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Tarps and Shelters

 
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
REI Camp Tarp added Feb 5, 2024
user rating: 5 of 5 (3)
DIY: Cuben Fiber DIY tarp added Feb 15, 2023
user rating: 0.5 of 5 (1)
PahaQue Rpod shelter added May 28, 2022
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Hummingbird Hammocks Pelican SilPoly Rain Tarp added May 26, 2022
$180 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Tarptent ProTrail Li added Apr 21, 2022
$529 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Hammock Gear Journey added Apr 19, 2022
$130 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
DD Hammocks DD Tarp 3x3 MC added Jan 27, 2022
user rating: 1.5 of 5 (1)
Tentsmiths Forester Tent added Jul 22, 2019
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
MSR Front Range Tarp Shelter added Jun 10, 2019
$380
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
My Trail Poncho UL Tarp added Feb 10, 2019
$100 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
BlueField Emergency Tarp added Jul 4, 2018
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
Six Moon Designs Deschutes Ultralight Backpacking Tarp added Jun 19, 2018
$190
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
UGQ SilPoly Rectangular Cat Cut Tarp (10x12) added Jan 19, 2018
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Cooke Custom Sewing 1.9oz Silicone Tundra Tarp added Jan 12, 2018
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Sea to Summit Hammock Tarp added Jul 10, 2017
$150
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Aqua Quest Safari Sil Tarp Square added Feb 28, 2017
$130 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Bushcraft Outfitters 10' x 10' Tarp added Nov 10, 2016
$64 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
YAMA Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Tarp - Dyneema added Oct 20, 2016
$385 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Paria Sanctuary SilTarp added Sep 3, 2016
$70
MSR Thru-Hiker 100 Wing added May 3, 2016
$210 - $239
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
UGQ Winter Dream added Feb 13, 2016
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
Hilleberg Tarp 5 added Dec 14, 2015
$190
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 4 added Nov 9, 2015
$849
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Six Moon Designs Haven Tarp & NetTent Bundle added Jul 30, 2015
$200 MSRP
user rating: 4 of 5 (1)
Wiggy's Freedom Shelter added Nov 7, 2014
$350 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
DD Hammocks DD Tarp 3x3 added Oct 22, 2014
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Hammock Gear Standard Cuben Fiber Tarp with Doors added Oct 2, 2014
$295 MSRP
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp added May 14, 2014
$165 - $249
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber Hammock Hex Tarp added Apr 18, 2014
$235 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Wilderness Logics Tad Pole added Apr 13, 2014
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 added Jan 3, 2014
$699
user rating: 5 of 5 (3)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Flat Tarp added Oct 7, 2013
$369
user rating: 5 of 5 (3)
Eagles Nest Outfitters HouseFly Rain Tarp added Oct 1, 2013
$170
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
MEC Silicone Guides Tarp added Jul 18, 2013
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Six Moon Designs Wild Oasis added Jul 6, 2013
$175 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1)
Snow Peak Penta Air added May 23, 2013
user rating: 4 of 5 (5)
Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT added Jan 27, 2013
$93 - $139
user rating: 5 of 5 (2)
Zpacks Hexamid Solo-Plus added Oct 23, 2012
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
UST Base All Weather Tarp added Sep 20, 2012
 
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Luxe Outdoor Bat Wing 400s added Jul 26, 2012
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2)
NEMO Transform Tarp added Jul 25, 2012
user rating: 4 of 5 (2)
Warbonnet Superfly added Nov 30, 2011
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Zpacks Hexamid Solo added Jun 28, 2011
$399 MSRP
user rating: 5 of 5 (1)
Hennessy Hammock Asym Hex added Jun 3, 2011
user rating: 0.5 of 5 (1)
Brooks-Range Ultralite Solo Tarp added Nov 24, 2010
$75 MSRP
discontinued
user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1)
DIY: Black Polyethylene Plastic Sheeting Tarp added Oct 20, 2010
user rating: 4 of 5 (6)
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape added Sep 27, 2010
$155 - $275
user rating: 4 of 5 (8)
Hennessy Hammock Expedition Asym Zip added Mar 18, 2010
$170
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Recent Tarp/Shelter Reviews

rated 5 of 5 stars
REI Camp Tarp

It's like a Swiss Army knife: lots of uses. I forget how much I paid for this on clearance at REI, but it wasn't much. Less than $50 as I remember. Like a few others, I'm not one to pass up a good deal and usually find a niche for most of my stuff. the camp tarp was no exception. When backpacking with my wife, we take it along as a sun shade or rain shelter and it easily sets up with a couple of trekking poles. I use two cords on the pole corners and one each on the sides and it's very stable in… Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
Kelty Noah's Tarp 16

Years ago, my wife and another couple ran the Green River with a commercial rafting company. I brought this tarp with two poles and during a Colorado cloud burst I pitched it over both our tents and had room for the whole party to hunker under down and stay dry, including the guides. It’s sheltered many a campground picnic table and never failed. Never trust tent rain flys. Pitch the tarp first and then your tent and rain-fly. I use the 9 ft Kelty tarp for camping—both tarp only shelters but… Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
DIY: Cuben Fiber DIY tarp

DIY, Install small grommets.   Get some cord, line, rope bigger than the grommets.  Tie a large knot in both ends, cut to the length of a side. . Place this on the inside of the tarp, loop ground tie cording from the outside, in, through the grommets, around this rope.   This rope will spread the stress across the fabric, helping to stop tear outs at the grommets, the 2 knots keeps the rope/line from pulling out sideways under the end tie loops. This is how the old navy ship canvas hammocks… Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
DIY: Cuben Fiber DIY tarp

Cuben fiber is so light I carry one (same size as Wallace reviewed) to function as a dining fly to hang out under during sustained rain. Beats being pent up in a tiny tent for hours. Mine is the lightweight fabric option. Had no problems when used as a tarp. I also own a cuben pyramid tarp. Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
DIY: Cuben Fiber DIY tarp

Incredibly light; packs crazy small. Great coverage Folds smaller than a 1L bottle (22-oz insulated mug shown) Specs: Primary Material: 0.51 oz sq yd (17.4 g sq m) Cuben fiber Secondary Materials: nylon taffeta, double-sided tape, thread, grommets Cut length: 10 ft (3.05 m) Cut width: 9 ft (2.74 m) Finished weight: 7.6 oz (215 g) Shown folded to: 9 x 4 1/2 x 2 in (23 x 11 x 5 cm) Tools: Sewing machine Grommet kit Scissors    Cost: about $250 US Description: This multi-purpose tarp was made to… Full review

rated 4 of 5 stars
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape

The Gatewood Cape from Six Moon Designs is a minimalist's dream that can serve as rain gear, pack cover, and shelter, among a few other things. Others dealing with harsh conditions or preferring more comfort will find it useful in addition to their regular kit.   Laraway Mountain summit on the Long Trail in Vermont As part of my continuing search for an improved long-distance experience I am always trying out new things. This year I tried out a couple of things from Six Moon Designs that aren't… Full review

rated 5 of 5 stars
Hilleberg Tarp 5

The Goldilocks of tarps—not too big, and definitely not too small—it's just right!! Having bought my Snugpak 3m tarp around 20 years ago I honestly didn't expect it to be still going strong, but there it is, some things are just made to last! However, it's not small, and it's not particularly light, exacerbated by the additional rings/carabiners and cords that I have attached, but it's certainly been a trusty bit of kit. However, as I've moved toward lightweight camping, and having owned a couple… Full review

rated 0.5 of 5 stars
PahaQue Rpod shelter

Read the reviews—shoddy product and poor customer service! Read all PahaQue product reviews—they all have a common theme. Terrible product (usually poles) and very poor customer service. That is exactly what I experienced. The pole fell apart right out of the box. The vendor I purchased through was great and apologetic but the PahaQue rep I eventually spoke with never apologized and became combatant and rude. At one point he insisted that no one ever complained about the poles (obviously not… Full review

rated 4.5 of 5 stars
Hummingbird Hammocks Pelican SilPoly Rain Tarp

A rather large yet relatively lightweight (and definitely expensive) winter-style rain tarp from the purveyors of some of the finest minimalist hammocks around. The Pelican is a house-style SilPoly tarp, with lots of space and some clever features to reduce weight and increase functionality. It doesn’t come seam-sealed at the ridgeline, but at least Hummingbird provides a tube of sealant. Introduction Hummingbird  is known for its minimalist hammocks made with certified parachute fabric and manufacturing… Full review

Other Types of Tents and Shelters

Find more tents and shelters reviewed in these related categories:

Four-Season Tents

3-4 Season Convertible Tents

Three-Season Tents

+7 more types