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A tarp is the most versatile bit of kit at camp. Rig it one way for shade over the kitchen, another way for rain cover over the door, pitch it low as a windbreak, or string it above a hammock as a fly — one sheet of fabric and some rope does the lot. It’s cheap insurance against sun and weather, and it makes a campsite far more liveable. The choice comes down to material, size and how waterproof you need it, so here’s how to pick, and the tarps worth packing.
Quick Picks
- Best overall:Oztrail Tarp
- Best value:Adventure Kings Tarp
- Best lightweight (hiking):Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp
- Best heavy-duty waterproof:Aqua Quest Defender Tarp
- Best easy shade:Coleman Shade/Shelter
How to Choose a Camping Tarp
Start with thematerial, because it drives weight, durability and price.Poly (polyethylene) tarpsare cheap, fully waterproof and tough enough for car camping, but heavy and bulky.Ripstop nylon or silnylontarps are far lighter and pack tiny — the choice for hikers and hammockers — and shed water via a coating.Canvas/poly-cottontarps are heavy and pricey but breathable and extremely durable, great as a long-stay shade sail that won’t flap itself to death.
Match thesizeto the job. A 3x3m tarp shades a small kitchen or sleeping area; 4x4m and up covers a group camp or a big annexe. Bigger tarps catch more wind, so you’ll need more guy lines and solid pegging.
Check thewaterproofing: look for a decenthydrostatic headrating or a quality coating if you’re relying on it for rain. Then the bit that actually fails first — thetie-out points. You wantplenty of reinforced grommets or loopsaround the edgesandin the middle, because that’s where a tarp tears under load.Multiple, well-stitched attachment pointsmean more pitching options and a longer life.
Finally, think abouthow you’ll pitch it: most tarps needpoles and guy ropes(some kits include poles), so factor in adjustable poles, quality cord and decent pegs. A fewpitching configurations— flat-fly, lean-to, A-frame — cover most situations. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the camping tarps.
The Tarps
Oztrail Tarp
The all-round pick. Oztrail’s poly tarps come in a wide range of sizes with reinforced edges and multiple tie-down points, fully waterproof and tough enough to live in the back of a touring setup trip after trip. Best for campers who want one dependable, good-value tarp for shade and rain cover.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Oztrail Tarp.
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Adventure Kings Tarp
The budget favourite. A popular, affordable polyester tarp with plenty of reinforced loops for flexible pitching, sized for shading a camp kitchen or sleeping area. Best for buyers who want a serviceable shade and weather tarp without spending much.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Adventure Kings Tarp.
Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp
The lightweight option. From the brand, this silnylon tarp packs down small and weighs very little, with multiple tie-out points for rigging as a hiking shelter or a hammock fly. Best for hikers, bikepackers and hammockers who count grams and pack space.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp.
Aqua Quest Defender Tarp
The heavy-duty choice. A genuinely 100% waterproof ripstop tarp with taped seams and a generous number of strong, reinforced attachment loops, built to take a beating in serious weather. Best for campers who want bombproof rain protection and lots of pitching options.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Aqua Quest Defender Tarp.
Coleman Shade/Shelter
The easy-shade pick. For campers who’d rather not rig rope and poles, Coleman’s freestanding shades and shelters pop up to give instant sun cover with minimal fuss. Best for day trips, the beach, or anyone who wants shade without the tarp-craft.Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Coleman Shade/Shelter.
Comparison
| Tarp | Material | Weight | Waterproof | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oztrail Tarp | Poly | Medium | Yes | All-round |
| Adventure Kings | Polyester | Medium | Yes | Value |
| Sea to Summit Escapist | Silnylon | Light | Coated | Hiking / hammock |
| Aqua Quest Defender | Ripstop | Medium | Fully (taped) | Heavy weather |
| Coleman Shade/Shelter | Freestanding | Varies | Shade-focused | Easy shade |
The Bottom Line
For most campers a poly tarp like the Oztrail or Adventure Kings is the practical, affordable pick for shade and rain cover. Go silnylon like the Sea to Summit Escapist if you’re hiking or hanging a hammock, step up to the Aqua Quest Defender for serious waterproofing, and a freestanding Coleman shade if you want sun cover with zero rigging. Buy a size up from what you think you need, prioritise plenty of reinforced tie-out points, and pack good poles, cord and pegs so you can pitch it however the weather demands.
Round out your shelter setup with our guides to the camping gazebo and canopy guide, the best camping tents, and the best camping swags.
A tarp is the most versatile shelter in camping and the one that rewards a little know-how most. The same sheet can be an A-frame in the rain, a lean-to against the wind, a sun shade over the kitchen or a fly above a hammock, but only if it has enough tie-out points and you pitch it tight. Material and size follow from whether you carry it or drive it, and from what you want it to do.
The main types
A flat tarp is the do-everything option, pitching a dozen ways with enough guy points, which makes it the choice for anyone who likes to adapt to the site. A shaped tarp with curved ridgelines pitches tauter with less fuss but locks you into fewer layouts. Dedicated hammock tarps are cut to cover a hanging bed, and pop-up gazebos give instant standing shade over a camp kitchen at the price of bulk and weight. Pick the one that matches how much you value flexibility against how quickly you want it up.
Material sets weight and behaviour
The fabric decides most of the character. Silnylon is light and strong but soaks up a little water and stretches when wet, so it needs re-tensioning after rain. Silpoly sheds water with less sag and holds a taut pitch better, which many campers now prefer for that reason. Heavier polyester with a waterproof coating is cheap, tough and fully waterproof out of the box, ideal for car camping where weight is no issue. At the top end, laminate fabrics are extremely light and do not stretch at all, but they cost a great deal. Colour matters a little too, since a lighter tarp casts brighter shade and a darker one feels cooler and cuts glare. Match the material to whether every gram counts.
Tie-outs, seams and pitching
The details separate a tarp that works from one that flaps itself to pieces. Plenty of strong, well-reinforced tie-out points let you pitch low and tight in wind and vary the shape to suit the weather, so count them before you buy. Seams should be taped or sealed, and a cheap tarp with unsealed seams will drip along every stitch line in real rain. Pitch it taut with good guy lines and tensioners, drop it low and steep when the wind picks up, and set a ridgeline that stays tight, since a loose, high tarp is both a leak and a sail waiting to tear.
Sizing for the job
Size around the task rather than buying the biggest. A solo shelter or hammock fly can be modest and light, while a cooking and gathering space for a group needs real coverage, which brings weight and a larger packed size. A tarp too big for a backpacking trip is dead weight you carry all day, and one too small for a family kitchen leaves half the group in the rain. A useful middle path is one flexible flat tarp of medium size, which covers most trips without excelling at any single one. Picture the pitch you need most and size to that.
Where to save and where to spend
Save with a coated polyester tarp for car camping, which is cheap, waterproof and hard-wearing, and shrugs off rough handling. Spend on silpoly or a laminate tarp if you carry your shelter far and want a taut pitch at low weight. Whatever the fabric, favour more and stronger tie-outs and a quality set of guy lines over sheer size, and seal the seams yourself if they are not already done. Those touches decide how the tarp performs in weather far more than the price tag.
Common mistakes
- Pitching a tarp loose and high, so it flaps, leaks and eventually tears in the wind.
- Buying a tarp with too few tie-outs, then finding you can only pitch it one way.
- Leaving wet silnylon sagging without re-tensioning, and waking to a puddle overhead.
- Trusting unsealed seams in heavy rain, and watching water run in along every stitch.