How To Pitch A Backpacking Tarp 

Hey everyone! Thank you for watching the video. If you enjoyed it, it would mean a lot to me if you thumbs up the video and subscribe if you haven't already. This helps the video rank well on RU-vid and keeps you up to date on all the latest videos. If you click the little bell beside "subscribe" you'll be notified the moment we release a new vid too. The Vargo stakes I mentioned: amzn.to/2MnFR4i Our Instagram page: instagram.com/backcountrybanter/ THANKS!

Seems like my dad and these stakes have something in common. 6:32 In all seriousness, this was to the point, helpful, and not over-edited. Great work.

As a lifelong tarp user, it's always interesting to see how other people pitch. Thanks for the video!

Nice tip to put the trecking pole a little offset for some more crawl in/out space. Keep up the good content!

Your A-frame setup is so efficient. I like it .THANKS for sharing.

Excellent instructional. Thank you for your efforts in making such a clearly understood video.

Joe, thanks for the instructional demonstration. This was, for me, perfect. I’m hiking the AT, Spring, ‘23. I intend to use a tarp. I have a Duplex and may have it sent to me later, depending on my tarp perspective after some experience. Kentucky

Pretty cool. I briefly tried using a tarp (Six Moon’s Deschutes), but after one light rain and having rain splash all over me, I called it quits and went back to a traditional two walled tent. I’m kinda jealous of tarp tenters though for the simplicity and extremely light weight.

Wow! You make it look so simple. Very informative.

Simple and succinct advice, superb job! I now have a better idea of how to put my tarp up. Thank you!

Excellent and clear video Dude. Enjoyed watching.

Thanks for sharing - nice straightforward explanation.

Thanks man! Exactly what I needed. Succinct and informative

Really well done! Enjoyed the filming and presentation!

Awesome -- just saw this video. I just made a tarp very similar to this (partly modeled after yours) out of 1.1 oz. Xenon silpoly (not asymmetric though, head and foot the same width). Slight cat cuts on mine, and the silpoly seems to stay tight overnight without shock cords -- my previous shelter was a silnylon Tarptent, so I'm familiar with the sag. Cool to see how you have your guy lines set and what you do for storm mode. I live out east and am curious to see how it works with rain and bugs here. I'm going out for a week later this month and I'm taking an EE bivy for bugs and any crazy rain to try to keep my quilt dry, but I'm going to try not to use it. I'm going to put some loops on my rain skirt so I can tie it over the head end to make a beak if I need some more coverage. I'm new to tarps and the openness still makes me a little nervous, ha. Psyched to lose a pound and a half over my Tarptent, even with the bivy. Hoping you get your MYOG pack tutorial up soon, because I'm itching to make an UL pack to replace my Exos for lighter trips ...

Nice.. good visuals and explanations thank you

You're a good teacher. Thanks, and may God richly bless you.

YASSSSS! Looking forward to the follow-up on site selection.

Thanks again bro! I'm Def get some of those Vargo tent stakes through your amazon link. Seen you use them on your expeditions. in the past like the PCT CDT . I'm sold. Loving the new Vargo titanium alcohol stove getting great results using the dollar tree methanol fuel. White bottle of course. Big fan of Vargo now thanks! Looking forward to your next vidz. Happy trails my friend! Thanks again for doing all you do for all of us interested!

Excellent explanation 👍

It's awesome that you've been rocking the same tarp for so long

Awesome..huge help. Thanks brother

Dope Video! Sending blessing your way, Keep inspiring!🎒🙌🏻

Very good video. Have you ever thought about pitching a tart between two trees using a ridge line? I do it all the time and it works fantastically. I want to learn the system you’re teaching in this video though. I am a blind person and go for whatever is faster and easier. I want to learn your method since not always I will find a good scenario between two trees. Thank you so much for sharing your video. God bless you.

Hello from Colorado! This looks like home. Well done on the video!

Your very good at this. Great video.

Simple and very effective👍👍

More tarp videos please! I just got the Gossamer Gear tarp, so any tips and tricks would be much appreciated.

Great video, I learned a lot. 👍

Excellent help

Very well put together joe..tarps are awesome

Thanks for the info! What size tarp do you suggest for a light backpacking trip? and What tarp do you suggest for desert backpacking, Arizona area. Thanks!

Good video, I learned a lot. 👍🏼

That's a nice technique!

Very nice teaching video. Well done. Picked up my "like" and my sub because of it. Keep it up! 😎😎

Thank you, nice and simple. love it. one question please; You put the point of your trekking pole up so it goes in the hole of the tarp, but the part of the pole on the ground doesn't stick into the ground like a spike, does that move? like without staking the trekking poles in the ground does the pressure alone keep them there? Thanks!

thanks for the tips.

Loved it 😎

GREAT VIDEO Subscribed. Thanks

Just stumbled upon your vids and immediately subscribed after watching a few. I was thinking about buying a poncho tart and was wondering what your thoughts were. I am short so I took that into consideration

Thanks for this video, it's been super helpful! You mentioned a seperate video on site selection, did you ever make that? I would be interested but can't find it. Thanks!

Great video! I use a smaller tarp with a splash/bug bivy. I don't have your experience so wondered if you though this was better. I assume you do, but I wondered why. Overall weight savings? One less piece of gear?

love the rigging, looks really sturdy, what tarp do you use? I have a 3m x 3m tarp. I'm wondering if a smaller one would suit this kind of rigging better?

The sound quality is so good when you're talking in front of the camera. What do you use to record the audio?

great video

Muiti bom vídeo. Parabéns. Greetings from preppers from Brazil

can you please post a link to your favorite ultralight tarp - looking to invest in the right piece of equipment. Thx!

Hello Backcountry Banter, I was wondering if you sealed the seams on your dyi silnylon tarp? What type of seam seal do you advice to use on silnylon? I like and have watched most of your videos, keep up the great work. Regards George

Ive always pretty much preferred a plowshare style tarp set but there isnt really anything wrong with an A frame as long as people understand them as you certainly seem to.

If you want 4 season maximum comfort under a tarp you have to be able to keep all sides tight to the ground or vent the heat by instantly raising one or all four sides. A 12’ square tarp is best for 4 people. 2 pegs tied to short cord at each corner about 12” apart 5” in from edge (to keep tarp tight to the ground in wind) 7” pole barn nails for frozen ground. A roof jack made with 5” or 6” tin can lids (rim left on). A 2” diameter chimney centre pole. A 6”x6” wood burning stove hanging on the chimney. 2 vertical sticks for each person in each corner. A vent at sitting eye level, to see what the neighbours and bears are doing. Google “chimpac “

Cool vid 👍💪

Thanks!

I recently got a tarp and am hoping to get out some next season I was wondering how do you not get wet, even with the broad side facing the wind I would imaging some would get in through the two ends?

Do you use any type of inner net tent or bivy? The 3 A-Frame set-ups are what you always use, no half pyramid ?

What kind of ground sheet is that and do you still use that?

Great video! What do you do on (rocky) terrain where it is difficult to drive the tent stakes into the ground? And what if the wind direction shifts significantly during the night? Block up the entrance somehow?

Do you still use the Sea to Summit bug net with your tarp? If not what do you use?

So I'm 6'4" and I'd say lying down in my quilt my sleep system comes close to 7ft. How long of a tarp (as in how much overhang) would you recommend to stay dry on the head- and footend?

how do you deal with bugs and critters wondering in your tent

My favorite stakes are Steaks ;)

Joe do u use a bivi..I have a 3x3square..but no bivi..don't intend to buy one either

Yo bro, what tarp are you using? Great video!

What tarp is this? Also, in heavy storms if you only had 1 pole would it be less effective to staying dry? How would you stake it out.

Any chance you’ve played around with other pitch configurations for cat-cut tarps besides an A-frame? I recently attended an ALDHA-West Ruck and heard Joshua “Bobcat” Stacy say he could pitch his Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp into a mid of sorts.

Excellent video. What do you do to combat bugs, such as mosquitos, black flies, scorpions, and other pests? Thanks

Damn that rain angle of attack! Aaaaaaa! Wait,... golf ball hail angle of attack is pretty bad too. Wait, squirrel angle of attack on food bag can be devistating too, so...wait, moose... nevermind.

Thank you for the video, really enjoyable . Could you please let me know what make of tarp and the size you are using. If possible what make of trekking poles as well. Good luck and take care.👍🙋‍♂️

Well, use four walking sticks and one side to the ground and the other side about head tall when setting. works for me. and you get a better view.

Joe, do you typically use a tarp in Colorado? I'll be hitting the CT again this year sometime around July 6. Thinking of switching to the ZPacks Hexamid tarp.

Love your videos. Gear info and hiking without all the BS "trying to be an over the top personality" like so many others. But anyway, So far I've done all of my hiking/camping in Mississippi & Alabama. A bug bivy is a necessity here. I'm heading out to Colorado in July to do as much of the CT as I can. Is a bug bivy something I'll need to have?

👍 nice vid

Cool bro

What is the length of your guylines and ridgelines. After using on a thru hike would you change any lengths? including your amsteel. and... Did you ever wish you had side pullouts for more room? Thanks man!

Thank you for making this video! What kind of tarp are you using? And what size is it?

Dude great deal. I just for the first time saw your page. Seems like you know your stuff. Kudos. I do have a question .. do you use this technic when you hike major trais like the A.T. I was thinking of trying for the first time hiking the Appalachian trail. My thing is I have no Crew to hike with don't know is that a wise idea. I don't know anyone that wants to do it

I have a question kinda unrelated: your hair is so silky! What do you use on it??

How you keep mosquitos and bug away?

Some good configurations there. The set up time looked to be quick as is the case with an a frame. How much does your tarp weigh? It appeared light. All the best there. Mark

Which bug net shelter would you recommended here?

Sorry, what size tarp is this?

Whats the dimension of your tarp? Can I use my 10x10 tarp for this? Thanks Joe!

How do you deal with mosquitoes?

what is the size of your tarp?

Have you had any hard rain were water was flowing underneath the tarp getting the quilt wet? Would you consider adding a bath tub floor?

Hard to believe there are those without the imagination to set up a tarp. Thank you for your service to this group though.

Have you ever had problems with bugs. I’m from Michigan and hiking in the northern woods during spring and summer may be impossible with a tarp.

Is your tarp diy or from one the company's made ?

What do you do for bug protection?

Tarp 101 series!!

What are the dimensions of your tarp?

Size of the tarp ?

Have you or anyone you know of that uses a tarp ever had any snakes, spiders, or other "creepy crawlers" get under your tarp with you? How do you handle a situation like that?

simple.

Pitcha Pitcha! Pitcha Ku xD

Nice vid, you always have great content. Couple questions? On all three of your long trips roughly how often have you had to get up in the middle of the night (or whatever) to reorient the tarp to deal with a change in the direction of the wind? To what extent have you seen thru hikers using super shelters such as a "Condo Tent" (Far North Bushcraft And Survival) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lLqBaiFEllM.html so that you can have the option of having something close to a Duplex tent and/or other tarp configs out of connecting a regular tarp and poncho tarp, such as connecting a MyTrail Poncho Tarp and Paria Sanctuary Siltarp with a TarpBuddy on a stick? : )

Pitch feet to wind dadoi

I pitch a tent every morning

This is spectacular work, I hope you get some time to check out some of my latest work. Cheers!

10:43 05:06 03:17

I thought I had some big calf muscles, yours are amazing. No worries I am heterosexual, so I am not hitting on you. Thanks for the video.