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-solo-tent 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 Some of the links above are affiliate links, when you purchase an item through them I get a very small percentage, and at zero extra cost to you! This greatly helps to support these videos and guides