Looking For A Tarp Tent

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NJWHN95

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Jun 25, 2011
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I'm looking for a tarp to be used as a tent. It dosen't necessarily have to be made for being a tent, but it can be. I have looked at quite a few. This is what I have decided:
1. I'm looking for a tarp, not a tent. I'm planning on using it as a it to make lean-to, A-frame, etc. So I don't want it to have a tent specific design, a plain square will do good

2. It will be in my backpack so I don't mind if it a couple pounds and takes up some room. That being said, I will have it folded up and it needs to be able to fit, but I have plenty of room so that shouldn't be a big issue

3. I don't think I like the plastic, polyester, etc. I'm really liking canvas, cotton, and other matierals of that sort. I really want this to hold up for many camping trips rain, snow, or shine.

So those are pretty much my requirements. ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. To give you an idea, here is one I really like the looks of: http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-10...5M0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314838426&sr=8-1
It's not specifically to be used as a tent but I think it would work. Any thoughts on that one would be appreciated as well.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
 
You might consider a newer type material and shape? Consider Kelty's Noah's tarp. They can be found in several sizes and have many tie points to be pitched in a lot of different configurations. Here is one example:
http://www.backcountry.com/kelty-no...id=TC|5483|kelty noahs tarp||S|b|81258786 71

[video=youtube;gcgnxNJzwJk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcgnxNJzwJk[/video]

I believe they come in 9', 12' and 16'. They are catanery cut and not real expensive.

[video=youtube;VZZIkTacRso]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZZIkTacRso&feature=related[/video]
 
I went through the same decision process. My tarp is only for emergency use, but I carry it out every trip. I have come to the point where I hate carrying extra weight. I settled on a sylnylon tarp based on it's reputed durability and light weight. I picked up cheap painter's plastic drop cloths cut to size to use for a floor. With stakes, cordage and everything it weighs 24 oz. If I can carry more than that and plan to use it I carry a light tent, 3-4 lbs. I looked at Tarptents and realized that a dedicated tent isn't always going to be suitable to some of the cirmcumstances I might find myself needing to use it in. (Steep, or thick terrain).

pete
 
You may well have to reassess your notions of portable. Back in the days when gear was made from that stuff it was carried by horse, wagon, raft, and so on. As far as man-hauling it goes it isn't going to be pretty.

That tarp you flagged on Amazon may has 10oz in bold but looking further down it shows 17oz per square yard after proofing. In addition to that you must consider that no matter how well proofed those sorts of fabrics are they still take up a certain amount of damp making it even heavier.

Even at the weedy size that tarp is that is going to be a hell of a lump. In addition on my scale tarps that size rate as "toy". I know one can see a few that big in pictures posted on forums but they are never in foul weather. They are usually strung up from long guys rather like a picnic parasol that proper bad weather will largely ignore. As for an A frame shape, well that is going to be a very tight squeeze for an adult and gear if you peg it down as weatherproof as possible. I suggest trying a mock up for yourself with a tape measure and a bed sheet. You'll notice PDQ that either way your apex is going to be between low and stunted, and one way round you may have head and feet poking out the ends too.

Using that same mock up from a bedsheet devise an A frame shape that you would find agreeable to hunker down weather tight in and then calculate what that is going to weigh at 17oz / yard. It's probably pretty clear already that a couple of lbs is a shocking underestimate. Then there's going to be the packed volume that is going to be unpleasant too.


In conclusion I say there's a good reason I regard these as "toys". They're fun for hanging up as a spark proof windbreak and reflector that affords some degree of psychological comfort on mellow days when toasting something on a stick over an open fire to entertain kids, but as a serious bit of kit they are completely out of context. The problem being that whilst one brings all the nostalgia and romance of yesteryear forward one fails to also bring forward the transportation that went with it.
 
Right now my pack is plenty light, I can afford a few more pounds with no problem. My only problems are that it might be to fit, but I have a lot of room. Also, is there a chance that it will rip? It is some what expensive and one of the reviews (different size but it was the same matieral and everything) said he tried to make a tent and it ripped with very little pressure. So, lets just say it fits in my pack and I handle the weight, would it work as a tent? Also, I'm thinking the 6x8 is to small, what size would be best. I don't need a huge tent, just enough to keep me out of regular weather. I'm now looking at the 10x12 version.
 
For size I usually use about 3m*3m. It's actually a touch smaller than that 'cos that is the fabric size off the roll before I sew it up. That does everything I could want including pitching out in the open exposed above the trees in adverse weather. That size allows me a lot of spread for entertainment, cooking, and whatnot. With three disciplined units I can get my woman and I and a big dog in bundle formation under it and still have room to knock up a nosebag, dig about in either of the two bergans, or have a go on the P bottle without too much gymnastics. I use Silnylon so I don't do this but in principle I could quite easily burn some small twigs in a can under it at the kitchen end.

I don't know about the durability of that material in particular but generally speaking I think of it as pretty darn tough. I had some sort of similar stuff to build a hide / blind. After I dyed and painted it up it stank and when I proofed it the stink got worse. It went to live down the garden in disgrace after that where it had a long and happy life covering up whatever. I don't know how long it lived like that but I can tell you it survived way longer than a US issue Woodland poncho that met a similar fate after proving unsatisfying.
 
NJWHN95 said:
Also, I'm thinking the 6x8 is to small, what size would be best. I don't need a huge tent, just enough to keep me out of regular weather. I'm now looking at the 10x12 version.
Click to expand...

6x8 probably is too small. If my math is right, the 10x12 version is going to weigh almost 15 lbs. There are good reasons that no one uses canvas tarps for camping anymore.
 
Unless the OP can get away from the cotton requirement, I don't see much out there that will help. It is hard to reconcile that fabric with the weight and portability needs.
 
I recently bought two nylon covers for trucks and trailers. They are 5x4 meters, which comes to 16x13 feet. They are absolutely waterproof and I estimate their weight about 4kgs each.
I used one to drape over a line I tied between two trees, and the other as a ground tarp (folded double). It worked like a charm.
They have an eyelet every meter at the edge, so you can attach rope to stake to the ground.
I've always loved open air camping when backpacking, and this is the easiest quickest way to set up a tent of sorts big enough for 4 people. They're also very tough.
Here's a few pics I took with my cell, hope it gives an impression, we took two nights to practice and see if this works in a more or less controlled environment before setting off for more serious terrain. After all, I will be alone with the two boys then. ;)

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These things cost me €18,- which comes down to about $25. But I'm sure they're a lot cheaper in the US. ;)
 
I have one of these:

http://nwwoodsman.com/Product/Shelter/TarpTent.html

and like it very much. There are several videos and a tutorial on his site that show different configurations. The canvas one is out of stock right now, but they will probably be back soon. This fellow is great to deal with, and lots of neat info on his site.

Good luck,
Regan
 
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