For the first few years I used a MYOG plastic tarp 8 x 10 and had no trouble getting a tight pitch in traditional a-frame mode. After it finally failed, I bought a silnylon flat 8 x 10 tarp and I have experimented with various pitches, but I'm not nearly as successful. My concern is that if really foul weather presents itself when I'm up in Roan or other exposed areas, that the tarp will collapse and I will be upset during my slumber with a wet tarp on my face. If anyone has silnylon tarp pitching tips, I'm all ears. I have a bowline attached to each tab to stake out the corners directly when needed and taut line hitch so that I can adjust guylines easily.