How to Build Your Own Pop Up Tent

A pop-up tent is any shelter that erects quickly and easily. It only requires a few items and the knowledge of two knots to be sturdy. This set-up is also called a ridgeline tarp shelter. It is designed to shield you through the night, but does not withstand strong elements, such as heavy rain, strong gusts of wind or heavy snow. It is an adequate shelter if your tent becomes damaged while backpacking.

Things You'll Need

  • 10x12 tarp
  • Eight pieces of rope, three to four feet each
  • Two trees
  • Six stakes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Establish an area with two trees about 10 feet apart in which to set up the tent. It should be at least 200 feet from your water source, such as a river, and 200 feet from where you cook food. The ground should be free of sticks, stones and large logs. Leaf cover is ideal because it adds an extra layer of warmth between you and the ground. Avoid setting the tent up underneath dead-looking trees as they could fall on you in a strong wind. Do not set your tent up on a hill side or where it appears water typically runs, as evidenced by water tracks.

    • 2

      Tie thin rope, called p-chord, to every grommet on the tarp. Grommets are typically located on each corner and the center of the short side where the ridgeline intersects with the edge. There might also be grommets in the center of the long sides to more securely stake out the tent.

    • 3

      Lay the tarp on the ground with the side you want exposed to the elements facing up. The seams are usually on the underside of the tarp. If your tarp has a ridgeline, a seam sewn down the center length, this should be on the outside as it helps the tarp maintain its point.

    • 4

      Tie one of chords attached to the ridgeline, the center on the short side, around one of the trees at four feet, if you want to sleep on the ground, or six feet if you are sleeping in a hammock. Use a figure-eight knot. Make a bight in the rope, leaving four feet of tail. A bight is one piece of rope folded next to itself. Pinch the two pieces of rope together so the loose end is hanging toward the ground on the right side, creating a loop. Circle the loose end of rope around the rope attached to the tarp by bringing the rope toward your body, around the back of the loop, but not through the loop, and back toward your body. Poke the end through the loop, going away from your body. When pulled tight, you have a figure eight in the rope. Wrap the free end of the rope around the tree. Follow the figure eight in the rope with the free end, tracing each time it twists and threads through itself. When done, you have 10 pieces of rope knotted around themselves, including the two coming from the tree and the two going toward the tarp.

    • 5

      Tie the other rope to the other tree with a tautline hitch. Pull the rope around the tree. Loop the end of the rope around itself two or three times, with the loose end toward the tarp. Cross the loose end of the rope over the wrapped rope and make another loop closest to the tarp. Slide the knot away from the backpack until it's taut.