That Quarter Dome SL looks like it would be a great tarp option to use along with a bivy sack. Thanks for focusing on set ups that work above the tree line! Very useful video.
Thanks for doing this, Jim. Nearly all YT information is presented as "I'm the expert and here's what you must do." It's refreshing and enlightening to see the experiments because often times knowing why and how certain ideas fail or fall short is at least as educational (if not more so) as seeing the so-called 'best' way to do something. And you're exactly right about knowing how to use your gear and having options. I camp in a hammock, but sometimes you need to hunker down while a rain storm passes - the pyramid you showed is just the ticket!
The last tarp pitch you showed has become my favorite. I’m now 70, so I’m too worn out for backpacking, and only truck camp now. I use a 14’x16’ poly-vinyl tarp for that pitch. It gives me a 14’ length and is 8’ wide at the doorway. The way I pitch it allows me to have a “ mud room” area right at the doorway. Muddy boots and wet gear or a wet, stinky dog go there. Such a large tarp creates too much sag on the long slopping side and requires a tie out in the middle to eliminate that problem and on the long vertical side, I tie out in the middle there too. I use short lengths of lodge poles to make bipods for those tie outs. This increases interior volume and minimizes flapping in high winds. I’ve used it in December muzzle load elk hunts in blizzard conditions. I can get a cot, small table, tripod stools and gobs of gear totally inside and out of the weather. Lots of headroom too. I’ve also pitched this configuration using a lodge pole bipod at the front, door area (outside of the enclosed space) and a long lodge pole for my ridgepole. Takes time to find the poles but it’s more sturdy a pitch for high winds, driving rain or heavy snow. Nobody wants to be re-pitching their shelter at 3:am in a driving rain or snow storm. I’ve pitched this method with 9’x7’ tarps and keep them in all my rigs and in my “never leave camp without it” haversacks. A 9’x7’, cheap blue poly tarp, pitched like this is a perfect size for one person in a real unexpected situation, like being out too late or sitting with a deer or elk 3 miles from base camp at 4:pm in November or December. The small size is easier to maintain body heat. All your gear goes to the pointy end and you are closer to the door. This pitch can be hung from a single point where you have your single pole but it’s not easy to find the right tree, with the right limb to allow such a large tarp. I used to use an 11’x11’ tarp but was curious if I could make my large rectangular tarp into this pitch. Now I’m hooked on it for all the reasons I’ve tried to explain. I know you are sorta new to experimenting with tarp pitch options and seem to be heavily influenced by backpacking/weight considerations but there’s a reason for having all those tie-outs AND having plenty of stakes. A couple of the pitches you are playing with here are capable of actually having doors to fully enclose your tarp tents. It just requires different placement of your stakes. Yes, you reduce your interior space slightly but gain a warmer, dryer enclosure. Regarding condensation, I prop rocks or pieces of small logs I’ve cut with my folding saw, under my tarps on diagonal sides and it provides a decent air exchange to reduce condensation and if you have a reason to, it’s easy enough to push the rocks or logs back outside and let the edges settle back to the ground. Keep experimenting, it’s how we’ve all learned what works and what doesn’t. How we find the best methods for specific purposes. I switched to tarps 40 years ago because the hot tent craze had not come along yet and only the big, canvas wall-tents were used with a wood stove inside traditionally. I didn’t have one of my own and found I preferred a huge overhead canopy tarp and I set up my entire camp on a tarp ground sheet topped with a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet and had my cot near the center. My table had one side in-line with the central point of the canopy and I used a single upright pole that butted up to the table for a bit more stability. I actually prefer winter camping and it requires a great sleeping bag. If you’re not in a hot-tent, it’s just gonna be cold. Anyway, thanks for the upload it was fun and I’ve rarely seen that last pitch shown on RU-vid. I have no idea what it’s actually called and it’s too dang hard to try to explain. I’ve always just used the cheap, generic blue poly tarps. Maybe not as “cool” as the high end stuff but any of us can afford $20.00 for an 11’x11’ poly tarp every few years. Now I have a few of those new tarps but I can’t bring myself to risk damage to them by using part of them for my floors. They are great for a floor-less pitch and those cheap blue tarps give you a great ground sheet. ✌️
Cool! Thanks for taking the time to explain all this. I'm not terribly sure how the community tab works on RU-vid, but if you could post a picture, I'd be grateful! ru-vid.com/show-UCG9jy6tghPwNiuoo_zZEsmgcommunity Thanks!
@@highcountrychronicles I wish I knew how to send stuff to RU-vid. I don’t even know how to send a link to a video. I saw a guy on about 7 years ago that was showing the pitch. Used just a 5’x7’ blue, poly tarp so I immediately recognized it as my favorite. It was so small that he could only just sit up in it but it was out of the weather. Some of the comments were from the typical jerks, too shallow of thinkers to realize how to just scale up with a bigger tarp. I realized that the smaller sizes are easily a separate storage space or wood shed too. Some hunting camps have been 3 weeks or 4. Lotta firewood is needed. Do you ever watch Far North Bushcraft and survival? He’s got many great videos and has one showing this pitch. He modifies it slightly to have a different doorway but it’s the same basic pitch. Hey bud, take some neighborhood kids on a camp out. Lotta kids don’t get the opportunity. Teach em brother.
@@jasonjohnson6344 I'm not familiar with that channel. I'll definitely check it out. Funny you should mention that. I've got an offer out to my neighbor down the street and his kids.
@@highcountrychronicles check out some of the youtuber’s I listed. Some brilliant guys with great channels and content. As men, we need to notice the kids that are lacking the involvement of a good role model. Get em to come give you a hand experimenting with your pitches. Show them there’s other things besides the all too usual bad choices. Give them something more and let them film you maybe. Just a suggestion brother. We gotta step up and make a difference where we can. I do wish you luck with your channel. Pay it forward, the joy you get to share is priceless. 👍✌️🙏
This may be the most helpful piece about tarp pitches on all of RU-vid. Been searching on and off for years, and this is the first time I've so passionately wanted to recommend a tarp video to friends and family who hike/camp. Subbed.
I enjoyed your video Jim, good job !! I live in the mountains at 6000ft, elv. One tip for emergency shelter, under a minute setup, Plow Point. Even for day hikes, If you use a smaller tarp or poncho, 8x8/5x7 it will handle wind, rain better, with less flap. The Old Gunny...
I'm late to the party, but I really appreciate this video. I have used a catenary cut tarp for years, but I wanted a flat tarp to have some more versatility. I just purchased this exact tarp on geartrade a couple days ago, and I can't wait to practice! Thank you, Jim!
This is the most wildly helpful tarp setup video I’ve come across! Hearing your thoughts helped me process why each configuration may or not be applicable. Saving this video for future reference. Thank you MUCH for sharing with us! Subscribing now!!! 😎
Hi. I just got into learning about tarp configurations. This video was very helpful and inspires me to get out tomorrow and try the stealth. Thanks for the content and sharing of information
Hi from the uk, love a tarp and bivy I do, nice to see you playing with the configurations, in the north east we have lots of wind so I mainly take a small tarp, Cheers
@@highcountrychronicleshi probably a standard lean to, but the bottom edge on guy lines so off the floor a bit, it’s hard when the wind changes direction all the time, but just try what I can, as I don’t want to get in a tent other than if it’s a very wet day on the way in, then it’s easier to be comfortable quickly. Cheers
@@northumberlandmountainhopper Interesting. So far my to go for wind has been the tarp tent / pyramid construction. I can't keep anything else from catching wind! 😅Thanks!
@@highcountrychronicleswhat it is, I don’t really like the tent type configurations as I enjoy the openness and views of a tarp, so I have used 140x140 cm ground tarps to cover my head and the rest of me is protected by a bivy, as the winter is here I will be experimenting with my 2.8x1.5 metre tarp to give head cover and equipment cover while my body is in the bivy, heavy army bivy is 800g and tarp 270g so the weight of a tent but so much more fun !!!!! Nice to chat across the seas !!!!!
Hi again, just seen your pyramid style set up. And the way you tie down your door.if you were to go out I tie them out side, but I would pull them in. Which help easy access and help from noticing where one enter. I like this one I'm going to try it out myself. I'm 64 yes old only been camping once in my life when I was 19. 2 yes ago I had heart attack and now I stay with my son, My wife pass away in 08. We rent a house with some woods out back, and use it for a learning about backyard camping 🏕 it help me out metal and not feel depressed. So I started looking up camping stuff and you came across, just like to say thanks because man your age need some time out in the wood just to feel somewhat Manley 😅 🙃, if my wife was around today she would like I lost my mind from this heart attack. So just like to say stay the Crouse and the out doors, it's good for the heart and soul. Love pace & chicken 🐔 grase.
Jim, nice follow up for the tarp review - thanks for putting in the time to play around with setups and record what you found out. I like the "stealth", the "windshield plow point" and the "tarp tent" (though that looks a bit more complicated). Also the "pyramid" looks worth practicing, and I may have to try the diagonal setup you did last. Thank you, sir!
You are welcome and thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I settled on the "Yurt" for myself and made good use of a tweaked Tarp Tent in high wind conditions in Yosemite this fall.
Thanks for this excellent video. I just started playing with tarps and have watched many, many RU-vids on the subject. I wish the algorithm had shown me your video sooner. Top notch!
Well I really appreciate all the effort you went through setting all those configurations up. I just received my new DD 4x4 tarp in the mail so I have play around (like you) and figure out which set up I like. I hope I don’t regret buying such a big tarp. Time will tell. Thank you!
Your guylines should come off at a 45deg angle and that would take care of the "sagging" concerns. * stakes is the basic minimum you would need for most set-ups, but you can always make your own in the field. Great video! My favorites are "plow point" & "tarp tent"... Probably the best weather resistant configurations.
Great walk thru on what works and what doesn't work. And why. At some points I felt that you were channeling my thoughts. Good work and thanks for sharing.
I definitely agree with your goals and objectives for using a tarp, however, I intend on making the tarp my primary go-to shelter. I usually get wet when doing my hikes here in the Cascades and used to use an 8ft square piece of painter's plastic when the rain came and just threw it over me and my pack after prepping the ground for my sleeping pad.. I've never thought of using a tarp with multiple tie-down points to do what so many are doing now. Thanks for your effort to bring some of these configurations forward - I've definitely benefited from it and think the Tarp Tent and the Swedwood's Diagonal are the top contenders for my needs. Thanks again!
Thanks very much. This very helpful.. the other videos I have seen look so easy and come out perfect. Obviously they have already gone through the learning phase. Now when I try some of these like you did I won't think there is something wrong with me. Thank you again, you had to put alot of time onto this video and I really appreciate it. Thank you.
Haven't read all the comments, so I might be repeating someone else's thoughts. By using part of the tarp as a ground cloth you run the risk of poking holes in it from that unnoticed sharp edged rock or stick. A regular ground cloth can be repaired with duct tape if holes do appear.
Hi Jim, appreciate your efforts to set the ground work for my ideas. Learned a lot and picked a few configurations I like that I will dial in to my liking. Happy Trails...Ron
Stake out the back of the tarp with three pegs. Move to the front of the tent and take both corners and put one stake through both. You will then have two flaps to walk into the tent. Once in, put in your trekking pole to hold up the tent at its highest setting. When you get inside, you take one side of the flaps and pull it over then stake it from the inside. This will give you a door that will keep both the rain and wind outside. It will also keep the heat in, although condensation can be an issue. You don't get a floor, but I take a large bit of tarp for that. It fits my tarp tent to a tee. It doesn't weigh much more than the whole tarp itself, so it's worth doing. If it's raining, peg out the back, move to the front, stick the peg in, and then you are inside out of the rain. It will take less than 2 minutes to set up the tarp. You get head room, a door AND a waterproof floor IF you take a smaller tarp that fits the inside of the tarp tent. You don't need guy lines. If you happen to have two trees in the vicinity, and the weather is clement, you could set up a ridge line and attach the top middle tie out point to the ridge line via a prusik knot, so that you get the whole tent without the hassle of having a pole in the centre. But a pole works just fine if you don't have two trees available.
Great video presenting the pro's and con's of so many tarp types! On your Closed End A-Frame variant I've used that successfully in cold weather. I run the ridgeline of the tarp from front to back. That allows me to tie a guyline into the first tie in point from the back end, which gives a bit longer space.
Thanks for your video. I enjoyed the wide variety of configurations and appreciated your effort. You mentioned that the "pyramid" configuration was warm. I recently tried that same configuration with an AquaQuest Survivor 10x10 tarp during light snowfall and it served me well. At 7:30 AM, my infrared temp-gun measured 25.5° F average inside (on my bivy sack) and -1.3°F average on the exterior surface of the tarp. Condensation did occur but it froze to the tarp surface, so my gear was not wet. It seems the pyramid configuration is not a bad option for cold weather conditions when combined with a good quality sleep system.
Nice! I had to use sort of a hybrid of the Tent Tarp and the Pyramid in Yosemite last year to fight the wind. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFMWvA6itqQ.html) It was essentially a tent tarp but I pulled the corners in tight and closed off the opening. I had some condensation as I recall but not too bad and nothing dripping. It proved to stand up pretty well in the wind. Thanks for watching!
Hey like your ideas of working out new set ups. On your 1st one I see that it was hanging down and you was trying to hold it up. If you take and run some cordage through all 3 tie down and make a triangle 🔺️ you can steak the back up some and keep it from caving in on you. Well enjoy the child hook memories, and your father day as well. Be safe and bless.
Cool. Just note that the hydrostatic rating is 1200mm. So waterproof but not what you'd want in a heavy, multi day rain situation. I didn't know this when I did the intro video or I would have mentioned it. And thanks!
@@highcountrychronicles This is a well done and I am grateful - I learned things. You might want to check out the tarps, shaped and otherwise, from Mountain Laurel Designs. Their fabric is very waterproof - generally 3,000 and higher. Cheers.
I picked this up for a cooking type shelter or to use on overnight quick trips. I always use a tent for more than one night trips. Some times I carry a 5x7 blue tarp (from the hardware store) on multi night trips for cooking under, WHAT a life saver it has been on a few trips to the high Uintas, rain rain rain!! The REI tarp is quieter than a blue tarp.
E Z Tip to learn: simple... add 1 extra guyline with 1 extra stake. As you seem to be battling with wind and tarp not staying taut. Take a pebble to add 1 more attachment point on the back of most of your configurations. It will... A. Add additional headroom. B. Tighten loose areas of tarp. C. Add stability. Take a smooth small pebble. Wrap into a larkshead knot. Easy knot to learn. Then stake.
You can keep the tarp taught without causing any damage to it. Get some 1/8th inch elastic cordage and cut it to make loops the length you like. ( I like about a 12 inch loop. ) Tie off the two ends of the cut cordage forming a loop 12 inches long. At the tarp insert one end of the loop threw the grommets ( Tie Downs ) openings , bring the other end up and threw the part you just stuck threw the grommet. Pull it down securing it to the grommet. Now attach your ground or tree line to it and secure the line by stretching the elastic cordage just a little. It can be readjusted later if necessary. Hammock , Tarp & Camping supply companies and Amazon ( the best price ) has the cordage.
@@highcountrychronicles I've spent the night in a fair few tents and I've got wet in every one. I've never been wet under my tarp. If I need a door (very cold weather), I use an extra small 2m X 2m tarp to cover the open A at the front.
Wish you’d give a close up of the trekking poles where they meet the tarp in the air. Ru using the snow baskets to hold the loops up. Cool. Never thought of that. Thanks.
Hi, I would have been using the pointy end of the trekking polls. I guess you could use the basket if you could secure it well enough but the point is much easier.
In the linked video o at 1:54 / 1:55 you can see a close up of the trekking poles : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FLYR7wSZo2w.html Don't click the time links. They link to this video. Click on the link, it will send you to a new video.
Not to hot for you? Looks hot to me, though it wasn't in my yard. Not like the Pyramid. That was immediate. Stop filming and get out immediate. LOL. I've got another video dropping.... Sunday I think on the two I've settled with.
I really enjoyed this video and thank you for the time to set up all these configurations. I live in western North Carolina and the wind here is constantly changing directions so for that reason I'm not a big fan of lean to configurations. For a quick setup a basic A frame works fine and I've used the A frame with doors setup for hammock camping on cold days, but my favorite setup for ground tarping in my area is the tarp tent setup. I takes a bit of time to setup, but it's very wind resistant, even when the wind changes direction. I only stand 5'4" so the low clearance doesn't bother me much. 🤣 I can't help but wander what the neighbors thought you were up to. 🤔
Yeah, I gave my neighbors a show. One stopped and asked what I was doing... then asked how old I was. :D Glad you took the time to watch it and enjoyed it. Thank you! The tarp tent or a variation of is what I've used during heavy wind as well. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFMWvA6itqQ.html) We do have changing winds at times but thus far I've lucked out and I've been able to pitch in such a way that the lean to configurations haven't been a problem. It's always an adventure though wondering if I'm going to have re-pitch in the middle of the night. LOL. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PyeELux4JpI.html) Thanks again!
@@highcountrychronicles It sounds like that neighbor might have been insinuating you were acting like child, to which I'd reply, I guess I'm just young at heart. 🤗
@@highcountrychronicles No thanks needed. It was my pleasure to watch. It seems that your neighbor may have been insinuating you were acting like a child. Well, I'd just say you're young at heart. Nothing wrong with that.
Great video, especially liked your thoughts on each config. Regarding the tarp tent, I've seen a variation that uses two poles in an inverted V instead of the central pole, this removes the problem of the pole in the middle, I've also seen the back squared off and tucked under to provide a small groundsheet for sleeping on, you might want to try that.
18:29 this is my tarps only configuration, pretty much. It lacks a lot of versatility compared to a standard square tarp. The way it's shaped/cantilevered and where the tie outs are, that's the only option. Thankfully it's a decent one.
Thank you sir for the video. Have you tried it in the mountains, in rain, in wind?? What did you find?? I just did 65 miles on the Colorado trail last week with my son and we used a 2-man tent - but it's heavy to carry the tent all those miles. I'm planning to switch to a tarp for my next section of the CT. Thanks again for the video!
Thanks for watching. My most recent trip was here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFMWvA6itqQ.html Plenty of wind as you'll see. The worst I've been in, in a while. I haven't tried it in the rain yet. This particular tarp is just at the rainproof level, so I don't know yet exactly how much water it will repel but it is considered rainproof. (It has a hydrostatic rating of 1200mm). So far I've made 3 overnight trips with it.
Hi, if you would like more details on this tarp. Please watch: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-by1NE917dp4.html and read the description for additional details.
That said: I’m a big fan of the plow point. Easy, fast setup, lots of room and enough protection. Simple and one of the best. Another one I use is the tarp tent. Two thoughts on that one: you can take the second pole and lift the space near the end (or do the same by tying it of on the outside). Secondly: you can use the two poles for the centre and spread em to the sides (maybe you might have to have longer sticks) to avoid the centre pole. If you haven’t found him yet: papa hiker is a great source for Tarp setups. My line up is Gunyah, plow point, tarp tent and (if I want privacy - at a festival or something like that) the pyramid.
This is the only helpful tarp video haha. I just bought the REI 12x12 and was looking up configurations on making it a rain fly. Basically just from the tent out over the table for cooking.
Hi, hope you found it helpful! For something like that I’d imagine a hanging a frame would work well. IE creating a ridge line high with some cord and tying of the 4 corners so hangs over both the tent exit and table. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video. Question, At 3:06 did those arrow-shape guy line attachments come with the tarp package or did you but them separately? I looked at all over REI and Amazon for them, no luck but love them. Thanks
Thanks! Glad you appreciated it. They came with the REI Tarp. I'm surprised that REI doesn't sell them separately. Perhaps if you go in the repair shop and ask about them, they might be willing to sell you some. You can find details on the tarp here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-by1NE917dp4.html Good Luck!
@@highcountrychronicles Hi Jim. Thanks for the quick reply. I did online chat with REI and they don't sell them individually (and could not even conform they come with the same tarp). I assume they do. Too bad, that toggle is a nice little tool. Thanks for the great review, will probably purchase it. Have a great day. Patrick
Just a heads up that the tarp is rated for light rain. It has a hydrostatic rating of 1200mm. I've not put it to the test yet. Depending on who you believe, a min rating for waterproofness is as low as 1000mm and as high as 2000mm...
@@highcountrychronicles Funny you should send this reply. I just received the tarp. No worries. I'm hoping it never sees rain. I looked at your other videos and I am extremely envious of your lifestyle. I am a city-boy (born and raised in Brooklyn) but have always felt I was more geared to an outdoor type of life. I started fly fishing 6 years ago and loved seeing you catch a few. Tight lines.
Hi, an A frame should be good in rain or hail if set up against the wind or set up with low / high configuration. In really stormy weather I would set up as a tarp tent if it's not too hot out. Check out this trip: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFMWvA6itqQ.html Thanks! Keep in mind that this hydrostatic rating of 1200 mm. Technically waterproof. It seems to hold up well to wind and wouldn't worry about hail but I haven't had the opportunity to test it in rain.
Hi, I'm probably not the best person to ask. This video was me trying set ups new to me. So, this was my first time trying tarp set ups. So I don't have any experience in mixing tent and tarp set ups. I would think it would depend on the type of tent, size tarp and what you are trying to achieve. I would probably look at a high lean-to variant, like the narrow or maybe something with the front flap down or maybe a plow point variant of some type. I would encourage you to do what I did - find a lawn and try out different configurations with your tent.
Hi, thanks for the sub! i've been turned onto papahiker and few others by folks in these comments. I'll be looking to review new set ups this winter when I've got some downtime and will probably post a follow up video. I've been able to use the "Yurt" a bit and got a good test in the wind using the Tent Tarp. Frankly, they're probably the only two I need but half the fun is trying new configurations, which I will this winter. Check out this video to see how the tent tarp fares in the wind: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFMWvA6itqQ.html
Non-sequiter: You speak like I do, with big words like "predicate" and "mitigate." I love it, but my family makes fun of me. It's nice to see someone else do it.
