I have a dd tarp 3x3 and I never get wet and it's brilliant and better then a tent b/c I can see and hear nearly everything around me, especially the birds and the sun set
Yes! I have a favorite spot here in Oslo, in a small hill over the Sognsvann lake. Waking up to birds learning how to fly over the water in the spring is just priceless.
+1 on this, Paul! A well pitched tarp in a wisely chosen location beats most tents during bad weather, because of the vastly superior ventilation it provides. I have been through many thunderstorms in all 4 seasons under a tarp - never had any problems. At the same time several tents failed due to various reasons...
Rain on a tarp is a wonderful sound. Thanks Paul. I was out in one of the biggest thunderstorms I've ever been in this past July and was under a tarp. I too was perfectly fine. Nate
when you go outside, into the woods, look to the beauty of it. listen to the rain, wind, gray noises... do not allow yourself to wonder off into fear or worry or you won't enjoy the time... Never will you see a more beautiful site that a star filled sky on a clear night in the wilderness...
sorry people but my 3x3 DD TARP works great if I know it's going to rain when I am out woodland camping I take a tarp hammock or tarp and yellowstone camp bed. . like you say some people are good at commenting but never got off there Xbox or PlayStation and get out there to see for there self's ..
i get asked the same question and like you, hundreds of nights in the woods during rain under a tarp and nothing except for 1 time during a downpour on a slight hill ... which I will explain. I had a tarp pitched on a slight slope and the ground was already saturated so the water was starting to creep in as it rained harder. The ground just couldn't absorb any more water. The remedy to this problem was a trick I learned wayyy back when I was 8 or 9 years old building lean-to shelters in boy scouts ... since water always takes the path of least resistance, you can use a stick to form a trench along the drip edge of the tarp on the ground and direct it away from you. Physics always wins in the end even when gravity doesn't
It's probably about the importance of choosing your location for tarp camping. It's sometimes hard to stay dry under a tarp in high winds in an open area.
I've been a big fan of tarps for backpacking in the Pacific Northwest since about 2005. Overall they're my preferred shelter. Less condensation than a tent, and more versatility in set up options. One note - tarp set up is all about location, location, location! choose your site wisely. ;)
I also thought the same, but with age comes all sorts of problems stopping me from sleeping on the floor, and sadly not more tents, so I decided to give hammock and tarps a go, and I was shocked, not only did I stay dry in a thunderstorm, but I had the best night sleep I've had in years, ( 11pm - 6pm the following afternoon )
Just two of the reasons why tarp + hammock is now my preferred camping option too - I do have a Hennessy Assymetric tho, with built-in bugnet. 'Cos midges bloody LOVE me! :( I'm a heavy sleeper but was woken by the rain on the tarp one night. After struggling up to semi-consciousness enough to identify the noise, and that I was still dry and warm, I turned over and went back to sleep :) No need for a drainage ditch, or to clear any débris from the sleeping area with a hammock either.
Yes Paul i hike in the new forest with a tarp over a hammock i place my water jugs and bottles on the run off points to fill them up i always check wind direction before i set up and light a fire down wind i use tin foil around my fire to reflect the heat back towards me but a tarp is much better than a tent as you can use two to cut the wind off...
I had a stoat share my tarp recntly when it rained wierd experiance he/she didn't mind me at all not one ounce of fear and just sat on my bag till the rain clamed down and then just ambled off all as I lay there in my net on the ground.
Could be those that say tarps are fine until it rains are used to Kelty tarps which are often, more correctly called sun shades. Some tarps were never meant to be used as rain shelters. Some tarps don't come seam sealed, in which case may leak at the seams. Other than that, tarps make great shelters, particularly for hammock camping.
I’m a hammock camper, but I also like the idea of being able to setup on ground if I wanted to or if there were no trees. The title scared me. Lol Glad I watched the video! Good stuff! Pumped to try this!👍🏼
I'm mostly done with tents. Now, I carry a cheap tarp that i can stake as a tent with my walking stick as a pole. The last night I spent out it rained twelve hours. I was perfectly dry in my tarp tent. Ty for your real world knowledge.
In very windy wet weather more thought will be needed into tarp arrangements and a larger tarp is benificial. Perhaps some viewers who have concerns about using tarps have used small bashas set up in a manner that allows some ingress of precepetation during gales etc when a more protected shelter would be more appropriate.
Reminds me of the meme of " I could of been an x but I took an arrow to my knee" "A tarps fine until.... a bear attacks" "A tarps fine until...an asteroid strikes" "A tarps fine until....Hilary wins the election" .....you get the idea,
We do here in Phoenix, AZ get summer monsoons with rain that approaches horizontal. But for that to happen you'd have to be camping in 100+ deg F weather at 4pm in July and with the hurricane winds that brings - you'd be lucky for your tarp to still be standing it you used less than 12 stakes on the thing. A tent would do just as bad. I don't see under circumstances other than hurricane or southwest monsoons that a tarp would be a problem.
I always set my 10'x10' DD tarp up in the tarp-tent configuration (you need that in the Scottish Highlands!) never any other way, and it's NEVER let any water through, even though it's only a 3000 head.
Take a tent if you want. There are a lot of good ones. However, I have stayed dryer under tarps than I have under some tents. Also some tents friends use. Properly set up a tarp can keep you dry and out of the Wind. Even done so in the winter time.
Tarps are fine if the rain falls straight down, in Scotland it hammers in at 45 degrees meaning the dry useable space under the tarp is reduced considerably, also it is little defence against drifting snow, admittedly we are talking Army bashas not some truck size super tarp.
Depends where youre are. Up north in southern Ontario (Canadian shield) its all rock bed. Theres nowhere for the water to go. It accumulates and puddles. It would build up and run under the tarp like a stream eventually. This even happens to in tents. Not a pleasant thing waking up middle of the night soaken wet. A hammock / tarp with a mosquito net is my choice for my neck of the woods.
I totally love being under a properly set up tarp (on flat or high ground that drains well) in a rain storm. Much rather be under a tarp than inside a claustrophobic tent any day. Thanks for filming, Andy
When I saw the title, I thought you've lost it Paul. Seems you have a good amount of British humor ;o)In the army I have been sleeping under a tarp in wind, rain and freezing conditions and combinations of the three. I was on the ground on a thin foam sheet, and often we had to dig a trench for protection, so we were covered when lying down. I NEVER got wet. Even when using a rain poncho as a tarp I always was dry. You just need to select the spot with a bit of care. To secure the perimeter I sometimes had to have the opening of the tarp facing the wind with horizontal rain (as my wife calls the Danish weather in autumn). If you set up the tarp properly you dont have any problems. Have a look at some of the very good videos out there, on how to set up a tarp. Thanks for the good videos Paul...
I agree with you Paul. however I did have one night in Wales where it rained so hard that the rain turned into a fine mist as it hit the trees. it then drifted everywhere on the breeze, including under my tarp. I ended up lowering the edges to the ground to reduce the effect, but still got wet from the ends so I tied them up as well. it was unusually heavy rain though. I had to wear earplugs to sleep it was so loud! thanks for all your materials, I'm loving them , especially the long form interviews. I hope our paths cross sometime, cheers
Paul Kirtley after seeing the title, I was about to give you a mouthful. Having been in the Australian army, we lived under hoochies when we were out bush. You get colder than a tent with the wind, but never had a problem with rain.
Slept under a tarp this past weekend. No rain, but I would have been fine under that low and deep plow point. I only sleep under a tent when with someone else. Rain and snow, I've always stayed dry. Though this past weekend I could have used a bug net.
What I would say tarp and hammock set-ups secure karbs to both horizontal lines this stops the ingress of water reaching the inside of the hammock other wise I have spent time under a tarp in the most horrendous weather and was cosy and dry, I also spent a while living in a tipi that was much harder.
I'm a hammock camper and have stayed dry during torrential rains and Huge thunderstorms. I live in Oklahoma which is known as part of tornado alley. The storms here are MASSIVE. Stayed dry under my tarp. If you're wet under a tarp, you may need a bigger tarp (I use a 13'x10' due to the driving winds and blowing the rain sideways) or you need to adjust your tarp. Practice at home in your yard. Set up your tent and simulate rain with your garden hose and nozzle. Get under your tarp and have some simulate rain. You'll learn the technique.
how do i keep the ground under my tarp from getting wet? Im thinking of buying one but im worried that rainwater will seep from under thetarp and flood my sleeping bag and all my other stuff
Hi Paul I saw the title and was shocked, I thought you had lost the plot but I’m pleased after watching the video that you have not, I have slept in horrendous rain many times under a tarp and alway been dry with only one exception and that was due to my error setting up carelessly while pitching camp late after a long day. Keep up the good work. Shaun
Great video! Sadly I have been soaked under a tarp, but living in Canada means vastly different terrain than the UK. My only mistake was to have the tarp too high off the ground at the sides - here having it no more than 12" off the ground at the sides, ensures a nice dry sleep!
Solis Outdoors I guess it depends on where you setup, and under what type of conditions ... as I said, 2 feet is a bit much for the wet coast, but would be fine for a mild dry alpine climate.
I have that exact camp bed! Ancient canvas thing that weighs as much as a bowling ball. Built to last though, id like to see a modern nylon camp bed last 40 odd years
Yup, I've never got wet under a tarp in the UK, and I'm in one of the wettest places in Scotland. I tend to find rain falls down the way, so I go under the tarp (;
True story. Was riding my bike across multiple states, it was windy and rainy and found a perfect covered piviilon with a concrete base for a slab. Ah, thought I was going to have the perfect dry experience in the rain with my tent. Set it up right in the middle of the concrete underneath the pavailion, figured I wouldn't even need to put up the rainfly... Rained about 2 inches during the night... Not a drop of rain from the storm got anywhere near my tent... BUT... about 2 in the morning, I found myself laying in a 4 inch puddle of rain underneath. Yes, the concete was lower in the center so all the rain ran down the sides of the pavilion went to the center of the concrete slab under the pavilion forming a lake where I had set up my tent. Lesson learned. Just put a tent on the ground, put up the proper tarp/rainfly, and just check to make sure it wouldn't become a lake or river in the rain...:)
Hi Paul, thanks for spreading the word about tarps. I prefer the Holden Tent tarp pitch. There's a UA-camr called Papa Hiker with a ton of tarp pitches, including my favorite, the Asymmetrical Holden. IMO, a 3x3 meter (10x10 foot) tarp is all you need for 1 or 2 people to be snug. Tarps give you the ability to pitch it in dozens of different ways, depending on conditions
I'm a hillwalker man and boy, always used a good quality tent with a bucket groundsheet. Mostly in Scotland's hills. Cold wind driven rain is common, worse in winter. How would a tarp fare in in the hills in those conditions with no woods to dilute the force of the wind and no trees to aid erection and provide stability for your tarp? Are walking poles stable enough? Is there a configuration you would recommend? Best Wishes, McIntyre.
I recently made my own bug net because some areas around here are very swampy and full of mosquitos. I have camped in the everglades where they are absolutely necessary if you want to sleep.
I watched the video on ammo boxes and he had to explain to people what the handles are, wouldn't surprise me that you have to tell people to get under a tarp when it's raining to stay dry.
Well, to play devil's advocate for a moment, they may have slept under a smallish tarp, it is hard to avoid rain drop splash or rolling into the wet while sleeping under a small tarp. Also there are a few tricks that might be needed, like digging a gutter along the top side when the water wants to trickle in. But you work all that out with experience, so yeah, get outside.
True, I guess I am saying that some tarps are sold as quite small units and if that was your first encounter with a tarp it may leave you with the impression that they are more trouble than they are worth. Even a novice with little experience will probably be more comfortable and content under a bigger tarp.
@Kit .. don't set up at the bottom of a slope or in a river bed ... avoid using hollows as a wind break . A military poncho will give adequate protection if set up correctly. Use natural materials to further weather proof your setup if required. The trench to divert water from high spots away from your setup is usually only required if you cannot find an ideal location. Great tip though.
In my view the tarp is like a 'deflection device' rather than a tent in that it deflects the rain down and off the edge of the tarp so it doesn't hang around long enough to soak into the material like it would with a tent; as long as you have it set up and angled correctly of course!
At 2:40 we can clearly see water running inside. We can even hear it. I bet it’s all wet there, literally everything under the tarp is soaking wet. it’s not shown as it’s off the camera and lots of editing. :)
That's why I like the versatility of a tarp it's open in fine weather, and drop it down in inclement weather. I spent Easter on a cramped under a tarp and it was awesome, I have a back problem and means I could still get out.
Good point Paul. Normal rain is just fine. Could be some trouble when a swirling storm causes the precipitation to travel sideways from all directions... but this is rare. I have switched to mostly tarps unless I have to do the dreaded summer time insects.
i've set up my tent in areas i thought would be dry in the rain just to wake up with the bottom of my tent in water. Now if i was on the ground i would of woken up soaked.. it really depends on the area and how well the ground absorbs the water.. so i'm good with a tent.
Little drizzle in Brittland, with no wind. Try that in a downpour where I am from (Minnesota) with the wind whipping around. The Superior trail will eat you alive with that setup too. Better bring extra blood. Mosquitoes are relentless. The ground is wet a lot too.
Not only will it keep you dry, you also have a window that allows you to see, smell and if you like you can stick your hand out on feel. Nothing could be better.
I recently went camping at a state park, at sea level. And used a low tarp setup... it was great... until it flooded... and my gear started trying to float away.
A tarp is ideal and when younger during deer season we used tarps almost exclusively because tents and I do mean proper tents are heavy. True the older adults would drive in and bring tents and RV's but us kids just brought tarps and sleeping bags. They worked awesome in the rain and even the snow when the tarps were put on a wood frame structure. Great video
A tarp is great. But on the west coast in Norway, it usually blows quite a bit. And then you have to be smart about how you pitch it. Rain blowing sideways is not always that fun, so you better have a bit of knowledge to accompany that tarp, and then you'll be okay. I use a Hilleberg 10 XP tarp, and that IMHO is a very nice tarp. Have thought about going for a Hilleberg 20 XP, but maybe that one would be too big. What do you think Mr. Kirtley? Great video by the way. Always enjoy your videos.
Big problem with tarp in summer where I live is bugs (mainly mosquitoes), enough of them to make outside activities without good repellant and long sleeves/pants not really an option, record catch for mosquito trap around here wss 47000 in one night. That is main reason I prefer tent that I can close, can still hear the whine outside but, mosquito net works but one large enough +tarp and hammoc is close enough in weight and I can keep bugs out of my cooking if done inside, mosquitoes drawn to heat and co2 (among others).
Yup, I've never got wet under a tarp in the UK, and I'm in one of the wettest places in Scotland. I tend to find rain falls down the way, so I go under the tarp ☺
Tarps are perfect! In mid June I was sleeping under my DD-tarp in at cloudburst, next to people in super lightweight, super expensive tents. They got wet, I didn't. It was drizzling through their tents. Thanks for sharing. :-)
couldn't agree with you more, I was out with my two boys yesterday under a basher in the pouring rain, we had a wee fire and were toasty and dry. I never go outdoors without one
I am still around, just not as active PK. This one caught my eye because 2 weeks ago in the backyard I was rained on in the hammock and have been trying to figure out for sure where the issue is on that DD Hammock Tarp. If anyone knows about rain, it is you guys on the UK side of the pond.... or the W. Coast in N. America ie BC. Keep up the good work my man. I am still struggling along. Best wishes, Barry
I agree that tarps beat a tent untill it's seriously windy and the rain gets caught in the wind and blows up underneath it. Having said that, I still prefer a tarp as there's no issue with condensation.
ive been using tarps for 20years ... i can only think of 2 occasions where i thought i 'might' be better off with a tent, and that was only speculation. ... first time there was gail force winds, 2nd time was when it rain for 3 days straight,
Cant agree more! Last backpacking trip I took the weather forecast called for rain and possible thunderstorms. Had my 3x3 tarp which i set up in an a frame config because i didn't think the weather was going to be all that bad. Camped down by a lake and as the night rolled on it was clear that the weather was going to be much worse than predicted. Wind coming off the lake and heavy rain and thunder then all of a sudden wind switches 180 degrees and was probably blowing 70mph or more found out next day that a tornado had gone through the area very close to me. the forest was absolutely devastated about 200 meters north of my spot. thousands of trees snapped in half or completely uprooted but my shelter stood up to the wind and i was completely dry.
Hello Mr. Kirtley, Of course, it is allowed to use ones brain when setting up a tarp. Actually, that goes for most things in life, I would think. Noticed that you have switched out the regular guy lines on your Hilleberg. May I ask what kind of guy lines you prefer/use? (would like to switch out my red/white guy lines myself). All the best from the Norwegian woods 🌲🌲🌲
Tarps are great, I was at a bushcraft do last year and it was torrential rain for 24 hours, I was nice and dry under my 3m x 3m DD in a diamond set up :-)
Any tarp is supposed to, well, protect you from the downpour. Just one question: I live in a very windy country, so how does a tarp fare under strong winds during rain? Are there some good tips/ideas for tackling that kind of scenario, or is one simply better off with a tent?
Pitch the tarp low and close to the ground if you expect rotten weather. Minimize the height so you present more oblique angles to the wind. Try to pitch it so the open side (or sides) faces away from the prevailing wind. Look at different configurations, you don't have to do an A frame. There are many configurations that close 3 sides. Practice in your back yard, before you go on your trip, so you can do it quickly if needed. The time to experiment with novel pitches is not when the black clouds are rolling in and lightening is getting closer. Get a tarp that is big enough. I think an 8 x 10 foot tarp is the smallest size I'd want. Consider a bivy bag with your tarp. They add weight but provide an extra layer of protection with a minimalist shelter. Sleeping in rain in just a bivy bag is almost always awful. But when you can open up the bivy bag and use it more like just a waterproof covering with your face (and breath) completely free of it, it works so much better. Finally, understand when a tent is just better. I have a Snugpack Ionosphere, which is a tiny tent, but it provides way more comfort, bug protection, etc. than a tarp. Yes, it is heavier, but the weight difference is not as big as you might think. Whether you want to lug that extra weight depends on the trip you are taking and what kind of conditions you expect to find when you get there. For me, taking a tent is normally not driven by rain, but by the need for bug protection.
Thank you for taking the time for such a detailed answer! My current 2-person tent weighs 3 pounds and it does the job in most weather conditions (except for winter - not built for that). I wonder how much can a decent tarp weigh and if the weight economy offsetts the confort, given that I mostly hike for 2-3 days at a time
Eros Nicolau A decent silicone nylon tarp will weigh about a pound. Then add sufficient cordage, a few lightweight stakes, etc maybe 6-8 ounces on top of that. Then think about a bivy or tarp/groundsheet and you are rapidly approaching the weight of a small, ultralight tent. So you can save some weight for sure, but if your tent is under 3 lbs, you will not see a massive reduction. To get a big reduction, you will have to go to cuben fiber, and that is big money.
great video Paul, I love being out under my tarp in the rain, so soothing, providing your tarp is set right it's happy days, thanks for the little video cheers craig
Thanks for the video. I am one of those guys who'd like to start using tarps but yet hesitating! I trust you when you claim that you can stay dry under a tarp however, what worries me is the rain and windy condition (which is the case where I live!). One solution is to pitch the tarp low. I think it will work. But what about the case that you have to camp somewhere with a slight slope? The rain will leak from edges of the tarp. Of course that's the problem with the tens as well. So how to you deal with that situation? I need to say that having a camp bed is not an option for me. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
well, real rainstorm is when it rains horizontally during a blow... and so massively that there's water flowing everywhere on the ground... yet, you can survive this easily with a hammock and bigger tarp... tested last time a month ago, surprise storm above Chamonix under Mt. Blanc (spent next 3 sunny days at Jonction glacier) - descended into the trees, still damn steep and not much space to choose a comfy site, but found tiny spot at least a bit hidden from the worst wind... slept like a baby, clear sky with meteors later in the night
i said the same thing long time ago...till i got a cheap tarp from wally world and found out other wise,yes you have to be a bit more choosy when it comes to a spot(tree distance and all that) but over all far better in some ways to a tent(tents are also good too lol) but i find i have found a tarp gives way more elbow room lol
Correction; Tarps are ok WHEN it rains. I recently bought a 10 x 10 Aquaquest Defender and a 10 x 7 Guide. My first high quality tarps since the dollar store cheapies. For snow and rain.
Enjoy your videos, sir. I've enjoyed your information on lightening the load. Here in Texas I don't need an arctic sleeping bag, for instance. But when it rains it pours and your tips on using tarps has been spot on. For me a lightweight tarp protects from the sun more than anything. Thanks! Come see us!!
My military TARP (2x) 1/2 tent has never leaked nor been soaked while sleeping in it in the rain or storm. Not them cheap tarps you buy at Walmart or Harbor freight or Home Depot or Lowe or Menard..... Military TARP tent 1/2s.
What size tarp would you recommend for hammock, camp bed, camp shelter etc? I've got a 3x3m DD hammocks I've yet to use for hammock camping but I'm not sure if a larger tarp would be better.
Hello, a 3×3 should be plenty for solo camping, whether on the ground or in a hammock. In the vid here I am using a Hilleberg XP10, which has very similar surface area (10 square metres). Hope this helps. Warm regards, Paul
I love coming back to this to cheer me up, but it is probably second to his rant on punctuation, that one is hilarious, just can't remember which APK it was featured.
I had to see this because the title threw me. Tarps have always kept me dry too.
Yeah never had an issue with a tarp before
I have a dd tarp 3x3 and I never get wet and it's brilliant and better then a tent b/c I can see and hear
nearly everything around me, especially the birds and the sun set
Yes! I have a favorite spot here in Oslo, in a small hill over the Sognsvann lake. Waking up to birds learning how to fly over the water in the spring is just priceless.
what's the next one Paul for these stay at home bushcraft enthusiasts ? SLEEPING BAGS ARE OK TILL IT TURNS COLD
Tony 1690 Follow Follow
+1 on this, Paul! A well pitched tarp in a wisely chosen location beats most tents during bad weather, because of the vastly superior ventilation it provides. I have been through many thunderstorms in all 4 seasons under a tarp - never had any problems. At the same time several tents failed due to various reasons...
I was going to watch the whole video but that sound of rain on tarp sent me off to sleep, always does!
But I could almost feel rain coming inside haha
Rain on a tarp is a wonderful sound. Thanks Paul. I was out in one of the biggest thunderstorms I've ever been in this past July and was under a tarp. I too was perfectly fine.
Nate
when you go outside, into the woods, look to the beauty of it. listen to the rain, wind, gray noises... do not allow yourself to wonder off into fear or worry or you won't enjoy the time... Never will you see a more beautiful site that a star filled sky on a clear night in the wilderness...
I salute Paul Kirtly for making this video without saying "...YOU FUCKING MORONS" at any time.
Arthur Facker 😂🤣😆 So funny cos it's so true!
sorry people but my 3x3 DD TARP works great if I know it's going to rain when I am out woodland camping I take a tarp hammock or tarp and yellowstone camp bed. .
like you say some people are good at commenting but never got off there Xbox or PlayStation and get out there to see for there self's ..
:-)
D and D all the way. Got loads of there kit.
tarps are crap when u set them up vertically
Riki Whytock unless attempting to sail.
good point
LMFAO LOL!
Vertically? All materials suck vertically when it rains.
Well its fuckin useless if you use a tarp vertically. Hahahaha
Don't set it up vertically.
i get asked the same question and like you, hundreds of nights in the woods during rain under a tarp and nothing except for 1 time during a downpour on a slight hill ... which I will explain. I had a tarp pitched on a slight slope and the ground was already saturated so the water was starting to creep in as it rained harder. The ground just couldn't absorb any more water. The remedy to this problem was a trick I learned wayyy back when I was 8 or 9 years old building lean-to shelters in boy scouts ... since water always takes the path of least resistance, you can use a stick to form a trench along the drip edge of the tarp on the ground and direct it away from you. Physics always wins in the end even when gravity doesn't
On my Sweden trip in 2012 or 2013 i slept under a tarp while there was driving rain and a wind speed of 80 km/h. No problems at all.
Andreas
Amen. Tarps are great. It's all in the setup...literally.
Cannot go wrong in most scenarios using a tarp with sufficient coverage.
Can go wrong in some scenarios using a tarp that barely covers the person.
It's probably about the importance of choosing your location for tarp camping. It's sometimes hard to stay dry under a tarp in high winds in an open area.
I've been a big fan of tarps for backpacking in the Pacific Northwest since about 2005. Overall they're my preferred shelter. Less condensation than a tent, and more versatility in set up options. One note - tarp set up is all about location, location, location! choose your site wisely. ;)
I also thought the same, but with age comes all sorts of problems stopping me from sleeping on the floor, and sadly not more tents, so I decided to give hammock and tarps a go, and I was shocked, not only did I stay dry in a thunderstorm, but I had the best night sleep I've had in years, ( 11pm - 6pm the following afternoon )
paul young you slept for 19 hours? 11pm to 6pm? My goodness. Sleeping beauty. Hahah
Just two of the reasons why tarp + hammock is now my preferred camping option too - I do have a Hennessy Assymetric tho, with built-in bugnet. 'Cos midges bloody LOVE me! :(
I'm a heavy sleeper but was woken by the rain on the tarp one night. After struggling up to semi-consciousness enough to identify the noise, and that I was still dry and warm, I turned over and went back to sleep :) No need for a drainage ditch, or to clear any débris from the sleeping area with a hammock either.
I love the sound of the rain on a tarp, or a tent or on the roof of a VW van!
Yes Paul i hike in the new forest with a tarp over a hammock i place my water jugs and bottles on the run off points to fill them up i always check wind direction before i set up and light a fire down wind i use tin foil around my fire to reflect the heat back towards me but a tarp is much better than a tent as you can use two to cut the wind off...
:-) Good stuff Stephen.
I've fully tested my basha shelters as a homeless person for many years and have never had issues if maintained properly
I've used tarps in the rain for years camping around Lake Tahoe Ca, and made all kinds of shelters, also I think the tarp clips work pretty well.....♨
I had a stoat share my tarp recntly when it rained wierd experiance he/she didn't mind me at all not one ounce of fear and just sat on my bag till the rain clamed down and then just ambled off all as I lay there in my net on the ground.
weasels are fearless
what a lovely image* :-)
Stoats are psychopathic killers, hence reason it was cool with you 🙂
@@Foxtrottangoabc :-) *
Could be those that say tarps are fine until it rains are used to Kelty tarps which are often, more correctly called sun shades. Some tarps were never meant to be used as rain shelters. Some tarps don't come seam sealed, in which case may leak at the seams. Other than that, tarps make great shelters, particularly for hammock camping.
I’m a hammock camper, but I also like the idea of being able to setup on ground if I wanted to or if there were no trees. The title scared me. Lol Glad I watched the video! Good stuff! Pumped to try this!👍🏼
I'm mostly done with tents. Now, I carry a cheap tarp that i can stake as a tent with my walking stick as a pole. The last night I spent out it rained twelve hours. I was perfectly dry in my tarp tent. Ty for your real world knowledge.
In very windy wet weather more thought will be needed into tarp arrangements and a larger tarp is benificial. Perhaps some viewers who have concerns about using tarps have used small bashas set up in a manner that allows some ingress of precepetation during gales etc when a more protected shelter would be more appropriate.
Love being under my tarp. Very liveable. I have a Hilleberg XP 20 and it’s brilliant!.. does smell a bit smoky these days though.
Reminds me of the meme of " I could of been an x but I took an arrow to my knee"
"A tarps fine until.... a bear attacks"
"A tarps fine until...an asteroid strikes"
"A tarps fine until....Hilary wins the election"
.....you get the idea,
A tarps ok until it isnt
We do here in Phoenix, AZ get summer monsoons with rain that approaches horizontal. But for that to happen you'd have to be camping in 100+ deg F weather at 4pm in July and with the hurricane winds that brings - you'd be lucky for your tarp to still be standing it you used less than 12 stakes on the thing. A tent would do just as bad. I don't see under circumstances other than hurricane or southwest monsoons that a tarp would be a problem.
I always set my 10'x10' DD tarp up in the tarp-tent configuration (you need that in the Scottish Highlands!) never any other way, and it's NEVER let any water through, even though it's only a 3000 head.
Take a tent if you want. There are a lot of good ones. However, I have stayed dryer under tarps than I have under some tents. Also some tents friends use. Properly set up a tarp can keep you dry and out of the Wind. Even done so in the winter time.
Tarps are fine if the rain falls straight down, in Scotland it hammers in at 45 degrees meaning the dry useable space under the tarp is reduced considerably, also it is little defence against drifting snow, admittedly we are talking Army bashas not some truck size super tarp.
it rained 10 hrs strait last sat. while i laid in my hammock in a national forest dry loving it!
Literally hundreds of nights under a poncho tarp in the military, never had an issue with rain or snow.
Depends where youre are. Up north in southern Ontario (Canadian shield) its all rock bed. Theres nowhere for the water to go. It accumulates and puddles. It would build up and run under the tarp like a stream eventually. This even happens to in tents. Not a pleasant thing waking up middle of the night soaken wet. A hammock / tarp with a mosquito net is my choice for my neck of the woods.
I totally love being under a properly set up tarp (on flat or high ground that drains well) in a rain storm. Much rather be under a tarp than inside a claustrophobic tent any day. Thanks for filming, Andy
When I saw the title, I thought you've lost it Paul. Seems you have a good amount of British humor ;o)In the army I have been sleeping under a tarp in wind, rain and freezing conditions and combinations of the three. I was on the ground on a thin foam sheet, and often we had to dig a trench for protection, so we were covered when lying down. I NEVER got wet. Even when using a rain poncho as a tarp I always was dry. You just need to select the spot with a bit of care. To secure the perimeter I sometimes had to have the opening of the tarp facing the wind with horizontal rain (as my wife calls the Danish weather in autumn). If you set up the tarp properly you dont have any problems. Have a look at some of the very good videos out there, on how to set up a tarp. Thanks for the good videos Paul...
I agree with you Paul. however I did have one night in Wales where it rained so hard that the rain turned into a fine mist as it hit the trees. it then drifted everywhere on the breeze, including under my tarp. I ended up lowering the edges to the ground to reduce the effect, but still got wet from the ends so I tied them up as well. it was unusually heavy rain though. I had to wear earplugs to sleep it was so loud! thanks for all your materials, I'm loving them , especially the long form interviews. I hope our paths cross sometime, cheers
Good video Paul. Wisdom and experience for the win!
Thanks! :-)
Paul Kirtley after seeing the title, I was about to give you a mouthful. Having been in the Australian army, we lived under hoochies when we were out bush. You get colder than a tent with the wind, but never had a problem with rain.
I got an aquaquest a few months ago. I set it up and left it out back for a month when we had a lot rain here in Houston. it worked great.
Aquaquest is a beast! I stayed dry under one even though water pooled badly due to my poor configuration of the shelter.
Slept under a tarp this past weekend. No rain, but I would have been fine under that low and deep plow point. I only sleep under a tent when with someone else. Rain and snow, I've always stayed dry. Though this past weekend I could have used a bug net.
What I would say tarp and hammock set-ups secure karbs to both horizontal lines this stops the ingress of water reaching the inside of the hammock other wise I have spent time under a tarp in the most horrendous weather and was cosy and dry, I also spent a while living in a tipi that was much harder.
between crappy tents I've owned and good tents and tarps. I'll go for tarps and a bit of knowledge any day. much more comfortable.
I'm a hammock camper and have stayed dry during torrential rains and Huge thunderstorms. I live in Oklahoma which is known as part of tornado alley. The storms here are MASSIVE. Stayed dry under my tarp. If you're wet under a tarp, you may need a bigger tarp (I use a 13'x10' due to the driving winds and blowing the rain sideways) or you need to adjust your tarp. Practice at home in your yard. Set up your tent and simulate rain with your garden hose and nozzle. Get under your tarp and have some simulate rain. You'll learn the technique.
how do i keep the ground under my tarp from getting wet? Im thinking of buying one but im worried that rainwater will seep from under thetarp and flood my sleeping bag and all my other stuff
Hi Paul I saw the title and was shocked, I thought you had lost the plot but I’m pleased after watching the video that you have not, I have slept in horrendous rain many times under a tarp and alway been dry with only one exception and that was due to my error setting up carelessly while pitching camp late after a long day. Keep up the good work. Shaun
Great video! Sadly I have been soaked under a tarp, but living in Canada means vastly different terrain than the UK. My only mistake was to have the tarp too high off the ground at the sides - here having it no more than 12" off the ground at the sides, ensures a nice dry sleep!
Richard T I let my Tarp sides hang two feet off the ground. That means My hammock stays dry and I wont be bothered by the winds either.
Solis Outdoors I guess it depends on where you setup, and under what type of conditions ... as I said, 2 feet is a bit much for the wet coast, but would be fine for a mild dry alpine climate.
Richard T I have slept in harsh conditions in my tarps. And Yes it depends where you set up.
I have that exact camp bed! Ancient canvas thing that weighs as much as a bowling ball. Built to last though, id like to see a modern nylon camp bed last 40 odd years
Yup, I've never got wet under a tarp in the UK, and I'm in one of the wettest places in Scotland. I tend to find rain falls down the way, so I go under the tarp (;
True story. Was riding my bike across multiple states, it was windy and rainy and found a perfect covered piviilon with a concrete base for a slab. Ah, thought I was going to have the perfect dry experience in the rain with my tent. Set it up right in the middle of the concrete underneath the pavailion, figured I wouldn't even need to put up the rainfly... Rained about 2 inches during the night... Not a drop of rain from the storm got anywhere near my tent... BUT... about 2 in the morning, I found myself laying in a 4 inch puddle of rain underneath. Yes, the concete was lower in the center so all the rain ran down the sides of the pavilion went to the center of the concrete slab under the pavilion forming a lake where I had set up my tent. Lesson learned. Just put a tent on the ground, put up the proper tarp/rainfly, and just check to make sure it wouldn't become a lake or river in the rain...:)
I've been trying to sleep on this tarp for hours in a rainstorm and I'm completely soaked. It just collects the water in a pool under me 😠
Can't beat pitter-patter of rain hitting tarp, very relaxing!
Hi Paul, thanks for spreading the word about tarps.
I prefer the Holden Tent tarp pitch. There's a UA-camr called Papa Hiker with a ton of tarp pitches, including my favorite, the Asymmetrical Holden.
IMO, a 3x3 meter (10x10 foot) tarp is all you need for 1 or 2 people to be snug. Tarps give you the ability to pitch it in dozens of different ways, depending on conditions
I'm a hillwalker man and boy, always used a good quality tent with a bucket groundsheet. Mostly in Scotland's hills. Cold wind driven rain is common, worse in winter. How would a tarp fare in in the hills in those conditions with no woods to dilute the force of the wind and no trees to aid erection and provide stability for your tarp? Are walking poles stable enough? Is there a configuration you would recommend? Best Wishes, McIntyre.
Tarps do a great job of keeping you dry. Their biggest drawback is bugs, for which you need a bugnet.
yes, but on the other hand, an open tarp allows you to have a smoky fire, which turns them away.
I recently made my own bug net because some areas around here are very swampy and full of mosquitos. I have camped in the everglades where they are absolutely necessary if you want to sleep.
I love camping in winter and rainy weather and all I use is traps and hammocks and I rarely have had issues.... thanks good video
I watched the video on ammo boxes and he had to explain to people what the handles are, wouldn't surprise me that you have to tell people to get under a tarp when it's raining to stay dry.
Well, to play devil's advocate for a moment, they may have slept under a smallish tarp, it is hard to avoid rain drop splash or rolling into the wet while sleeping under a small tarp. Also there are a few tricks that might be needed, like digging a gutter along the top side when the water wants to trickle in. But you work all that out with experience, so yeah, get outside.
True, I guess I am saying that some tarps are sold as quite small units and if that was your first encounter with a tarp it may leave you with the impression that they are more trouble than they are worth. Even a novice with little experience will probably be more comfortable and content under a bigger tarp.
@Kit .. don't set up at the bottom of a slope or in a river bed ... avoid using hollows as a wind break . A military poncho will give adequate protection if set up correctly. Use natural materials to further weather proof your setup if required. The trench to divert water from high spots away from your setup is usually only required if you cannot find an ideal location. Great tip though.
In my view the tarp is like a 'deflection device' rather than a tent in that it deflects the rain down and off the edge of the tarp so it doesn't hang around long enough to soak into the material like it would with a tent; as long as you have it set up and angled correctly of course!
At 2:40 we can clearly see water running inside. We can even hear it. I bet it’s all wet there, literally everything under the tarp is soaking wet. it’s not shown as it’s off the camera and lots of editing. :)
That's why I like the versatility of a tarp it's open in fine weather, and drop it down in inclement weather. I spent Easter on a cramped under a tarp and it was awesome, I have a back problem and means I could still get out.
Good point Paul. Normal rain is just fine. Could be some trouble when a swirling storm causes the precipitation to travel sideways from all directions... but this is rare. I have switched to mostly tarps unless I have to do the dreaded summer time insects.
those people have obviously never had that wonderful sleep in the rain under a tarp, it's the best sleep ever, keep up the great work Paul, thanks
i've set up my tent in areas i thought would be dry in the rain just to wake up with the bottom of my tent in water. Now if i was on the ground i would of woken up soaked.. it really depends on the area and how well the ground absorbs the water.. so i'm good with a tent.
Little drizzle in Brittland, with no wind. Try that in a downpour where I am from (Minnesota) with the wind whipping around. The Superior trail will eat you alive with that setup too. Better bring extra blood. Mosquitoes are relentless. The ground is wet a lot too.
Not only will it keep you dry, you also have a window that allows you to see, smell and if you like you can stick your hand out on feel. Nothing could be better.
I recently went camping at a state park, at sea level. And used a low tarp setup... it was great... until it flooded... and my gear started trying to float away.
If pitched correctly tarps do fine in rain. All depends on how you've positioned and pitched it.
A tarp is ideal and when younger during deer season we used tarps almost exclusively because tents and I do mean proper tents are heavy. True the older adults would drive in and bring tents and RV's but us kids just brought tarps and sleeping bags.
They worked awesome in the rain and even the snow when the tarps were put on a wood frame structure.
Great video
A tarp is great. But on the west coast in Norway, it usually blows quite a bit. And then you have to be smart about how you pitch it. Rain blowing sideways is not always that fun, so you better have a bit of knowledge to accompany that tarp, and then you'll be okay. I use a Hilleberg 10 XP tarp, and that IMHO is a very nice tarp. Have thought about going for a Hilleberg 20 XP, but maybe that one would be too big. What do you think Mr. Kirtley?
Great video by the way. Always enjoy your videos.
12 x12 is an excellent choice.
Big problem with tarp in summer where I live is bugs (mainly mosquitoes), enough of them to make outside activities without good repellant and long sleeves/pants not really an option, record catch for mosquito trap around here wss 47000 in one night.
That is main reason I prefer tent that I can close, can still hear the whine outside but, mosquito net works but one large enough +tarp and hammoc is close enough in weight and I can keep bugs out of my cooking if done inside, mosquitoes drawn to heat and co2 (among others).
Yup, I've never got wet under a tarp in the UK, and I'm in one of the wettest places in Scotland. I tend to find rain falls down the way, so I go under the tarp ☺
One of the best conditions I can hardly wait for is when it rains...sleep the best when it does
Tarps are perfect! In mid June I was sleeping under my DD-tarp in at cloudburst, next to people in super lightweight, super expensive tents. They got wet, I didn't. It was drizzling through their tents. Thanks for sharing. :-)
couldn't agree with you more, I was out with my two boys yesterday under a basher in the pouring rain, we had a wee fire and were toasty and dry.
I never go outdoors without one
Never used a tent as my tarp always keep me dry. Tents form moisture that runs down going underneath. And besides I can still cook even when it rains!
I have one of those army camp beds, comfortable but heavy, I use mine at home when a spare bed is required.
Yup, definitely not a backpacking item :-)
I am still around, just not as active PK. This one caught my eye because 2 weeks ago in the backyard I was rained on in the hammock and have been trying to figure out for sure where the issue is on that DD Hammock Tarp. If anyone knows about rain, it is you guys on the UK side of the pond.... or the W. Coast in N. America ie BC. Keep up the good work my man. I am still struggling along. Best wishes, Barry
People seem to reveal their worse traits when they are anonymous with online comments! Tarps weigh very little and are a good tool to carry with you.
I agree that tarps beat a tent untill it's seriously windy and the rain gets caught in the wind and blows up underneath it. Having said that, I still prefer a tarp as there's no issue with condensation.
ive been using tarps for 20years ... i can only think of 2 occasions where i thought i 'might' be better off with a tent, and that was only speculation.
... first time there was gail force winds, 2nd time was when it rain for 3 days straight,
Cant agree more! Last backpacking trip I took the weather forecast called for rain and possible thunderstorms. Had my 3x3 tarp which i set up in an a frame config because i didn't think the weather was going to be all that bad. Camped down by a lake and as the night rolled on it was clear that the weather was going to be much worse than predicted. Wind coming off the lake and heavy rain and thunder then all of a sudden wind switches 180 degrees and was probably blowing 70mph or more found out next day that a tornado had gone through the area very close to me. the forest was absolutely devastated about 200 meters north of my spot. thousands of trees snapped in half or completely uprooted but my shelter stood up to the wind and i was completely dry.
I'll second that, been out in a hammock and tarp, heavy rain, no problem.
used a TARP during all last red alerts, and rain felt sideways. still better than a tent when you pack up
Hello Mr. Kirtley,
Of course, it is allowed to use ones brain when setting up a tarp. Actually, that goes for most things in life, I would think.
Noticed that you have switched out the regular guy lines on your Hilleberg. May I ask what kind of guy lines you prefer/use? (would like to switch out my red/white guy lines myself).
All the best from the Norwegian woods 🌲🌲🌲
Tarps are great, I was at a bushcraft do last year and it was torrential rain for 24 hours, I was nice and dry under my 3m x 3m DD in a diamond set up :-)
Any tarp is supposed to, well, protect you from the downpour. Just one question: I live in a very windy country, so how does a tarp fare under strong winds during rain? Are there some good tips/ideas for tackling that kind of scenario, or is one simply better off with a tent?
Pitch the tarp low and close to the ground if you expect rotten weather. Minimize the height so you present more oblique angles to the wind.
Try to pitch it so the open side (or sides) faces away from the prevailing wind. Look at different configurations, you don't have to do an A frame. There are many configurations that close 3 sides. Practice in your back yard, before you go on your trip, so you can do it quickly if needed. The time to experiment with novel pitches is not when the black clouds are rolling in and lightening is getting closer.
Get a tarp that is big enough. I think an 8 x 10 foot tarp is the smallest size I'd want.
Consider a bivy bag with your tarp. They add weight but provide an extra layer of protection with a minimalist shelter. Sleeping in rain in just a bivy bag is almost always awful. But when you can open up the bivy bag and use it more like just a waterproof covering with your face (and breath) completely free of it, it works so much better.
Finally, understand when a tent is just better. I have a Snugpack Ionosphere, which is a tiny tent, but it provides way more comfort, bug protection, etc. than a tarp. Yes, it is heavier, but the weight difference is not as big as you might think. Whether you want to lug that extra weight depends on the trip you are taking and what kind of conditions you expect to find when you get there. For me, taking a tent is normally not driven by rain, but by the need for bug protection.
Thank you for taking the time for such a detailed answer! My current 2-person tent weighs 3 pounds and it does the job in most weather conditions (except for winter - not built for that). I wonder how much can a decent tarp weigh and if the weight economy offsetts the confort, given that I mostly hike for 2-3 days at a time
Eros Nicolau
A decent silicone nylon tarp will weigh about a pound. Then add sufficient cordage, a few lightweight stakes, etc maybe 6-8 ounces on top of that. Then think about a bivy or tarp/groundsheet and you are rapidly approaching the weight of a small, ultralight tent. So you can save some weight for sure, but if your tent is under 3 lbs, you will not see a massive reduction. To get a big reduction, you will have to go to cuben fiber, and that is big money.
great video Paul, I love being out under my tarp in the rain, so soothing, providing your tarp is set right it's happy days, thanks for the little video cheers craig
Thanks for the video. I am one of those guys who'd like to start using tarps but yet hesitating! I trust you when you claim that you can stay dry under a tarp however, what worries me is the rain and windy condition (which is the case where I live!). One solution is to pitch the tarp low. I think it will work. But what about the case that you have to camp somewhere with a slight slope? The rain will leak from edges of the tarp. Of course that's the problem with the tens as well. So how to you deal with that situation? I need to say that having a camp bed is not an option for me. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
well, real rainstorm is when it rains horizontally during a blow... and so massively that there's water flowing everywhere on the ground... yet, you can survive this easily with a hammock and bigger tarp... tested last time a month ago, surprise storm above Chamonix under Mt. Blanc (spent next 3 sunny days at Jonction glacier) - descended into the trees, still damn steep and not much space to choose a comfy site, but found tiny spot at least a bit hidden from the worst wind... slept like a baby, clear sky with meteors later in the night
i said the same thing long time ago...till i got a cheap tarp from wally world and found out other wise,yes you have to be a bit more choosy when it comes to a spot(tree distance and all that) but over all far better in some ways to a tent(tents are also good too lol) but i find i have found a tarp gives way more elbow room lol
Boreal Woodsrunn
love it !! probably drier than a lot of tents that people try to squeeze all their kit into. Another cracking video stating it as it is !!
Correction;
Tarps are ok WHEN it rains.
I recently bought a 10 x 10 Aquaquest Defender and a 10 x 7 Guide. My first high quality tarps since the dollar store cheapies. For snow and rain.
Lovely simple message Paul - 'out wet, inside dry - really' - do it!
2:40 all I'm thinking is cool, free water 😁 where's me cup lol
Enjoy your videos, sir. I've enjoyed your information on lightening the load. Here in Texas I don't need an arctic sleeping bag, for instance. But when it rains it pours and your tips on using tarps has been spot on. For me a lightweight tarp protects from the sun more than anything. Thanks! Come see us!!
My military TARP (2x) 1/2 tent has never leaked nor been soaked while sleeping in it in the rain or storm.
Not them cheap tarps you buy at Walmart or Harbor freight or Home Depot or Lowe or Menard.....
Military TARP tent 1/2s.
Tents can get a bit stuffy for most of the year so I usually take a tart with me
You can't beat taking a tart out into the woods! Lol
@@Segasocks tarp, lol
What size tarp would you recommend for hammock, camp bed, camp shelter etc? I've got a 3x3m DD hammocks I've yet to use for hammock camping but I'm not sure if a larger tarp would be better.
Hello, a 3×3 should be plenty for solo camping, whether on the ground or in a hammock. In the vid here I am using a Hilleberg XP10, which has very similar surface area (10 square metres). Hope this helps. Warm regards, Paul
Perfect, thanks Paul :)
I love coming back to this to cheer me up, but it is probably second to his rant on punctuation, that one is hilarious, just can't remember which APK it was featured.
I spent several nights hammocking under a tarp in all night rain.
All i can say is that it was
Surprisingly good.
Could you show the mistakes people make that causes leaking and such?
Braiding the tarp strings in a Dutch braid helps?