Tarp Camping Masterclass - Everything You Need to Know!

I've used tarps for more than 10 years and well over 10,000 miles of hiking. I have spent more than two years of my life sleeping under a tarp. It's an awesome style of backpacking shelter that is a ton of fun to use. Nothing is more ultralight than a tarp, and if you want to shave pounds from your pack this is as good as it gets!

Budget tarp options!
Best Budget Tarp (Flat Tarp) - https://alnk.to/74xwFMW
Catenary Cut - https://alnk.to/dLkjWLx

Bug Headnet - https://alnk.to/bPfZ9SK (You will want this!)
Groundsheet - https://alnk.to/dApyY3W (Polycryo, lighter weight, less durable)
Groundsheet - https://alnk.to/e79PUwb (Tyvek, heavier, more durable)
Tent Stakes - https://alnk.to/dApyY9B (My favorite)

Fancy Tarps
Tarp I Use Currently (8.5x10) - https://tinyurl.com/c6btpvte
Tarp I've Used for Thousands of Miles (7x9) - https://tinyurl.com/f2r9r2dn
These are made out of a fabric called dyneema, it does better in heavy winds and storms, it is lighter weight, but it is also very expensive. A cheaper fabric like Silpoly or Silnylon actually packs down smaller, and is easier to repair. I use both options frequently and they're both great.

Yama Cirriform - https://alnk.to/hsyexST (shaped tarp)
Yamamountaingear has made the most interesting tarp design out there. It provides protection from all four sides, but can be opened up for more expansive views in good weather. We used this for 300+ miles and it is now my girlfriends primary shelter.

Anda Dos - https://alnk.to/3J982fY
Another great option for a tarp with a catenary cut, we used this for 800+ miles. The cat cut allows the tarp to do better in windy and stormy conditions. It is made out of the more budget friendly silpoly, and we enjoyed using this tarp.

Poncho Tarp - https://alnk.to/9bwCrzh
In general I would not recommend a poncho tarp. They are a jack of all trades, but don't do any of those jobs very well. They do not provide warmth as a rain jacket which can be a safety concern. They are very difficult to setup when it is raining. And they are very small when used in tarp mode.

Tarp w Bug Netting - https://zpacks.com/products/hexamid-s...
This is a very expensive shelter but it is a cult classic, the Zpacks Hexamid. It is a tarp, but it also has a bug net! So you get the benefits of extreme ultralight, while still retaining the comforts of a tent.

Why do I like a tarp
A tarp is stupid lightweight, they are lighter than any tent could ever dream of being
Freedom, as they are so exposed I feel closer to the environment I am in
They offer cool flexibility in that you can set them up differently every night
They are cheap! You can get a good quality tarp for about a quarter the price of a tent

Why I don't like tarps
Bugs, any trip with heavy bugs is not a time I want a tarp
No other reason

When would you use a tarp over a tent?
Anytime bugs aren't massively present. The desert, or shoulder seasons for example
Times when you aren't frequently camping above treeline
(I've used tarps on the AT, PCT, AZT, FT, PNT, and many others)

Shapes and Sizes
A flat tarp is most common and in my opinion the most fun as they can be setup in a multitude of ways
The smallest flat tarp I would recommend is 7x9, and really I would prefer something closer to 9x10 as it gives more protection and flexibility
Tarps can also come in shapes which offer more protection in wind and storms, but less flexibility and space underneath

Guylines
The longer the guylines the better
Ridgeline - 2x lines that are 7-9 feet
Corners - 4x lines that are 5-6 feet
Sides - 2-3 feet

Knots
Use a bowline hitch to attach the guyline to the tarp
Use a tautline hitch for the stake end of the line, this is an adjustable knot allowing you to change your line length
Forget all that and use linelocs if you want simpler

Groundsheets
When using a tarp, you will need a groundsheet to protect you from nature
Polycryo is the lightest option but doesn't last super long
Tyvek is heavier but lasts extremely long

00:00 - Benefits of Tarps
04:31 - Downsides of Tarps
06:26 - When to use a Tarp
08:13 - Shapes & Sizes
09:47 - How to Pitch a Tarp
13:27 - Quick Tricks
14:33 - Guylines
16:25 - Knots
18:17 - Groundsheet
20:37 - Site Selection
23:06 - Where to Start

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