My Top 3 Tarp Shelters: Best Setups for Tarp Camping 

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Something no one seems to mention, place you shelter to the east. Weather typically moves west to east in the Northern hemisphere. This prevents keeping the weather out, and you dry.

Put the ridge at 45 degrees to the wind. If you go head on at 90, you will have a low pressure area at the front of the tent that will suck in smoke from any fire you build. At 45, you get roughly the same protect from wind and rain but the wind will come across the front a bit and pull any campfire or cooking smoke away.

That's a good idea having the superlight version for hammocking but the thicker one for ground camping, that makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for showing us your set-ups, Matt. Stay safe and stay cool

Thank you, I appreciate your clear instructions. I appreciate your options.

Thank you Matt. A really clear instructional video, and a couple of different configurations for me to try out.

Thanks for your clear explanation.. I always had questions about which shelter I should set under certain condition. Now you really help me out. I really appreciate.

Man corporal was right, your explanation and delivery in unmatched. When I come to the Pathfinder school I’m jumping on your schedule!

Thanks for the clear demonstration! GBY💯💫

I love how adept you are at this skill and how you teach with ease. Very well done video.

Thank you for the skills. It is always good to see these even if you've seen before because there is always something new to learn. We just got home from a long awaited camp that we were not missing for anything, even the torrential downpour that followed us. My husband got to work putting up any tarp we had in any configuration he could think of. He saved the trip. I love the plow point and the lean-to. They're so versatile.

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Great video with a good explanation of the different set ups! Thanks!

Thank you for the great video! Easy to follow along with you and learn. The garden and animals have kept us busy lately but I’m looking forward to getting out with the family soon. God bless you.

Great informative video, love the use of toggles. Thanks

Thanks for showing the must set up quickly and ones that where I can take more time if it’s not raining.

As usual ... very well done! I also favor the plow point. It's the easiest to set up in the wind, and the quickest. The other two, with the modifications, I like. Many thanks.

Good Work Blackhat. Love these type of videos. Keep it up. RESPECT

I've been rocking the DD 4x4 for over a year now and I think the world of it. It has gone through mutiple days of heavy rain & 20 mph winds and has yet to fail me. It is now my standard tarp for my hammock camping. I've recently experimented with it as an additional coverage over a 3 person tent as practice for outings where I won't be able to hang a hammock. I'll eventually add both the DD 3x3 and 5x5 for greater options. I enjoyed your configurations. I find each of these very useful and I also love variations of the A-frame (with & without porch mode). I agree with you about the usefulness of the Marlin Spike knot/toggle. I regularly use it in my setups. But recently I incorporated the Ferrimond Friction Hitch knot as a replacement for the Marlin Spike for my ground stakes as it allows me to make adjustments to line tension without having to pull up & reset the actual stakes. Depending on the situation I will also use the Ferrimond Friction Hitch as a tensioner for my tarp ridgeline because it allows me to use only what I need of a longer rope without cutting it or being forced to pull the excess of the rope through any loops I create.

You are a really good teacher of bushcraft. Detailed and much advise. Thank you.

Thanks for the video.

Tyvm for the video you shared.🥰👍

Incredibly informative! Well explained and demonstrated.

Very nice work. Thank you.

One of favourite videos on the subject I have seen. Thank you .

Great video as usual Matt. I use a 3x3 ultralight tarp from a small Australian Business "Alton Goods" but when kayak camping and I don't have to carry everything on my back, I have a DD Hammock's 4x4. Both awesome quality tarps. Love using the plough point, so simple, good protection. Love the 2nd shelter but I've never actually tried it, nor have I tried the 3rd. Usually plough point or simple A frame for me. 😃

Brother, this video is OUTSTANDING!!! I'm just now experimenting with getting out from under my hammock tarp, into a more ground level camping experience. This has been the ultimate tool to open my eyes to some solid possibilities. Thanks for sharing your experience!

That's a great video, thank you Matt! Those 3 x 3 tarps really seem to give a lot of space and coverage. Personally, I like the look and function of the improved lean to. Thanks for making and sharing these videos!

I like how you made use of the toggles and knots. Great setups, appreciate your efforts!

As always, well done!

Good stuff. Thanks

Excellent demonstration my friend. Its always good to try n make up new designs for tarp shelters. Hope you n your family are well brother!

Solid video. Great content for the community. Excellent period of instruction

You are an EXCELLENT teacher!! Very easy to understand. Thanks!

Your videos are consistently excellent! Keep up the great work.

Very helpful video, thanks.

Excellent video Matt! Thanks for sharing with us.

I love your tarp over your hammock demo ... with the hammock sticking out where it will get wet. It's like you've never actually been camping at all.

Awesome video Matt! These are all time tested and proven methods of setting up a tarp. The only time I spend in a tent anymore is when I attend gathering as they sometimes do not have locations in wooded areas. The tarp is the most versatile and easiest shelter to carry bar none. There are literally dozens of possibilities and variants for setting up tarp. Appreciate you posting and sharing this with us!

Nice job Matt

Excellent video. I learned several new things in every one of your videos. Please keep them coming.

I love the plow point shelter the best! Great video....thank you!!

Excellent instructional video. Thank you

great video! thanks

Excellent. Learned a new one. Thanks for sharing and the education.

Excellent video!

U sure will help alot of unexperienced campers,who always looking for ideas

Nice tarp setup configuration's Matt

Very nice demo for tarp configurations, thanks. Take care.

Good job man!

I appreciate your description with this video.

I love it. Very informative and very useful.

You got some good and neat tarp theory there mate. I only use a tarp (I predomently use the plow point set up as it's usually cold this far north) and I still learned a lot form this video. Thank you. Now I got to find me your knot video :-)

Wow this guy is great. Easy to understand and right to the point. Very professional 👍

I like that 2nd shelter.

Great info

This is excellent thank you

I use the aqua quest 10 by 10 tarp, the plow point shelter is my go-to configuration.

Great tarp configurations thanks for sharing

A lot of great setups there!!! I have over the years done my share of different tarp setups. Now that I am getting older i dont leave the house with out my Hammock!!!! I still put a tarp over it, but just dont do the ground sleeping anymore. Only in a emergency! If you get what I m saying. Great video as always..

Thank you for sharing, God bless you always.

Great video! Thank you sir.

Super helpful video son, I'm new to your channel and learning new things already. Really like that DD tarp too, that is my next must have! Thank you!

Plow point is definitely my favorite setup. Holds in heat from the fire very well for when it’s cold out! Take care And hope to see you at the advanced class in September

My best tarp set-up is the one I put over my tent to keep the rain from getting on the tent. Makes good shade, too.

wow, very well explaining about tarp set up, really good. Thank you and greetings from Germany .........

Awesome video as always and great tarp set ups! Thank you for all you do brother!

Great information i think i will pick up a DD 3x3 tarp to add to my kit.

Excellent presentation!

3 great tarp idea's Sir!

Great video :)) good content

I found you through Corporals Corner. I can always use another excellent resource.

You motivated me to buy a 10'X10' DD Tarp. Thanks for the video.

I definitely learned something here. I'm really getting into tarpology. Luckily my backyard is conducive to training. Good video.

excellent video.....enjoyed....!!!

Love your videos

finally got over to check out your videos...thank you Shawn Kelly and Dave Canterbury...good recomendation.

Use DD for many years and many man set-ups along the year always different as I never know where I sleep. I do long-distance walking projects months in a row FB kayak cobber Bivybag, hammock, Aframemesh tent...but all with tarp

Nice Matt! I've not seen an Adirondack configuration before. Great coverage!

Nice video. I would have gone about the plow point and Adirondack a bit differently, but your reasons are sound and your explanation exceptional. Nicely done!.

Amazing!

i love the pliw point shelter

Great video

I like the tarp. Might have to get one for my kit

Great video Matt. I have been a sub at Blackie's channel for a while. There is more than one way to skin a squirrel and i want to learn them all. Outstanding..........

Great video.

This is DIY JUNKIE from BCUSA, my wifes acct. I have found that by using old carbon arrows, cut to about 3-3.5 inches work great for toggles, super light and easy to store in my haver sack. Also, they are hollow so I can run a short pc of shock cord through them and attach to my prussik loops so I always have them together. Great video!

Brilliant cheers 👍🍻

Nice, easy to understand video. Your third choice is my go-to setup. The only thing I'll change is tarp size. Smaller for back-packing, the bigger one when camping from my atv. If I get caught in a rain, I'll use the a-frame, or "pup-tent" configuration. Other than that, I have found it much easier to have one or two tarp-sets that you are familiar with and can be done when in a hurry. Be well.

The plow point is my favorite here in oregon with it raining a lot And it being Easey to set up in wet ground

Come to watch some of your vids based on recommendation from @CorporalsCorner. Great first one. I really like the 2nd setup, and will be checking out that DD tarp.

Great presentation. One of my known weaknesses is knowing how to tie the right kind of knots for the specific job. You mentioned a bolin, Marlin spike hitch and Prisig knot. Just as I am sure that I have butchered the spelling of these knots, right now I would butcher the action needed to create these knots. Is there any specific videos that you would recommend that I view, in order to become somewhat proficient at these knots? In addition, I hope to use some of these tarp configurations for providing a mobile shelter for our boer goats. We are using these goats for our land clearing crew on some heavily wooded areas on our property. At the same time, we'd like to provide a measure of protection from inclement weather. So, these shelters will make for some happy goats. Thanks for your bushcraft share

Well done.

High, a good demonstration and explaining. Kindly Fiete

I have the DD 4x4 tarp which got a friend out of a jam this past spring, her tarp was way too small to cover her hammock so I lent her my DD, then I borrowed another friend's tarp to hang over my hammock

Amazing channel. Learned about you from Shawn Kelly. I've got a lot of content to catch up on. Same tarp, but haven't used the advanced Adirondack yet. Tonight in northern Michigan. Thank you

Nice video

When I was a youth , I had a piece of oilcloth tarp and smaller army blankets , id cut green sticks to keep blankets and the tarp off my head some , ( ive always been closterphobic) ive awakened having to raise up to see above the snow and ice . I don't know what the oilcloth was treated with, but it was waterproof. Can't get it like that anymore, ive got plastic shower curtains , I use with a quilt and blanket now , except everything is queen sized . But back then it wasn't nothing to rig a 100lbs plus buck deer up like a backpack , and carry my saddle roll and carry several miles home . The deer legs tied in front, made a great gun rack too . Lmbo , now ive got all the stainless steel cooking things bedroll cooker , makes the bedroll so big , need a backpack for all, of it instead of my old homemade shoulder bag , lard buckets , tobacco tins and buckets , snuff cans .

This video is awesome. I just used boring setups. This video makes me wanna go set up a tarp right now. Subbed well deserved sir.