| Why use tarp shelters? The biggest reason ultralight | | | | enviroments. Bring lightweight stakes, until you learn |
| backpackers use them is to reduce pack weight. The | | | | how to use sticks and trees and rocks. No stakes |
| lightest tent you can find will be close to three | | | | means less weight to carry. I've always found |
| pounds. Some of the newest ultralight tarps weigh | | | | something to use, even up high on the tundra. |
| just seven ounces. | | | | You might have to treat the seams with a sealant |
| Weight isn't the only advantage of tarp shelters, | | | | occasionally, or at least when you first buy your tarp. |
| though. They also give you room to move, and you | | | | Buy seam-sealer anyplace that sells tarps and tents. |
| can easily look around. You can quickly take them | | | | You'll need string or cord of some sort for tie-downs. |
| down when you're ready to go. If it's wet, just | | | | I put varying lengths around the tarp, so I can untie |
| shake it off and it will fit in an outside pocket of your | | | | and use the long ones where I need them. |
| backpack. Even if they were the same weight, I'd still | | | | Sometimes that tree will be a little too far away. |
| prefer a tarp over a tent for most trips. | | | | I use 4' by 7' pieces of plastic for groundsheets. |
| The lightest of my own tarp shelters weighs 16 | | | | They're opened-up giant garbage bags that weigh 2 |
| ounces with all the strings. That seems heavy now, | | | | ounces. They're disposable, but I've used one for a |
| when I look at the new ultralight tarps out there. | | | | week in the Rockies, and they're cheap and easy to |
| Integral Designs Sil Tarp 5' x 8', for example, weighs | | | | replace. Whatever you use, lay your bag on it, to be |
| just 7 ounces. | | | | sure you'll have room. You don't want to be touching |
| The Bozeman Mountain Works Stealth 0 Catenary | | | | the wet ground just because you moved a little. On |
| Ridgeline Ulralight Backpacking Tarp weighs an | | | | the other hand, if it's too big it will catch rain out near |
| amazing 5.7 ounces. With a name like that, you know | | | | the edge of the tarp, and funnel it back to you. |
| it has to be expensive. Of course, almost any | | | | Mosquitos keep a lot of ultralight backpackers from |
| backpacking tarp will be lighter - and cheaper - than | | | | using tarp shelters. Repellant is a partial solution, as is |
| the lightest tents out there. | | | | using the tarp only when it isn't too buggy. A |
| How To Use Tarp Shelters | | | | headnet helps, but keeping the rest of your body |
| You'll probably need a bigger tarp than you think. A | | | | covered when it's warm isn't pleasant. Pitch camp in a |
| seven-foot roof may seem like it will cover your | | | | high, breezy place and you'll have fewer bug |
| six-foot body well enough, until a blowing rain soaks | | | | problems. |
| your feet. Proper use is even more important than | | | | There are also mesh shelters you can pitch under |
| size, though. | | | | your tarp. The lightest I've seen weighs 1 pound, 7 |
| Pitch the low side into the wind. Keep all sides low if | | | | ounces. With a 7-ounce tarp, you'd be under 2 |
| a storm is coming. Evenly tighten guy lines. Use rocks, | | | | pounds for a shelter, and it comes with a floor, so |
| trees, trekking poles and whatever else helps. Pitch | | | | you don't have to bring a groundsheet. Ultralight tarps |
| the tarp tightly, to keep it from flapping in the wind | | | | and tarp shelters, by the way, weigh less than 20 |
| too much, which can loosen the strings or cause the | | | | ounces, a standard I just invented, but it seems |
| tarp to tear. | | | | reasonable. |
| If you haven't used tarp shelters before, experiment | | | | Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight |
| until you can quickly set up in several different | | | | backpacking. |