How To Setup An Ultralight Backpacking Tarp

Here are four of the most iconic, and useful ways to setup a tarp!

THE BACKPACKING GEAR I USE:

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[techguy]

I have a pyramid. I love that it goes up quick-four stakes and a trekking pole. I have used eight stakes when windy and had them pull out in winter because the ground was saturated. Tied to big rocks helped

[beachbumb]

Ahhh thanks for sharing the tarp love. I've had to sit out a few snowstorms under a tarp and with a steep A frame it did solid. I will say my favorite set up though with my 8'x10' is the late night burrito. I prefer to cowboy camp as much as possible, if it starts raining or hailing unexpectedly just burrito your self in the tarp and call it good. Another great video mate! :)

[alexk]

1 tarp, 1 line, 3 stakes. tie off to a tree at your desired height, stake out the remaining 3 corners, and now you have a minimal plowpoint setup

[jaffcat]

I love the plough point shelter, super fast super easy and great protect.... The tarp is the best shelter...

[easternadventures]

Love the frequency in which these are going up! Keep up the great work!

[sethbeiden]

Super helpful video, and makes testing the tarp set up much more approachable for me. Thanks for uploading genuinely helpful and to-the-point content!

[johnmathews]

I use a 10 x 10 tarp. My favorite setup is to tie a ridge line to a tree at about chest high. I take it down to the ground with a stake holding it there. I make sure the line from the tree to ground ends up being about 11 to 12 feet. By centering the tarp on the ridge line, I have 6 to 12 inches from the tree and the ground. I stake out the tarp corners to the ground on the back end. I stake out the tarp corners using guy lines up front. This setup gives a lot of room and a lot of protection.

[drukqs]

Dude, you've really got me considering a tarp and bivy set up.

[dirktube]

Jup- stake a corner, fold the two adjacent corners under to meet, put your trek pole in the ground where they meet handle up, put the tarp over that. Tie a line around the handle from the outside over the tarp and pull taught away from the opposite corner you staked. Now pull the two side corners past/atop each other to the opposite edges along the ground and stake the outer edge, plus the new corners created where the edge meets the ground at the opening. Stake the last remaining corner at either of these edge-corners on the ground and the slack flap down to the middle and you have a totally enclosed shelter with 2 ground layers, with a triangular end, from one square tarp. ;)

[TimoteoDelCielo]

Like the tarp too... you can be creative with it, and its extremely light. I need to up my game with it still but still my favorite option. If its gonna be cold, rain/snow, I bring a simple bivy bag also... maybe in part to insure my down doesn't get too wet. Maybe I need synthetic.

[Hikecdt]

Hey Jupiter, I took the plunge and got a REI Quarter Dome Tarp. I think it is significantly lighter and I think it will work. Thanks for the video and recommend!

[billyegan]

Just finally pulled the trigger on the MLD poncho tarp. Excited to play around with it, and would love to see how you pitch yours cause I know you carried that on your ECT hike. Keep it up with the videos, they're great!

[dunnoit]

for bugs- tarp plus cuben bivy (125 g/4.4 oz)

[ungerwhere.]

Nice dude! After spending 30 days on the SHR with 2 other guys in a tarp I was convinced of how great of a tool tarps are. Love it!

[danflowers]

Great video, appreciate the time you take to do these. I have been a tarper only for the last 5 years and love it.

[DetraDearmas]

I can't believe more people don't tarp camp. Our fav in cold or foul weather for the night is to lay it flat peg down all four corners 1 pole in front one center or towards the back. It's a star variation that is more like a dome. We luv to experiment with different set ups.

[crittersgrove]

Awesome video! I saw zpacks just came out with a UL tarp with doors I have my eye on. Your tarp looks awesome too. Thanks for demonstrating the variations!

[evanbarrett]

Thanks for the video! My tent is 5 lbs and have been thinking about switching to a tarp.

[wildaboutwatches]

Where I use mine is middle of dartmoor no trees and need tail to ground too
Tony Hobbs

[brandonwilliams]

Dutch, could you make some recommendations for a sewing machine or what to look for in a diy machine .?