A Tarp is an invaluable piece of camping gear that serve many functions - not only providing shelter but also acting as an invaluable way to skin and butcher animals without alerting scavengers to their demise. Tarps can even come in handy on hunting trips when used to do just this task without drawing unwanted attention to what may otherwise have been an unsavory process.
A simple tarp can provide shelter against rain and wind, but its versatility also offers opportunities to be creative with it.
1. Keep Your Car Clean
Tarps can be invaluable tools in combatting poor weather. If a rainstorm approaches while camping, tie your tarp up like an A-frame roof to provide shelter from moisture and dirt to both your sleeping pad and hammock.
Use a tarp to line the back seat of your car after an intense hiking trip in the rain to keep your gear dry, as well as transport children who become dirty without soiling their clothes or shoes during transport home. It may even come in handy if they get wet when playing outside!
If you plan on using a tarp for this purpose, it's essential that all grommets and pullouts are secure. To accomplish this, add toggles at each rope end that you will use (which are much stronger than standard cords), as they can absorb pressure more effectively than standard cords while helping transfer weight away from grommets themselves.
2. Keep Your Dog Warm
Tarps are versatile camping gear that rival duct tape and superglue in terms of their utility. Tarps can help create a slanted roof to divert rainwater away from tents, or can even act as makeshift hammocks when sleeping outdoors.
An ideal tool for hunting trips, they provide protection from insects such as ants, flies and dirt when skinning and butchering animals, making transport back to camp simpler while limiting any trash left in the wilderness that might attract scavengers.
Tarps can provide emergency protection from rain and wind when unexpectedly caught out without waterproof clothing, such as jacket or poncho. When combined with trees or poles for support, tarps can also act as makeshift sleeves by wrapping corners securely around arms tying off securely around each arm; making it perfect for use during a thunderstorm or other extreme weather conditions.
3. Create a Shade Shelf
Tarps are among the most adaptable pieces of equipment any outdoor adventurer can bring on their trip, alongside items like duct tape, super glue, and Bear Grylls' axe. Their versatility rivals even those of duct tape and super glue in terms of MacGyver-esque utility.
One can use these tents for rain and sun protection, emergency shelter, fire protection, collecting rainwater or as an easy-to-transport collection point - among many other applications. They're lightweight, compact and easily transported - qualities which make them an indispensable part of any hiking or survival training pack.
Camping outdoors requires shade-creation. A tarp can provide just that with its ability to cover an shady area while being secured at its corners with rocks or cordage, giving a shelf of shade that keeps its inhabitants cooler than their surrounding air conditions. Simply stretch a tarp over this shady space, secure its corners, and tie off its corners using rocks or cordage if possible. Adding additional insulation could include attaching an additional blanket underneath with its shiny side down; this will reflect sunlight back onto itself making this shade shelf even more effective at blocking out sunlight; added insulation would also keep temperatures down considerably during hot camping trips!
4. Keep Bugs at Bay
A tarp can be strung between trees and used as a sleeping surface - it's an effective way of keeping bugs at bay! Additionally, camping tarps provide an ideal space for skinning or butchering game safely without leaving meat exposed and vulnerable to hungry scavengers.
Bowlines or taut line hitches provide an easy solution for connecting rope to tarp grommets. Simply pass one half through, and tie a constrictive knot around it afterwards in order to secure the line and keep your tarp from flapping around in the wind.
If you prefer sleeping in a hammock, try stringing up a tarp underneath to provide a bug-free environment and prevent rainwater from seeping in during survival situations. Plus, this convenient tablecloth could double up as handy cleaning gear storage space!
5. Create a Shelter
Tarps can be an indispensable addition to camping or survival training equipment, offering lightweight portability. Tarps provide shade from the sun while providing shelter from rainstorms - even acting as makeshift tents!
if you find yourself lost outdoors, use a brightly-colored tarp as a signal for help. Simply drape it over several rocks and set up some guy lines to hold it taut.
If you need an easy and quick shelter solution, consider creating an A-frame tarp shelter. To do so, locate two trees as far apart as the corners of your stretched-out tarp are. Attach paracord to both anchor points; tie one end of it around one corner of the tarp while securing its other end to its ridgeline between them.
6. Create a Container
When traveling into the wilderness on a survival or bushcraft adventure, protecting equipment and supplies from rain or snow requires sheltering them from rain and snow - a tarp is an ideal way to do this and also acts as a container for collecting water, transporting firewood or washing food.
If you're camping in an area without access to running water, using a tarp as a rainwater collector and storage solution can be an efficient way to collect rainfall. Simply set it up over an empty or slight depression in the ground and funnel raindrops directly into clean containers.
Tarps can also serve as handy storage containers, providing tools and camping gear from dirt and moisture damage. Simply fold a tarp into a bowl shape and secure its corners with sturdy bands or rope. When completed, it will serve as an efficient means of storage - large containers should also be labeled clearly in order to avoid confusion!
7. Create a Fence
If you find yourself lost in the wilderness with no means of transportation, a tarp can serve as an improvised stretcher. Simply spread out the tarp flat, find two branches longer than it, and wrap one side of it around them before tying off at the bottom - and presto, stretcher!
For extra privacy or to divide a space within your tent, a tarp can serve as an ideal curtain. Plus, its waterproof properties help keep out water and debris that may enter.
As you observe and photograph wildlife, camouflage tarps can provide an effective means of concealment for you and wildlife alike. Tarps also can be used to shield woodpiles from the elements, protecting firewood from moisture damage or prevent it sagging; you can attach a clove hitch knot tarp to a woodpile to prevent it from blowing away in high winds.
8. Create a Wall
Tarps are an indispensable addition to outdoor camping gear and offer numerous uses. From creating shade or shelter from the elements, to using as makeshift tents - there is no end to what these versatile sheets of fabric have in store for outdoor enthusiasts!
One of the easiest tarp hacks is using its long edges as walls. Simply line up each corner, add tension, and secure each tensioned edge for an effective wall structure.
Another effective use for tarps is creating small fences or borders - this is particularly effective at isolating yourself while camping or during survival training scenarios. Tarps can also serve to shield equipment or supplies from moisture or dirt; use it as an improvised table when prepping food and drinks!
9. Create a Toilet
Going to the bathroom when camping or on a survival expedition can be challenging. To make life easier, why not use your tarp as an outhouse instead? Simply locate some supports to hold up the fabric, set it up in your private area, and position the tarp accordingly - this way no one else will see who needs to use the bathroom! It will keep others at bay from seeing you too - vital when dealing with unpredictable survival conditions!
Tarps can also be used as room dividers in tents for added privacy and additional living space, providing privacy from rainwater entering and helping prevent mold growth inside the tent. Just be sure to cover its apex to protect it.
This hack can save lives in an emergency. If you find yourself lost on a rough terrain and lose your footing, a tarp can act as an emergency stretcher to transport yourself or another through the wilderness. Simply spread out your tarp, find two sturdy branches longer than it, wrap them around it securely using band or rope tie downs, and you have yourself an improvised stretcher ready for use anywhere on any terrain!