Backpacking Tarps
For the more adventurous backpackers amongst you, a backpacking tarp is a great piece of equipment that you will soon come to rely on. For those that don’t know, a ‘tarp’ is short of tarpaulin and is a waterproofed sheet. Traditionally they were made out of canvas, but these would typically get very heavy when wet and difficult to carry, so tarps now tend to be made out of polyester.
Polyester is very light, and dries very quickly in almost all conditions. It’s very thin so can be folded up very small and can be carried easily. A good size backpacking tarp will replace a tent, and as it lacks poles this can save considerable weight in your rucksack.
A backpacking tarp can be set up almost anywhere, but they are often set up near trees. Each corner is attached to a tree and forms a dry area underneath that can be used for sleeping and/or storing backpacking equipment. Backpacking tarps don’t tend to have sides, so are more suited to being used in the drier, warmer weather normally associated with summer however I have slept under one through a thunderstorm and remained totally dry. The key here is the way the tarp is put up – the lower it is to the ground the less space the rain has of getting under it. It’s also important that the tarp it very tight, with no sags in it. This should ensure all the water that hits it will quickly drain off rather than pooling.
I always find sleeping in a tarp more exciting as you feel closer to the elements and the great outdoors, especially if you have a roaring fire going. All good tarps are fire retardant, so you don’t need to worry about holes getting burnt in the material, although this is something that should always be checked when buying a backpacking tarp.
Another feature to look out for is the carry case. The better models will have a carry handle so they can easily be transported if it can’t be fitted in a rucksack.
In recent months, some manufacturers have brought out ‘ultra lightweight’ tarps which are supposedly half the weight of traditional backpackers tarps (click here for more information lightweight backpacking). I have not used these personally, but have heard positive reviews and if the extra expense can be afforded, the ultra lightweight tarp will justify its price tag.
If you have any queries around this article or would like to know more about my experiences using backpacking tarps please use the comment form below.
