The following is taken from Backpackinglight.com
Introduction
At 8.2 ounces the Oware Cattarp 1.1 is not as light as some other ultralight tarps and poncho/tarps on the market, but provides excellent weather protection and an easy setup because of its extra width and catenary ridgeline.
What's Good
· Good weather protection
· Catenary cut ridgeline
· Quick and easy to set up
· Reinforced tieouts and 1.1 oz/yd2 silnylon construction
· Compacts down small
· Many color choices
What's Not So Good
· Limited setup options
· Large footprint limits site choices
Specifications
Manufacturer
Oware
Year/Model
2005 Cattarp 1.1
Style
One-person tarp with catenary cut ridgeline
What's Included
Silnylon stuff sack and 50 ft (15.2 m) of spectra cord
Fabric
Silicone impregnated 1.1 oz/yd2 (37 g/m2) high tenacity nylon
Weight
Measured weight of stuff sack, tarp, and cord 8.2 oz (232 g), manufacturer's specification 8.5 oz (241 g)
Dimensions
Tapered from 5.4 to 4.4 ft (1.65 to 1.34 m) wide, 8.5 ft (2.6 m) length
Features
Catenary cut ridgeline, eight reinforced web ties outs
MSRP
$76
Performance
The Oware Cattarp 1.1 is 8.5 feet long and tapers from 5.4 feet at the head end to 4.4 feet wide. It provides amazing weather protection for a tarp even during a stereotypical Oregon Cascades deluge. A bivy isn't even needed to stay dry during wet weather if the winds aren't blowing too hard.
The Cattarp is simple to pitch. Stake out the corners, slip clove hitches onto two trekking poles and stake them out, then readjust the corners for a taut pitch. The eight tieout points are reinforced making it worry free to tighten down the pitch. Adjust the height for more headroom or batten down the hatches for storms. The catenary cut ridgeline makes a taut pitch almost foolproof.
All the web tieout loops are reinforced to provide a taut pitch without worry.
The only negative that I found with the Cattarp 1.1 is its large footprint. This tarp needs a relatively large area to set up. Hiking in an area above Marion Lake in the Oregon Cascades after a recent windstorm that had caused major amounts of blown down debris, I couldn't find a clear area large enough to pitch the tarp properly. I finally had to make do with a sub-optimal pitch that allowed the Cattarp to flap noisily in the wind.
The Oware Cattarp 1.1 is a well-constructed tarp that offers a good coverage to weight ratio; a foolproof, quick and easy pitch; and durable construction.
What's Unique
Commercially available silnylon, catenary ridgeline tarps as light as the Oware Cattarp 1.1 are rare. (Mountain Laurel Designs offers a very similar tarp that is a foot longer but costs about $30 more.) The Cattarp is sized nicely for solo use with extra width and lighter weight compared to most poncho/tarps. Construction quality is excellent and it comes in eight colors.
Recommendations for Improvement
The Cattarp 1.1 is the smallest catenary tarp Oware carries. I would like to see a smaller version offered to save weight and to allow for a smaller footprint. An option for lighter fabrics would also be nice.
Citation:
"Oware Cattarp 1.1 Tarp REVIEW," by Marty Coatney. BackpackingLight.com (ISSN 1537-0364). http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/oware_cattarp_1_1_tarp_review.html, 01/17/2006.