Comments on: Tarp Shelters: The Best Lightweight Option for Backpacking, Hiking & Wilderness Survival

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 22:58:43 +0000

In reply to Mikhail.

One of my photos, the last time I searched it on Google Photos, was being used on 354 other articles – I’m not upset – I think it’s cool.

By: Jim Jones

Jim Jones — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:09:48 +0000

Great article – the first and most important thing to do if stranded is to get shelter from the elements (heat, cold, storms, etc.) and then worry about fire, water, and food. We keep 3 different size tarps in our gear at all times and in the truck O’shit supplies.

By: William Charles Talaber

William Charles Talaber — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 04:34:23 +0000

Mikhail sounds like a Russian spy sent here to hamper any prepper who might benefit from the information! LOL I have a tarp, BUT I also have a heavy duty poncho from the Swiss that’s about 2x the thickness of the one I had in the Army. And a lot larger…

By: JohnEnter your name...

JohnEnter your name... — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:17:21 +0000

In reply to Patrick Dennis. Bow string wax 12 before the tarp and tie two drip lines one before the wax one just before you tarp.the one before you tarp make it long and stake it to the ground.then the water will follow it to the stake.

By: Mikhail

Mikhail — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:43:36 +0000

In fact, because you’ve acted so poorly in response to my friend John. I’m going to find where everyone of these images came from and notify their respective owners.

By: Mikhail

Mikhail — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:42:19 +0000

You guys are stealing other people’s work. I know for a fact the Rainfly photo was stolen from Arizona Bushman. I’ve seen the original photo. And the poster prior to your hack attempt to cover it up. I’ve been using photoshop professionally for 15 years in the VFX industry and I can see when you’ve copied and reversed a section of the trees then run a filter over it. It is still stealing. It’s lazy, and shameful.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:37:47 +0000

Something else that can be used is two military ponchos. In survival school we would snap them together (two snapped together to make a single cover) and it would provide enough space for two people.

From there we gathered various branches to make a “bed” and put our foam mat over the branches followed by the sleeping bag. And when we weren’t set up for the night the sleeping bag and mat (along with some 550 cord) was our backpack. Now the sleeping bags were a bit more heavy duty than most (thick cloth instead of nylon or some other easily rippable outer material), but the setup worked surpisingly well and kept the weight down.

By: LoFlyer

LoFlyer — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:22:13 +0000

Most of my camping is car/pop-camper style. Even with the extensible canopy attached to the camper another is needed for the pic-nic table. I have found the Kelty tarps excellent for the task. The Kelty truly enters its element on the trail where its many loops can find attachments.
Some advice as to the Kelty. Use heavier rope for the ridgeline external loops. Parachute cord is light and strong, it stretches though and I recommend heavier rope that does not stretch for the ridgeline. Bring lots of parachute cord. Sometimes you have to stretch the cord 50 feet for just one hold-down. I prefer the color bright yellow to avoid it in the dark. When facing a storm or rain you want this thing as low to the ground as possible. Adjusting the tarp. The Kelty is almost infinately adjustable. When the weather is good and sunny adjust the tarp up to provide shade and ventalation. when the weather is poor drop the tarp to the lowest position to keep wind driven rain out.
Maintain your situational awareness of the weather and always honor the threat. Be prepared that that the cords and rope needed to make this tarp work is probably going to weigh more than the tarp itself. While high quality the tarp is light weight and not immune to damage. If you are aware of its limitations and learn to use its amazing adaptibilty, you will find yourself a comfortable and lightweight shelter.
Best regards…

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:47:10 +0000

In reply to Jason.

The Hennessy-Hammock system with its built in netting is good for a single person; quick to set up, no need for level ground or pruning the ground for stick or rocks, etc., and the tarp cover is integrated into the system.
The biggest problem I have found with a hammock is during colder weather the air flow underneath tends to freeze your butt, even when set up low.

I usually carry a 10×10 sil-nylon tarp and a single person backpacking tent if there will be bugs to deal with. I can drop the tent too by using the Epic bivy sack with a mosquito head-net.

By: J R Smith

J R Smith — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:22:02 +0000

In reply to Patrick Dennis. Tie a piece of rope at the edge where the suspension rope starts under the tarp. The water will hit the rope and them run down the rope without hardly any going under the tarp.