Prepare for Wind the Right Way - Pitching a Tarp in Windy Conditions 

So basically 5 inches isn't long enough 🤣 story of my life

If you don't have sticks you can use stakes in tandem where one stake holds the other down back and at an angle. Good vid!

Put a loop of elastic cord on your tent loops, connect your tent tie down rope to this. It helps ease the pressure during wind gusts

The angle of the stake is critical as well. Stake and line should be at a right angle or slightly less (more aggressive stake angle towards the tarp). The places I camp around here, there's no chance at getting a foot long stake in the ground between the rocks and roots. If course, the rocks and roots help stabilize the stake, especially if I can drive it in just on the other side of a rock. Also, never underestimate the power of tying off to a tree or bush. Let the plant's roots be your stake in the ground.

Living on the south coast of the UK, all I can add is shock cord or bungies are your friend. Works as a shock absorber between tarp and peg. It helps a lot. 👍

Great tutorial, Luke. I've been using the small bungy cords with the small ball and rather than tying the guy line directly to the tarp I make a loop at the end of the guy line and place it around the small ball. When the wind blows there is no taut guy line that could possibly rip the grommet or cloth tab from the tarp. My backyard tarp has been subjected to very high winds and heavy rains without incurring any damages. If the tarp is draped over a ridgeline I use Prusik knots at each end with a toggle to prevent the tarp from collapsing inward during high winds causing the tarp to balloon. In three years I've only had to replace the backyard camo tarp from Harbor Freight once; the only reason was fading due to UV rays. As far as stakes I bought several of the long rebar stakes (only for my backyard tarp and overland camping) and just like the long wood stakes they haven't budged at all. On hiking trips I use the MSR Groundhogs or I'll make wood stakes as you did for your video. That was a stroke of good luck with the wind blowing so you could prove your point. BTW if you chamfer the impact end of the stake, they are less likely to split as you hammer it into the ground. Super video.

Back in the 80’s, I was on a hitch-hiking trip & spent a night in Western NJ in a bus shelter during a snow storm w a tarp across the opening. In the morning, there was a 1 foot strip of the tarp left across the top. A sturdy tarp & good technique are VERY valuable resources!

In remote car camping ,I make 12" wood stakes and using shovel in a rocking motion make a narrow trench and bury stake 8-10"deep sideways at 90 degrees to guide line. Use shovel to cut through soil so guide line is going straight from stake to attachment point on tarp. If this fails you would be dead anyway from the near by nuclear blast. only use a single loop around stake so if ground freezes just pull out tie down cord and leave wood stake to naturally decompose, bungees help reduce stress on corners and Gorilla tape for repairs. 90% of my tarp damage has come from people tripping on guide lines at night, so I carry at few feet of yellow survey tape to mark any trip hazards, Great Video, Heavy 'D'

All of my tarp tie out points have a 6" loop of shock cord tied on them. This helps reduce the impact of gusts on the tarp, reducing the chance of the wind ripping the tarp. Stakes can still work their way out tho, so your improved stakes are very helpful. You also didn't really touch on getting your tarp low and out of the wind. You mentioned A-frame, which is definitely good, but you can also run the high end (ridgeline side) of your lean-to ~2ft off the ground to reduce the profile of your "sail". Last tip; don't nail the low end of your tarp directly to the ground, run it ~1ft off the ground so the air has an easy way to escape.

If you take the edge off of the top of the stake (chamfer?) it will prevent the wood from mushrooming out if you have to hit it harder.

Everybody watching this should look into the trucker's hitch, McCarthy hitch, or taught line hitch for a better way to tie off a guy line to a stake

If you dress the top of the stake up by taking a knife or even a sharp hatchet and doming it slightly, that will help with the splitting of the stakes also. If also add a “L” / “7” notch will help keep the guy lines in place.

Thank you Luke this is amazing content please more rain storm and snow camping we want the rouge conditions! Thank you!

Simple and informative, thanks Luke.

Please 🙏🙏🙏 do more on this kind of content. Could you do a video on water proof/ water resistant tents on a budget?

"It's a tarp!" (Apologies to Admiral Ackbar, I had to say it.....)

While you rarely get a "perfect" spot to hang a tarp, there are many ways hang a tarp with minimal staking. First, use the trees as much as possible. Most tarps setups use trees for the main ridge, but why must the corners be staked? As you were pounding in your second stake, I noticed a sapling, to the right - why not tie onto it? On the first stake I thought I saw a 1" tree root, which could be tunneled under, for tie-down. Many times, well placed ropes can eliminate stakes.

Great points! Very important subject and glad you covered it, as you do so well!! Thanks for sharing!

about time someone explained the fundamentals of pegging out a tarp with stakes and why use larger ones.. how many times I have seen some clown use micro stakes on a windy hillside up in Scotland. take a knife to fashion a point on broken thick twigs.

Great info, nice job! Amarillo, Tx or the Panhandle in general the wind blows everyday 20-45 mph hour. It’s a nightmare for tarps, tents, kites, and even hair lol. In the winter the plant life gets what they call wind whipped by the cold high winds. Your next long distance trip for a camping adventure...the second biggest canyon in the U.S. the Palo Duro Canyon. Canyon, TX near Amarillo, it’s such a cool place year round! Just be ready to camp with no fire, sometimes the county has a burn ban so camping is a true adventure/challenge😉

Keep it going brother. You are a great youtube and camper. Keep them coming my friend.

Hello Luke,.this was a great informational video. Thank you for sharing it. 🤗

The force is strong in You Luke

Bungee cords help tremendously! I use them on tents tarps rain flys!! I believe they are worthwhile!

Been there and experienced that before. A couple years ago I was setting up for deer camp for the week. It was windy and gusts up to 50 mph. This was the day before opening firearms season. If the wind couldn't be bad enough, it also started to down pour. So here I had to work with gusty winds and mud, lol. No tent stake would stay in place. Good thing I always bring much more cordage than I plan to use! I had to use a couple tree's that were more than 20 feet away and I made stakes from a few dead oak saplings. Each of these were 25" long and I used my tomahawk to pound them all but 6" in the ground. These were rock solid, but the other issue was that the tarp grommets we're ripping out! I didn't think to use bungee cord for that but I have learned since then, but I don't use the grommets or the tie points on cheap tarps anymore. I'll fold the corner over and duct tape it and then use a tarp clip so the tarp doesn't rip at these stress points. Sometimes we need crappy days like this so we can learn how our set up works as well as the limitations of the gear and such. Thanks for all that you do!

Really interesting video , plus once one becomes loose and the extra force on the tarp remains the other stakes - pegs it doesn't take long for the others to become dislodged also

Thank you trying to get as much knowledge as possible about tarp camping Will check play list loved video 🔥

Don't always post but enjoy your vids . always good information.wish you and Susie a happy holidays

I needed this, thanks.

I've will also use a bungee cord with the rope, the bungee cord will stretch saving the poles/steaks from popping out.

First of all I agree with the other comments thank you again for just a very clear calm and straightforward explanation. Definitely one of the reasons that I subscribe. Also almost to a fault you are super duper vanilla and without reproach completely innocent... I know that if when my daughter comes to visit and we take a nap in front of the television there's not going to be anything inappropriate!😊 That being said her father is a chef and has been in the business for almost 30 years... I don't know if you've ever watched The Office but this episode the second half especially Michael Scott would be tripping over himself saying "that's what she said" over and over and over and over again!🤣 you almost made me spit my bourbon

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and information brother

Great video for today especially!! Holy moly is it windy in the Carolinas today. Even got a little snow some places in N.C.

A wealth of information. Thank you. Cheers.

..good advise, stay safe and enjoy...

Good stuff! I haven't messed around much with different stakes, but I think it's time I upgraded. You never know. I'm definitely going to get something longer than standard (in before that's what she said 😂) and maybe one that's not round actually 🤔

I've done this very thing in all kinds of situations and I have found homemade stakes usually work best and like ya just shower super easy to make

Creating a bevelled edge on top of the stakes will stop it mushrooming over when you hit it AND concentrate the force of your strike into the centre of the steak rather than losing some of it on the edges.

In northern Minnesota there is very little soil because of glaciers that went through long ago, and very shallow soil depth. There s just rocks and roots. It is so hard to find a spot to actually put your stakes into the ground. Most times I have to anchor a tent or tarp to an exposed root. Most of my stakes are bent from hitting rocks. The good news is once you do get the stake in the ground it does not come out because of the rocks in the ground.

Thanks for the video!

Good stuff thank you Luke

Another good one, thanks.

Thank you for the video.

Thanks Luke!👍

Having watched a tarp sail into a lake in Snowdonia back when, I feel this and usually do make wood stakes. I'll always use ties to trees if they are available (both standing and fallen), pick a sheltered spot, and be much lower to the ground than this design. Bungees and double staking are ok too. Never be embarrassed to give up and make a "ranger burrito", it's all good.

Good video keep them coming 👍🏻

Thanks Luke!

Good information, thanks

Awesome man

Hey Luke! Just joined the channel and love it! I also love my coffee at home and even more while camping. Ever thought about making video about percolators and grinds? Reviews and comparisons? It's my maker of choice...☕☕☕

Iv'e seen this problem in the past also and my solution was using bungee cords folded in half and tied cord to the middle of the bungee. hooked the bungee to the stakes and tied the rope to the tarp. Acted like a shock absorber stakes never came out after that. easy on the tarp also.

Good topic!

We're going to take this advice when we set up our deer blinds!

Hey Luke, FYI. Try a marlin spike hitch on your tent stakes. No knots and as you pull your tent stake out, the line has no knots. The hitch also puts pressure on the stake (tightens) as the tarp pulls. So it’s a no knot system that actually tightens as the wind fills the tarp. Has worked for me for years.

brilliant advice mate

Great basic information.

Simple setup , it's good

Love the hatchet Luke, Assuming you have a bonnet & boot on your car/truck. Best wishes from Northern Ireland. 🖖🤣

Great job

Always pitch for the conditions of course. In high winds I recommend thinking about the hexamid, not least because it reduces pressure on staking points. In fact you can hold down with rocks or packed snow, no stakes at all. For good instructions look up Papa Hiker.

Good tips.

I use a small piece of shock cord on my stakes to protect the tarp from wind damage

Fantastic fantastic

One way is to take an entrenching tool dig a hole and insert an anchor made of sticks and paracord into the hole cover and attach paracord to the line from your tarp old bushcraft thing

Next video suggestion: "Let's make a parachute from a tarp!" LOL JK! Thank for the great info, Luke. PS, that's a sweet hatchet!

Early squad,5th comment 😎 👋💪 Tysvm for sharing this with us 💖🤗🙏🏻 stay safe out there.see you in the next video have a wonderful day y'all and merry Christmas T.O.R.

As a 4 season hammock camper I live and die by the tarp. I find that adding about a foot of shock cord to my guy lines really takes the wind out of play. It also eases the stress on the tie out points as well

Could you do something on guyline tensioners and their usage?

Wow im gonna do this next time

great my friend

thank you.

Im a new subscriber, and I was wandering if youve ever tested kifaru tents or sleep systems?

Nice video

British military have been using bungees for decades, quick up, quick down for the ridge and little ones on the corners.

It would be great to see you a top 5 gear types you would take on say a moorland trip compared to a woodland trip or coastal trip

Thanks for the video, Luke! What Jacket is that? Looks awesome.. Stay safe!

I've had that same problem multiple times and then fixed it in the same way.

You have access to such beautiful property, when will you build a permanent bushcraft shelter do do regular reviews on products? Something we can all feel invested in do to watching. I feel your input on a shelter would be good for content vs other RU-vid channels for your many efforts. Just a thought....

Hey Luke! Great video but I got a question about the stakes. Can you add like a heavy stone, rock or even log to help keep them in place if all you have is the smaller regular tent stakes?

I don't know what camera you use, but it's the best picture quality, I 've seen in a while. Does anyone know, what camera he uses? Thanks in advance

Hi Luke, i attach Bungee to ech of my tie out points approx 12" and then attach the Guy line - this Bungee takes the strain i find

If you chamfer the top of your wooden stakes there is less likelihood of damaging the top or of them splitting. A sheath on your axe means less possibility of injury.

If you have hard ground or Rocky soil and no other spots you can use. Put your line around a big rock or log. I keep some two headed nails if I have to nail the tie down to a log or tree. Stuff sack full of dirt is good. Also the angle of the stake should not be 90 degrees or the line might slip up it. Wood stakes will a fork at the top are great. If your tarp has grommets and not web tie downs it's better to use strong ribbon the grommets then put your cordage through the ribbon as your less likely to mess up the f Grommet.

I am definately now going to order more paracord. Let me ask you... where do you order your parachute cord or 550 cord? Also with the stakes I am thinking of getting some 3-4" rebar and either keeping it straight and having them 15" each or curving it into a U.

Whoaaaaa what hatchet were you using there, Luke?! Looks nice!

Hi there. Lovely channel and i have been a fan for a while. Just wondering which hatchet have you used in this video? Cheers

What a good tarp to buy that won’t cost over $100 something for a newbie

Great Info as Always. Thanks, I don't usually have much trouble with the stakes but my tarp always tears from the wind, either the grommets or the line on the inside edge. Then I have to use a rock and bank line to repair it. What Type and Brand of tarp do you recommend that is strong and robust enough for strong winds? (Material, Thickness, Reinforcements, Loops or Grommets?) Thank you for all the Tips and Ideas from your Channel

Some guys round the top of the tent peg saying it is less likely to split when hammered in. I can't remember if I have tried it so I don't know if it helps.

Nice video man 👍, could you teach us your tarp tieing system or knot system 👍

I have shock cord loops to use when there is wind

1 flexible cord 2 two stakes per corner with the some slack Using a weight on the line between the tarp and the stake . The cyclical energy created by the wind gusts is absorbed attempting to lift that weight before it is working to loosen the anchor stake.

Cut/saw your stakes at an angle on one side - there's your point. No hatched required.

so gotcha, gotta have more than 5 inches!! lololol... Great Video Luke!!

Nice info bro!!! Most tent stakes are way to short

I want to use a glass transparent plastic tarp so I can see through. What do you suggest: I buy the lightest tarpaulin or the thick tarpaulin？ does the thickness of the tarp matter? Is thinner going to hold better against the wind? I don’t need it to be waterproof so I may punch a few tiny holes maybe to avoid sailing?

Whats the best way to stake down a fully inclosed tarp sheltereder? If not to use the stakes in the tie off points

How do you go on if the ground is full of rocks and stones which prevent you hammering anything in deep? Also, would it help to tie bungee cords between your guy lines and the tent stakes? The bungee cord should absorb a lot of the constant tugging which works the stakes loose

were those big agnes stakes? I think i have the same ones, even same color

One thing most videos don’t express is that above 30 mpg wind, you just have to a) take your loss or b) take down the tarp. Cam/rachet straps, ground augers are your best solution.