Best 10 Camping Tarps Of 2024

The weather is one of the most unpredictable things that can happen while you are in the outdoors. There will be times when the weather will be sunny and times when it will be rainy. I know some really good camping tarps and I have listed them below. These items are a few of the greatest that I know of that can provide shelter and protection from the rain. There are plenty of reasons why I highly recommend these tarps to everyone and one of them is that they are incredibly durable.

Best Camping Tarps – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Camping Tarp

Types Of Tarps

There are many different kinds of tarps. Here are just some tarps that people use.

Poly Tarps

Poly tarps are very durable and can last for a long period of time. These tarps are very waterproof. These tarps are meant to resist UV rays, strong winds and be able to protect the person or objects underneath it from the weather. These tarps are very good and are often used in commercial and industrial purposes.

Canvas Tarps

Canvas tarps are often fire retardant or have fire retardant properties which is why a lot of people like them. Canvas is a material that is closely woven, plain weave fabric made of natural or synthetic fibers. Canvas tarps will often have high moisture resistance and good against liquid chemicals. This is the reason a lot of truckers and painters use these tarps.

Mesh Tarps

Mesh tarps look like nets. These tarps are designed to let water and air through. Mesh tarps are often used in a lot of screen tents. The tents allow the wind to pass through while reducing the force that the wind has. These tarps are not meant to block the wind but lessen it.

Sports Tarps

These tarps are often waterproof and designed to keep the field dry from rain. These tarps cover a big area and are often stored once the rain has passed.

Outdoor Tarps

These tarps are used to protect the user from the weather while he is in a camping or backpacking trip. These tarps are often waterproof, ripstop and very durable. These tarps do a very good job at protecting the user from the weather like rain, sun and snow.

Camping Tarp Designs And Shapes

Asymmetrical Tarps

These tarps are used in conjunction with asymmetrical hammocks. These tarps are great with single hammocks and the tarps often fit them perfectly.  These tarps will often look like a diamond and provide a lot of protection from the weather.

Square Tarps

Square tarps are square shaped tarps. The sides have the same sizes or length. These tarps are very good, and can be used in a lot of ways. These tarps are not that efficient and will provide more coverage to the user than necessary. The extra fabric or material will add more weight so these tarps are often heavier than most tarps.

Rectangular Tarps

These tarps are used by a lot of solo backpackers. These tarps are shaped like a rectangle and will have very narrow sides. The sides will obviously get less protection. If the tarp is too narrow, the tarp may not be able to provide enough protection to the user. Rain may still get inside the tarp.

Tapered Tarps

These tarps are often used by ultralight backpackers or minimalist backpackers. These tarps are often narrower on the foot and head end. The fabric is cut short so that people will carry less weight. These tarps are very narrow and they do not give a lot of protection to the user.

Camping Tarp Material

Sil Nylon

Sil Nylon is silicone and polyurethane combined into a single fabric. This material is very waterproof and provide a lot of protection to the user against the weather. This material is very good for backpacking and camping. This is also very lightweight and very durable. This material provides a lot of waterproof and windproof capabilities to the tarp. This is often made in a ripstop weave pattern which means that any small tear in the fabric will not expand or fray.

Sil Poly

Sil Poly is silicone that is combined with polyester to create a fabric. This is very durable as well and the price is very affordable. This fabric is very reliable and very strong. This fabric is often used in a lot of camping tents and waterproof camping tarps. Silpoly does not cost much so a lot of people can afford this material.

Dyneema Composite (Cumen Fiber)

This is a is a patented, high-end laminate fabric constructed from non-woven composites. This fabric offers an unmatched strength to weight ratio. Cumen Fiber is often used in a lot of backpacking equipment and a lot of minimalist backpackers love this fabric. This material is very expensive though so not a lot of people will have items made out of this material.

Camping Tarp Accessories

Stakes

Stakes are often used to provide support and stability to the tarp that you are going to use. Stakes anchor the tarp to the ground so that the wind will not blow it away. As an alternative to stakes, you can also use roots, boulders, logs and trees so that you do not need to carry a lot of stakes when you are going in a backpacking trip.

Ropes / Straps / Guylines

These also provide stability and support to the tarp. Ropes and guylines take a ton of pressure when very strong winds hit the tarp. It is important that they are very durable and strong.

Impact Of Colors On Tarps

Black / Silver – Offer more cooling and shade.

White – reflect some light.

Brightly Colored Tarps – easy to find the campsite, reflects some light.

Camouflage Tarps – hides the campsite.

Clear Tarps – used in a lot of green houses. Allows light to pass through.

Camping Features To Consider

Waterproof

The tarp has to be waterproof. The purpose of the tarp is to protect the user or users from the weather. Sometimes there could be really bad weather. You will need a tarp so that you can cook, eat and enjoy other people’s company if the weather is not very favorable. Make sure that the tarp is waterproof and meant for camping. Some tarps are meant for other purposes.

Size

The size of the tarp matters. It depends on what you are going to use it for. Are you going to use it with a tent, a hammock, a gazebo, and so on. It is important to know the size or how big you want the tarp to be. It is better to have one large tarp rather than two tarps since not all tarps can be combined or connected. So think about the size or how big you want your tarp to be.

Easy To Setup

You want all of your camping gear to be easy to setup and easy to pack up. You can spend a whole day setting up tents, sleeping air beds, hammocks, cookware , fire pits and so on. It is going to waste a lot of your time trying to setup items that are very complicated. So make sure that the tarp that you are getting is easy to setup and easy to pack.

Durable

Make sure that the tarp is very durable. A durable tarp will allow you to save money in the long run since you do not need to replace it for a long time. Durable items are nice to have also. They give peace of mind that they will last and will not break apart easily. If you get a fragile item, you are just going to frustrated. It is going to cost you money and time.

Price

There are lots of expensive tarps out there that are made by very reputable companies. Some of these tarps are really good and very high quality. But if you are not planning on camping all the time, then you do not need an expensive tarp. You can just get something affordable. Something affordable is often a wiser decision for people that go camping once or even three times in a year.

Best Camping Tarps

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1. Kelty Noah’s Tarp Sun Shelter Rainfly

Technical Specs
Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
Material: 68D polyester
Dimensions: Lots To Choose From
Waterproof: Yes

Short Review: You will love using this camping tarp. This is a very good tarp that provides a whole lot of protection. This is very easy to setup and very stable once it is setup. This is extremely useful and will protect the user from different kinds of weather. You can always examine the customer reviews and it will tell you the excellent things in regards to this item. This superb company consistently surpass my expectations. This works well and this is the reason why I find this to be one of the most satisfying tarps that I have ever tried.

2. Amazon Basics Waterproof Camping Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Material: Polyethylene (PE)
Dimensions: 96 x 120 inches
Waterproof: Yes

Short Review: This impressive tarp will satisfy your needs. Lightweight items like this one allow us to save energy. This multipurpose tarp can be used in a lot of ways. Can be used as a blanket to protect yourself from the damp grass as well. If you look at the selling price, I know that you will be surprise because of how low it is. I usually tell people about this mainly because this works exceptionally well and the price tag is rather inexpensive. I cannot stop recommending this item to others because I love it a good deal. Not complicated and easy to setup and practically no effort at all.

3. Bear Butt Double Hammock Tent Rain Fly

Technical Specs
Weight: 14.1 oz
Material: Waterproof polyester fabric
Dimensions: 12’ 10” down the middle, and 9’ 4” on the sides
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Helps to shield you from the elements on camping and backpacking trips, made of waterproof polyester fabric, perfect for quick, spur-of-the-moment excursions

Short Review: This waterproof tarp is pretty affordable and this works well also. I love the hammock that comes from this company. This is a great tarp that is suitable for hammocks and tents. Not much else to say regarding a simple item. Satisfied customer here! There are a great deal of items on the internet but this continues to be one of the finest considering that this is really sturdy and exceptionally effective at the same time. I am happy I bought this due to the fact it can provide shelter and protection from the rain and it is also extremely budget friendly. The design made this very light and easy to carry.

4. Grizzly Tarps 8 x 10 Feet Blue Multi Purpose Waterproof Poly Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Material: Woven and laminated polyethlene with heat sealed seams
Dimensions: Lots To Choose From
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Lightweight washable and mildew proof with rope in hem, Woven and laminated polyethlene with heat sealed seams, multipurpose tarp that can be used for boats, cars, vehicles and protection the the elements

Short Review: I have used and analyzed this multipurpose tarp. This comes in a lot of different sizes so we have options on what size will be good for us. We don’t need to spend a whole lot because this item is pretty inexpensive. This is really good. It can provide shelter and protection from the rain and the price tag is too good to pass up. This has lots of characteristics that makes this high quality and I know that you will like it. I am happy that this turned out to be quite inexpensive.

5. FREE SOLDIER Waterproof Portable Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.3 lbs
Material: Polyester 190T fabric with waterproof PU coating
Dimensions: 118 * 126in
Waterproof: Yes

Short Review: This is a great outdoor tarp that I know you will love. This is exceptionally well made and this tarp comes in various sizes. It is difficult to imagine that items can be very effective and budget friendly simultaneously like this one. It is true that this has an incredible number of positive consumer feedback meaning that lots of men and women are buying this item. Free Soldier is one of the best companies that create amazing outdoor items such as this. This is one of the best because of its durability and it can provide shelter and protection from the rain. This is extremely high quality, effective and works well.

6. Eagles Nest Outfitters ProFly Rain Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight: 22 oz
Material: Polyurethane-treated 210D ripstop nylon
Dimensions: 10′ 6″ x 6′ 4″
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Popular company, this is made to last for a very long time, gives lots of usefulness and very multi-purpose

Short Review: You certainly will like this tarp for backpacking because this is amazing. Eagles Nest Outfitters is a very popular company due to their amazing hammocks. This is a great tarp that can protect users from the weather. Probably the best place to buy this item is on the internet due to the selling price. I love that this is pretty resilient because a large amount of items are incredibly affordable but they are also very fragile. The fabulous design is what I really like concerning this item and one of the major factors why I recommend this. This will protect you from the elements and keep your body safe.

7. Lightweight Outdoor Tarp Hanjet

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.38 lbs
Material: Poly Ethylene
Dimensions: Lots To Choose From
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Lots of usefulness and multi-purpose, designed to be outdoor friendly, can handle lots of accidental punishments

Short Review: We are constantly looking for several pretty great camping tarps like this. The amazing compact and space saving construction is very useful for people who love the outdoors. I really like that this is incredibly durable because an incredibly fragile item will often waste the money of the men and women who have ordered it. The affordable price alone should be sufficient enough for people to try this item. One of the best items to have for camping purposes which is why I highly recommend this. This is exceptionally well made. The construction is exceptionally solid and I’ve had no difficulties with it whatsoever. I am really happy with my purchase. I know a large amount of men and women are happy too its no wonder that I am recommending this to plenty of people.

8. OUTRY Waterproof Multi-Purpose Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight: 16.6oz
Material: 210D oxford fabric
Dimensions: Lots To Choose From
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Popular and amazing company, designed to be compact and space saving, amazing item due to high quality materials

Short Review: This fantastic tarp is amazing. This company developed a versatile and useful design that can be used in a lot of ways. This can be used as a ground cover or to protect yourself from the weather as well. A very good tarp that can be used multiple ways. This is one of the finest items I have ever tried plus this can provide shelter and protection from the rain. This awesome company built another impressive tarp and nothing I can do but recommend it to my website visitors. This has a flexible design and very durable. This is full of impressive features that I need and this excellent tarp is what I was searching for.

9. Dry Top Heavy Duty Silver/Brown Reversible Full Size 10-mil Poly Tarp

Technical Specs
Weight:
Material: Super Heavy Duty Industrial Polyethylene
Dimensions: Lots To Choose From
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Capable and worthwhile company, compact and very good, waterproof and easy to use

Short Review: You will love this tarp considering that it is extraordinary. It is known that this is a pretty superb item and one of the finest that you will find on the web. The price is wonderful and it is pack with lots of amazing characteristics. I always want the lowest price possible and this has an extremely affordable price tag I think you will realize that this is one of the most low-priced items that you can find online. This works extremely well and I find this item to be exceptionally amazing. This amazing company created another extraordinary item and I know that this is incredibly high quality way before I was able to try it.

10. Hennessy Hammock – Hex Rainfly/Rain Tarp 70D Polyester

Technical Specs
Weight: 27 oz
Material: PU-coated polyester ripstop rainfly
Dimensions: Size 143″ on centerline x 120″ wide
Waterproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Can handle lots of accidental punishments, amazing company with lots of customers returning, great item for outdoor events

Short Review: You should check out this tarp mainly because it may possibly be the item that you are looking for. This is a great tarp that came from Hennessy. They have a couple of good hammocks as well that I like. This is one of the greatest that I have ever tried and this is exactly as advertised. This has a good amount of characteristics that makes it high quality with powerful and effective design. You will know that I am not the only one who likes this awesome item by going through the positive consumer feedback. The outdoors can be easier with this because this provides lots of benefits.