im looking to get into tarp camping
for summer trips in the sierras
since im a true beginner at it is there any budget tarps that will work
ok for a season until i can afford a mld or other quality tarp?? i have looked at equinox oware and a few others but have no idea if they are descent quality i will use the tarp only for solo trips so it probably will
see about 4-6 trips this summer
any suggestions on a budget tarp to get me started for around 80-100 bucks??
thanks
kevin

Maybe not descent, but you can sleep under it;)

I would recommend the Alpinlite 8x10 tarp (longitudinal seam) for $109

We own a few Oware Tarps and I think their quality is excellent. You can get a number of flat tarps within your price range. I'd suggest a 2.0 (8x10) or the 1.5 (6x8) for starters. The former costs $102 and the latter $69.

I prefer the Oware 9x9 Pyramid to MLD's similar sized shelter because of its sturdier zipper and seams, but that is just a personal preference; both are good shelters.

Etowah Outfitters makes a really good tarp. $98, 13oz for their 8X10 silnylon version. You can get it in a variety of colors, if you just don't like grey.

I'm a huge fan of tarp camping. I started off with a self made tarp. It didn't last too long. LOL This is the exact reason I pay people to make my stuff. I don't have the skills. My next tarp came from REI. It was made by Integral Designs. If it breaks, you can return it. If you don't like it you can return it. If tarp camping isn't for you... you can return it. You see where i'm going with this? :D Welcome to tarp camping. I think you're really going to enjoy it. Cheers mate.

You can get a 8'x10' sil nylon tarp from campmor for $70. I believe its an Equinox.

Joseph

+1 big, cheap 8x10 silnylon tarp. Jardine is/was right.

If you are interested in a quality tarp on a budget and would consider a MYOG project the Ray-Way Tarp kit is hard to beat. I believe it comes in under the $60 mark for the kit. It provides lots of coverage and comes in at a decent weight for a sil-tarp. I have sewn a few tarps (with and without beaks) and I have to say that the Ray-Way kit was well worth the money. The beaks do limit setup options but I found that the majority of the time I was pitching flat tarps in an A-frame configuration anyways. It is actually a pretty straight forward project.

If the idea of sewing your own does not appeal to you I am sure the Oware flat tarps would be a good option. I have one of their mids and have been very pleased with the quality of it.

Jeff

Edited by ABHiker on 02/24/2010 15:23:49 MST.

+1 big, cheap 8x10 silnylon tarp. Jardine is/was right.



Ditto.

+1 to Matt. Get a big, cheap 8x10 silnylon tarp. Spend the extra dollars to get silnylon - don't bother with the cheaper coated urethane ones because you're only going to spend more money on a better one eventually anyway.

If you are up to making your own:

We now exclusively use Ray-Way tarps for 3-season camping. I can't imagine using anything else...they work great and are cheap and easy to make. I make them in 2-person and 3-person sizes. We also use net tents if we expect bugs, otherwise we use Polycryo ground cloths. Note that on his web site Jardine is now recommending an updated version of his original net tent.

Hey Elliott,

Out of curiosity what does a 3 person Ray-Way tarp weigh? And how much larger is it? Thanks.

Edited by ABHiker on 02/24/2010 20:08:14 MST.

thanks for all the great info guys it seems that the
choices are pretty good for what im looking for
i looked at the mld solo plus grace tarp today and really liked it it runs $110 in silnylon does anyone have any expierience with this tarp and if so is it a good beginner tarp?? itlooks like it will fit my needs well and is easy to pitch

thanks for all the great info
kevin

This tarp maybe considered heavy by you guys.
It is 1.1 oz/sq yd and it weighs 16 oz. The tarp is 10'x11' but it has doors you can close on each end. The price is $129.00 and he has had it on sale for $99.00

http://www.speerhammocks.com/Assets/Images/Tarps/WinterTarp3.jpg

Edited by Ewker on 02/25/2010 08:13:33 MST.

The MLD tarp is outstanding, and would be among the best choices in that size of cat-tarp. Ron Bell's (MLD's owner) craftsmanship is second to none, and there are always little details on MLD products that make them super user-friendly; they are obviously designed by people who use their gear. Personally, I just like checking out his seams; wish I could make my gear look so beautiful!

I have used an MLD TrailStar which I like, but tarps can be wind tunnels. I like the tarp Eddy suggests above with beaks or doors at the ends. My favorite one person shelter is the SMD Wild Oasis.

just an FYI but the Speer tarps are 25% off

You can get an Alpinlite 8x10 Tarp for 84$

I'm also new to tarps. I just started using an Integral Designs Siltarp 5x8 and I enjoy this much more than a tent. My tent was a sorry replacement for the star-filled sky. one tip though...when I'm unsure of the weather I will want an 8x10 tarp so that I dont have to be confined to a bivy under my 5x8 if it rains. Also, I like that a flat tarp lets me choose from alot of pitching configurations. sometimes i can pitch it so it feels like i dont have a roof at all and then just slide down a bit to tuck in. very intuitive and natural style of camping.

Okay,

So I'm headed to the Needles in Mid-April and would like to try tarping it. I have a couple of questions. Firstly, I would like to say I work on a ship and really have absolutely zero concerns on how to pitch it or tie it down. Even without ever having put one up I would like to say I am confident that I will be able to put one up without much trouble. Knots and tie-downs are a big part of what we do. Anyway,what I can't figure out is bug protection and seeping water protection. How is this generally dealt with? I've a nice Western Mountaineering down bag that I really do not want to get wet. From every example I've seen it appears there is no way to keep water from running down underneath you. Likewise, what are people doing for biting insects?

C

"Water running under the tarp" is dealt with by not pitching it where water will run. ie: Pitch on leaves or pine needles or soil that absorbs water and in a spot that is a little higher than the surrounding ground.

"Biting insects" are largely ignored. If there are a lot, then people use a "bug net" under their tarp. This could be a "head net" (rest of body is inside sleeping bag), or a small tent size pyramid where the head end clips to the underside of the tarp, or something in the middle (ie: a tent that only covers from the waist up).

If you are using the tarp in the middle of the buggy season, a net tent under the tarp is the way to go IMO. When it's not the buggy season, you can leave it at home and save the weight.

My 3-person RayWay tarp is a scaled up version of the 2-person tarp, but with extra length since the peak will be higher relative to a 2-person tarp and so it needs to be longer to keep out the rain.

The material is Silicon coated 1.1 oz nylon, maybe 1.3 or 1.4 oz. per square yard. The tarp weight is mostly the silnylon, with an ounce or two for the extra-long ridge and side tie-outs. The two main panels are each 120 inches by 70 inches. I forget the beak dimensions. Thus the coverage is about 12 feet long by 10 feet wide. It weighs 1 lb 7.8 ounces, not including stakes.

I made a net tent, suitably scaled up, as well. It weighs 1 lb 4.7 oz, and it consists of a silnylon floor plus a whole lot of netting.

Two of us took the tarp and net-tent kayak camping recently and it was like the Taj Mahal, lots of space, very comfortable. For three the net-tent is a bit tight.

NOAH'S TARP by KELTY
9' x9' 22 oz. $60 @ CAMPMOR
Bombproof, mine is maybe 8 years old and still good to go.
I like the price, the weight, and the headroom. I have never felt the need to upgrade. Anything lighter, I found to cost way more or not be as strong or roomy.
I don’t like dog houses. I pitch the NOAH with 5 to 6 feet of headroom at the front peak and maybe 18 inches at the foot.
I use a poncho for a rain door.