Five Great (and Not So Great) Things About Tarp Camping

[@thefucrew9865]

Great information !!! Explained in basic language, so that eveeyone can understand it...and make informed decisions. Thank you ! Keep up the great work !!!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Thanks a lot!

[@rickkaylor8554]

Good video on the comparison between the two systems. I grew up in southern California and while in Boy Scouts in late '60s and '70s we never used tents. The weather was rarely rainy or cold so we cowboy camped most of the time. If we though it might be cold or rainy we carried tarps (usually cheap plastic shower curtains). With 10 or more guys we created some pretty creative shelters and despite the crappy cotton sleeping bags we used were warm and dry most of the time. As I got older I started using a tent mainly for bug protection because I started backpacking in more buggy/mosquito infested areas. Today my main tent is a Marmot EOS 1p which is light (2 lbs 12 oz). I've used it in heavy rain and freezing temperatures with minimal compensation. The other nice thing with this tent is if I want to use it in minimalist mode (rain fly and footprint only) the weight is about 1 lb.. I got a used USMC Gore-tex bivy a while back thinking I could use it with a tarp as a shelter but when I add up the weight it is more than the Marmot EOS 1p. I'll have to use it some day just for fun.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Awesome! I am from CA too and used to think nothing of cowboy camping at 8k' LOL. Probably just dumb luck that I survived unscathed. The gear array is so interesting these days. I have 1Ps that weight twice as much as some of my 2Ps and like you said, by the time you get all the pieces, even tarp camping can exceed the weight of some tents. But you lose flexibility, so yeah - right tool for the right job!

[@MuddFootAT]

Perfect video. I've always used a tent until just recently. I am in love with tarp camping now. I never have to worry about setting up at camp knowing I have many configuration options.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Well said!

[@MarkGoesHiking]

I tend to go with the tarp set up in the winter. I do use a very simple solid floor bug bivy, that is to keep me from rolling into snow or wet ground more than needing the net. I do that set up in the summer too at times. I use my hammock tarp from hammock gear and the bivy is off GGG. Cheers Doug! Keep avoiding the human feces in CA!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Lol, I don't hike in San Francisco much. :) I just got a bathtub floor from One Tigris, it's heavy but if I am expecting weather I'd trust it more than the polycryo.

[@TheMccluref]

I like the tarp because I feel better being open. I use a bivy to keep bugs away. Good points about it not keeping the critters away. But as long as you don't have food they don't bother you

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Right, and really a tent won't do a lot if they do LOL!

[@ScottOwens28]

This was an outstanding video description of Tarp Camping! 👌👊💪

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheNypenfan]

It’s part of what I like about my durston 2p. I’ve used it like a tarp with just the fly and a Tyvek sheet. Or bring the whole thing. But sometimes it’s fun to just bring a tarp. I just can’t do the bivy. Wayyyyy too claustrophobic in those no-see-um coffins.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Love my Xmid but it's the pro so I can't modulate it. I got thr extra large bug bicycle and it has zippers so I'm ok with it. :)

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Are you more of a tenter or a tarper? If a tenter - have you ever tried tarps? How'd it go?

[@spuriouseffect]

Tents are so light today that you can just take the inner and put it under your tarp for the best of both worlds, and still be ultralight. BTW....You don't have to spend the money on GG's Polycryo. Window shrink film for insulating windows is the exact same stuff.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

You'd lose some of the benefits of both but you'd gain some too. Interesting idea. I knew about the window stuff, I'm just lazy. :)

[@chasee1563]

upset about the spider shot but really good video. subscribed

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Upset? Man, I was stoked! :)

[@chasee1563]

I scare easily when it comes to spiders 🤣