Tarp Complaints

For outdoor enthusiasts, tarps represent a cheap, lightweight alternative to tents. However, setting up tarps requires a higher degree of skill and craftsmanship, both in terms of knowing how to rig a tarp for different weather conditions as well as knowing the knots and setup techniques. Apart from purchasing a poor quality of tarp in the first place, other tarp complaints may include user error and the nature of having an open space for a shelter.

  1. Quality Materials

    • Some of the cheaper plastic tarps available at most hardware stores afford little practical use for the outdoors. These hardware store tarps can provide an element of weather protection, however, they also tear easily and become frayed over a short period of time. Additionally, the grommets on the cheaper tarps have a greater tendency to tear away from the fabric. If you are considering using a tarp as an outdoor shelter in the backcountry, be sure to purchase a high quality backpacking tarp made to sustain more wear and tear than cheaper plastic hardware tarps.

    Holes and Leaks

    • Even the most high quality nylon tarps will eventually begin to leak. Avoid holes in your tarp by limiting its contact with the ground prior to and during your camp setup time. This will prevent rocks and sticks from penetrating the nylon fabric of the tarp. Additionally, seal seams on a regular basis in order to prevent water from dripping through the stitching during a downpour.

    Environmental Complaints

    • Since tarps generally are set up in an "A-frame" manner, they leave room for campers to be affected by adverse weather conditions. In the event of heavy rainfall, wind may blow in rain from the sides of the tarp and water may run down the sides and splash underneath the edges of the tarp, dispersing water around the inner-edges themselves. Using tarps can also expose campers to bugs, snakes, spiders and other critters, which may be a common complaint of novice campers who are using tarps for the first time.

    Setup Issues

    • Furthermore, newer tarp campers may experience setup issues and difficulty learning how to tie knots and hitches such as the taut-line hitch or trucker's hitch properly, both of which can be used to tighten down the corners and edges of the tarp. To avoid setup issues and complaints, tarp campers should first tie the ridgeline of the tarp so that it is taut. Secondly, stake out the opposing corners of the tarp so that the guy line is positioned in a perfectly diagonal angle from corner to corner. Other setup issues may include users that fail to modify their tarp during heavy rainstorms or high wind events so that the tarp is lower and closer to the ground.