I really wanted to like this two piece kit. I prefer a tarp that can spike tight to the ground, or not, as long as it is my choice. While both pieces are each great, they really only work with each other. The tarp could be used with a regular bivy and pitched lower to the ground. But it’s a hands-n-knees ordeal. The net tent could be used with having the bathtub shorter but the extra fabric might be on a minds eye as an annoyance. Thats about it. My experiences with both. I didn’t have much time with each. Perhaps just enough time to know they weren’t for me. And the band played on.. My go to, checks all the boxes, shelter keeps going back to the X-Mid 1. I’m also playing with a SD High Route 1 and the High Route 3000. The SD blue-yellow-white doesn’t work for me so I ordered the 3000 from the UK. Important note is Skurka himself said the HR 1 and the X-Mid are different animals. So we won’t go there. I’ll find his quote if needed. Drifting… off…. topic… ~RL

Mar 10, 2023 at 2:21 pm #3775414

HkNewman
BPL Member

@hknewman
Locale: The West is (still) the Best

I heard good things about the Cirriform from one user who was caught in a wind/storm snow up on Mt San Jacinto. I own one myself which started the conversation. The hiker was a bit shorter than me, so assume he got the regular length. . I’m fairly tall and though I scrunch to get inside, set up to ~ 40 inches up front, I’ve got room to even spin around inside if need be (to grab a sock) provided I haven’t blown up my Xlite yet.

My Cirriform is a regular too but even so I lose it in a sea of 1P and 2P shelters at hiker festivals = it sits “low”, probably helping it in many windy situations. Also the foot comes to a point which helps too IMO. Think any A-frame will take a hit from the perpendicular thought, especially if a hiker has the “long” version.
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