Comments about MSR Zing Ultralight Tarp Shelter:

This was my big purchase for this years camping trips, I have seen these at the camp grounds and always wanted one. Sunny Sports did a no hastle price match and I got one for an awesome deal. I love Sunny Sports.I havent been able to test it in a rain storm or under heavy winds yet, but feel it will work well as a dining/kitchen shelter or sun shade as designed. The MSR zing has two chief competitors Snow Peak's Hexa Tarp ProSet and the NRS River Wing, all for the same price. Size wise they are all close and all have a parbolic shape that aides in setup.The MSR Zing has some great features like the corner pockets to store the guide lines. Unfortunatley the provided refective guy lines seem like they would have to be upgarded for heavier wind and storm conditions. They are also short and MSR gives one less guy line at one of the poles where they feel the tarp doesnt need it, but any camper with any experience would defintely be adding additional and longer guys lines while setting this up.The 7 provided MSR ground Hogs are great for tents, but are short and not for a tarp in high wind, they arent going to cut it. Also camp grounds typically have hard packed gravel and I found myself buying 10 snow peak #30 stakes to use for this tarp.The thing is the #30 stakes and amazing snow peak stake hammer all come standard with the Hexa Tarp Pro Set for the same price.Both MSR and Snow peak both have setup videos on Youtube. After watching both it becomes apparent quickly that the snowpeak is easier to setup for no other reason that they have longer and more guylines. Adding addition guylines on the pole ends made the MSR Zing much easier to setup if you follow the SNOW PEAK video. Snow Peak did it right with the provided accesories. MSR cut some costs and it took me ~$100 to get to the same point.As far as the poles. An upgrade to the Kelty adjustable pole seems warrented and would allow you to pitch the tarp in multiple scenerios. The provided poles do seem strong, the Kelty poles just seem better.I love the tarp, its much better than discount store blue tarps, but wish I knew a little more before I bought it. I have not been able to test the Snow Peak or NRS products, but just by buying the Snow Peak Stakes and Hammer for the ZING I have feeling the MSR Zing's accessories could be a better for the [$] price tag.Either way I will have a tarp setup that will work for me for a long time. I would recommend the Zing, but if both were in front of me the Snow Peak may give you more for the money.