Tarps and Shelters

Featured review by John Galt

The ENO Housefly Rain Tarp is a large hammock shelter designed to provide full coverage with the added benefit of overlapping doors that provide full wind and weather protection with the added convenience of buckles to stow the doors out of the way when not needed.

I was looking to assemble my first hammock system and decided that the ENO HouseFly offered the most ready to go, factory provided, features that would expedite my entry into the world of hammock camping. The HouseFly is 10' 6" X 10' and weighs 27 ounces. Upon initial receipt I was impressed with the quality of manufacture. There was no loose stitching anywhere and all seams are well sown and taped. All of the tieout and stress points are well constructed and survived a couple of days subjected to winds around 20 mph on a few occasions. There was no evidence of stretching or tearing at any location.

Read more: Eagles Nest Outfitters HouseFly Rain Tarp reviews (3)

Featured review by Eric Owens

Ultra light, ultra coverage that even wind driven sideways rain can't penetrate!

I've been camping all my life, so I know what it is like to sleep in a tent...on the ground, on a cot, on a ground pad. Then I discovered that hammocks weren't just for the backyard. Then I discovered they're lighter than most backpacking tents.  And that they don't offer much protection from the elements by themselves. Step in the myriad tarps used with hammocks. Sure, you could use a typical fiberglass tarp from your favorite big box store — but do you want to pack that weight or bulk?   That is one of the great things about cuben fiber items, you can't get much lighter and they pack smaller than comparable sized items made of other material.

Read more: Hammock Gear Dyneema Fiber Standard Tarp with Doors reviews (2)

Featured review by MrsMustard

Excellent versatile tarp that is extremely rain and wind resistant. Every camper/backpacker should own at least one of these!

I own this tarp in the 12' and 9' size and love them so much. They can be set up in so many different ways. There are guide loops along one diagonal seam if you want to string a rope through them. There are also loops along the edges to create a shelter in any situation. There are poles that can be purchased separately to prop up one or two corners to create a raised shelter if you don't have trees. I just purchased these poles but haven't used them yet. These tarps are light enough to bring on a backpacking trip if you know the weather is questionable.   Every winter we go on a five-day paddling trip to on the west coast of Florida to go beach camping.

Read more: Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 reviews (20)

Featured review by Bentbrook

Good value, excellent quality 10x10 ft/ 3x3 m square sil tarp. Ideal for car campers, backpackers who don’t mind trading a little more weight for greater coverage and durability, hammockers who want lots of coverage, or anyone else in need of a highly configurable, durable tarp with lots of webbing loop tie-outs (19 of them!).

Aqua Quest Safari Sil Tarp--Square Aqua Quest is a company that has been making waterproof gear since 1994. The company bills itself as “The World Leader in Waterproof.” I had heard of their tarps in bushcrafting and tarp camping circles, so I was delighted to have the chance to test and review the Aqua Quest Safari Sil Tarp--Square for Trailspace. For the sake of simplicity, hereafter I’ll call it this tarp the “Safari Square” in this review. The company’s web site indicates their location in the Pacific Northwest, and the maker’s tag on the tarp indicates the tarp was "Designed and Licensed in Canada." The tarps themselves are made in Taiwan according to the plastic bag in which the tarp arrived.

Read more: Aqua Quest Safari Lightweight Tarp reviews (2)

Featured review by PNW_John

The HMG UltaMid 2 is a four-season, floor-less tent designed for the weight conscious adventurer seeking more coverage than a flat tarp without the weight of a full tent. This easy to set up, lightweight, pyramid shaped shelter is roomy inside and provides adequate protection from snow and wind.

Equipment tested: Hyperlite Mountain Gear, UltaMid 2 Key specifications from manufacturer: Fully seam sealed 8 perimeter tie-outs w/line locks 4 body (center panel) tie outs Tie out on cone for hanging the mid from a tree Vents covered with no-see-um netting Guy-line HMG 2.8mm Spectra core line Can be pitched high off the ground or tight to the ground Weight: No Guy-lines 16.6oz - With Guy-lines 17.6 (I measured the weight at 21.8oz.) Width: 83” Length: 107” Height: 64” Square Feet: 63 Shown below is a picture of what you get: Shelter Extra cordage for panel tie-outs Stuff sack My background and conditions of use: I am primarily a backpacker/ day hiker and live in the Pacific Northwest.

Read more: Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 reviews (3)

Featured review by Heather L Hohnholz

Awesome ultralight shelter for one person, or two people if they're really cozy. Easily usable as a 3-season shelter, with proper sleeping gear and clothing.

I used this tent (with optional beak) for the first time on a 5-day, 60 mile hike in the Flattops Wilderness area of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations were over 10k the whole trip.  Weather was varied, lows between apx 38-48, light rain, heavy rain, moderate wind, calm/still air, and heavy mosquito activity.   My previous tent was a Lightheart Gear Standard Solo. I bought this tent because I felt like I needed more room, it was far lighter, and it only requires one trekking pole to set up (I use GG LT4's).

Read more: Zpacks Plexamid reviews (2)

Featured review by Patman

The Hilleberg Tarp 5 is a minimalist shelter best used for lightweight solo backpacking when durability and material quality are worth a few more ounces of weight. As with any open-ended tarp, additional protections may be needed if used in all weather and/or especially adverse conditions such as horizontal rain. If pitched well, strong winds are not a problem as the fantastic Kerlon 1000 fabric withstood a severe windstorm during my testing. Like other Hilleberg products I've seen, the materials and workmanship are top-notch. If you need a lot of shelter space this isn't the tarp for you; this is more suited for light and fast trips when you just need a place to lay your head for the night.

About the Tarp 5: Link to news release with full specs Designed specifically for solo ultra-light backpackers Weight: 320g / 11.3 oz | Length: 318cm / 125.2 in | Width: 215cm / 84.7in Uses Kerlon 1000 fabric A word about this category of shelter: The shortcomings of open-ended tarps are inherent to the product class. These are primarily: possible exposure to horizontal rain, wind, bugs, and ground water. I didn't deduct any rating stars from my review based on these things. If you are new to using open tarps here are some common solutions to the inherent challenges of such designs.

Read more: Hilleberg Tarp 5 reviews (2)

Featured review by Ben Rivers

This is a great tarp that packs up small. The coverage will keep you comfortable and dry.

I was hesitant to buy a rain tarp from ENO for a pretty long time because they're so expensive ($80 +/-). Luckily, I have an awesome friend who bought me one as a gift, so I didn't have to spend the money. However, after having it, I would say that it's worth every penny.  Before having the ProFly, I used a normal heavy duty tarp like you get at any hardware store or Walmart. The difference is unbelievable. With the ProFly, it packs up small and is lightweight. It is easy to set up and and tear down.  I have slept under this thing in some pretty heavy downpours and stayed completely comfortable and dry.

Read more: Eagles Nest Outfitters ProFly Rain Tarp reviews (7)

Reviewed by Abela

ZPacks Hexamid Solo TarpZPacks HexaNet Solo Bug Shelter It was not all that long ago when the thought of a fully enclosed bug net weighing two pounds was a mastery of feat and accomplishment! The rules have changed once again, being lead by some innovative and dedicated hikers, who also happen to be cottage manufactures, such as ZPacks.com At an amazingly light 10.9 ounces (309 grams) the ZPacks Hexamid Solo tarp and accompanying HexaNet Solo bug shelter now provides us the ability to have a fully enclosed tent that requires only a single pole (or stick), can be setup in the one to two minute mark, and totally blow away over two pounds (32 ounces) [907 grams] worth of weight off even some of the lightest solo test setups on the market! The...

Read more: Zpacks Hexamid Solo review (1)

Featured review by Sarah Bork

Huge Dyneema tarp with tons of tie-out points. Can go into lots of configurations. Heavier weight Dyneema that has been durable. Perfect for the Pacific Northwest—can make a great big rain shelter, can be pitched in c-configuration which provides ground cover, can pitch beaks or flaps for privacy.

I have been using this tarp for several seasons for solo backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, including the Olympic and Cascade mountains and section hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. The tarp is showing no wear. I pair it with an ultralight bivy sack and put my rain gear on the ground for a ground sheet, or if I expect rain I carry a section of the lightest painter’s plastic drop sheet. It is plenty big for two backpackers or a backpacker and a dog. What I’ve noticed is that when it rains, I stay dry under the tarp even when packing up, getting dressed, eating etc, while my buddies with tents get much wetter, because of rain fly, going in/out, and needing to pack their tent into their backpack (wet tarps go in outside mesh pocket). 

Read more: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Flat Tarp reviews (3)