UST BASE Tube Tarp 1.0: Affordable and Versatile Tarp Shelter - Preparedmind101 

Spent a month on a NOLS Wind River Mountains trek (Wyoming) in 1968 using a simple plastic tube tent for a shelter. We went through hell on this trek including two early fall blizzards, hail storms, high winds, etc. The tube tent held up incredibly well. When I got back, I bought a contraption similar to the one you are demonstrating (except it was coated nylon and had bugproof netting on both ends) from the old Gerry Company. I used that wonderful tarp for years. It never let me down until I finally replaced in with a mountain tent.

That is a great tarp... I bought that tarp because I am a hammock camper and that tarp saved me from buying the handy hammock stand for $179.00 for those situations where there are not any trees or hanging hammocks is not allowed and you need to go to the ground. This was a great, versatile, light weight and affordable solution.

Omg, UST needs to pay you! I am going for my very first backpacking trips and ask God to show me the right tarp to buy . Being low income has put a stop to most tarps till now. With this I have more than a tarp. Not only do you have a tent but also kept in your day pack, use over your bed if your heat is out, etc....... The price is best part. And over my hammock , can face the fire and be totally warm. Thank you. Your videos have paved the way for what I am about to enjoy: God's beautiful world!

I used this tarp and it was my most useful item. Thanks for your suggestion.

you are at the top of your game ... my favorite is the "potato chip fold" ... it is so simple that one has to wonder why didn't I think of that...

Good video . I really love those figure 9 carabiners , very versatile . The tarp clamps work great too but had an issue on thinner material (rainfly)where in windy situations the teeth wanted to pull the seams . I ended up cutting an old bicycle tube and placed it around the spot that the clamp would be attatched, works fantastic ! On heavier tarps i dont see this being an issue . CHEERS 👍

Nice gear, remind me of the ground sheet we use in the militairy that we set up shelter with but to do the same it would take 3 and they are much heavyer . Great find.

Chris -- EXCELLENT MOD on that Tarp. You have me sold on it -- so I just ordered off of Amazon! Thank you!

I wouldn’t use that if I was tying a ridge line between two trees but you could use those nighties carabiner in a different way to get a lot of tension to stand a pole or log. Sometimes there are no trees like on a frozen lake. Either way you can still do it with just knots. But they can be fun to mess with. Great video. I really like this guy’s videos.

Chris, thanks for continuing to find quality, affordable, and versatile gear. Plan on buying several of these from your store in the very near future!

I'm getting one of these for the price and the quality, it can't be beat hands down!!

this is cool but, I really wonder how it would do in a good rain storm?

Chris I just want to say thank you. Thank you. I've watched a few of your videos on gear I'm interested in and this video was very helpful, simple and informative to a new comer like me. Keep up the good work bro.

I always go down the camping Aisle at Meijers. I seen 50%-90% off items, some are decent, considering not many people go to Meijers to get camping gear so they end up having to clearance many things, same with other stores like target etc. Nice find.

Great review as always, however, your tripod poles are what really caught my attention when I initially watched the video. I was at an auction this weekend and saw a tripod for bid. I opened the bid at $1 and won. Tripod was perfect, but for $1 I took it apart and used my $3.97 tarp clips and made what you showed me in this video. Thank you for that idea. So for less than $5 I now have 3 of your poles. I'm definitely buying one of these tarps to replace the cheap tarp I currently use.

Versatility is one thing. Durability is another. I'd want to see how it holds up under wind and rain. I'm looking at it as a bug out or bush craft item instead of camping or short term survival. I'll wait until they come out with a camo version.

Two things. One, it seems like you would be able to buy two and zip them together. One of the sides would be backwards, so one orange and one reflective. Two, you gotta love a prepper/ survivalist that always has a vaping mod.

I just found one at my Meijer, it was the only one and it was in a weird place. Turned out they didn't know where it came from or how much it was worth, so they sold it to me for $12.50!! Hell yes.

Hi Chris - nice find. Don't think it is currently available in the UK but will keep an eye out for this. I particularly liked the ridge line set up and using a tarp clip instead of knot work for expedience. Just ordered. Set of the No. 9 Karabiners on the strength of this demo - many thanks :)

I agree with you on two levels i always check Freddy's just in case and this is a great buy i saw this there too. I waited and when i checked dicks sporting goods they had it clearance for 17.97 i snatched it up real fast what a great find thank you for sharing this video and what you can do it was great.

I just picked one up at Meijer on clearance for $10!

If only not orange. Olive would be great :3 It would be a perfect tarp.

You think a few trek poles might work just as well? I really like the figure 9s used here. Thanks for a very handy review.

Found your video while looking at tarps for back packing. On a budget and your video sold me I am going to walmart tomorrow see if they have it in stock. Great video.

If you had two of these tarps, would they zip togther? I'm guessing the storm flap configuration and placement over the zip would be the primary concern in inclement weather.

UST has some pretty cool durable shit,reasonably priced if you ask me.

Cool tarp for the price! And thanks for the tips about building shelters with dummy-proof simple tools.

Great review. I love the creative solutions to a variety of configurations.

Second note, this is not in your amazon store as of today July 5 2014. The Hex and the All Weather diamond shaped ones are in there though.

to bad we don't get stuff like that for that price here in Canada but have a good one and keep dry on the trail

Cheap is not always bad....i like this review well done and a very cool product.

I bet u could zip 2 of them together to make it a bigger tarp

Nice...really like the videos of the lesser known items that don't get many reviews. I like the "Bear Grylls" themed sneakers, too. :P

Thanks been looking for a good tarp.Just ordered one on your store.

Using old tripod legs as extendable poles is a great idea. I'm gonna steal that, but of ourse give you credit for it.

Just got the DD3x3..but will look into this..thanks

Chris did you ever buy another 1 of them tarps and if you did can you zip 2 of them together into 1 big tarp Thanks Alan

Good show, thank you Chris

Have you continued using this? Wondering if it has held up after multiple uses. I noticed that Walmart now has a utg heavy duty space blanket/tarp for about $15.

When you get another one see if you can zip two together. That would be awesome.

I wish this video had a little more on the water proof aspect of the tarp. Is it truly water proof?

Just wanting to know the interest of this awesome product with a camo pattern instead of orange?

That's a great find!

Would this tube tarp work well as a rainfly for the trek lite double hammock? I think it would be a great combo if the coverage is adequate. More multi purpose.

How does it hold up to fire sparks. Always a problem with plastics. P.S.You usually pay more for sewn in ties compared to grometts.

Did you get a chance to measure out the tarp? One edge is 7' long. How long is the other edge to make it the flat rectangle?

hard not to like this tarp but the dimensions are not published. How has it held up?

Hi. Great find. Did you find out the size of this TUBE TARP? Thanks in advance.

Poor guy has the Charlie Brown effect going on.

Chris, Could you zip two of these toob tarps together to possibly make a larger shelter. Bob Jones ashington State

Good review. I wonder if it would work as a tarp hammock in the tube tent configuration....

I'm sold, great review!

great video wish that it come in different colors

At this point of cost size and weight, isn't it better to just get a $12-20 2 man dome tent?

perhaps I am not seeing correctly but I think I can see sun (dimly) through it. Maybe I am misinterpreting reflections then.

What's the total weight on this item in its package?

Great vid!

great video !

Now, if I can just get it in camo.

need a camo or od green one

Would this be good for a hammock

did you ever get the real dimensions???

I feel that other nylon tarps should be less! The prices they get for them are a marked up rip off. UST is right on for price. I my opinion anyway>

Just looks like a leanto, not very interesting. I prefer a A frame. For me it weighs too much for a simple rain fly/ A frame tarp. It comes in at 1lb 12 ounces, which I don't know how much of that is the stakes and cordage. Their standard tarp only weighs 12 ounces(including the stakes and stuff)6x8 and is only 20 bucks.

Yeah- I didn't read the comments before I posted that... derp, never you mind my babbling....

It's 2023 and is this even available?

jessica of tarps

Great video

As an advid backpacker I use tarps as a perfered method of shelter. Mine are made of cuban fiber but for the price point on this one it's def a great bargain. A backpacker's trick is that we always have a pair of trekking poles so when setting up you can use those in your grommet holes or guy out loops in place of the camera stands. Trekking poles have a lot of uses. Even when recording videos using a stickpic. I personally perfer poles with flick locks because they have less of a chance of collapsing and easier for set up. If you dont habe a pair check out Leki they are guaranteed for life. If on a budget Walmart does sell them as well. Looks like in your video you had your ridgeline set a little low. I'd recommend setting it a few feet higher so you can get more headroom. I use Dutch TI woopie hook suspension so I just unclip my hammock from the TI hooks so I can cook under it in the rain. Clip it back up when I want to use my hammock. Great video. Def something I want to pick up for car camping vs using a cuban fly. Amzon also has a green version I was looking at for stealth camping. Keep up the good work on the videos.

Hey Chris, great video! As soon as you showed the lapped zipper added to the weather protection, I thought about the versatility of having more than one, and CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER. The mating zippers would allow for a larger tube tent (possibly a 2-person?) or a longer setup for windscreen or over-fly, whatever really... Great find AND price! Thanks again for all that you do, for viewership and preparedness in general. Looking forward to all of your future videos! John E Cormier

I just noticed that the UST 1.0 is available in OD green as well! Blend and be invisible!

get about 5 of those and zip some together and youd have a nice little area that was very warm....on a side note you could also use your first config for rain catch too

I was impressed with this tube tarp also, I researched each product as far as what all UST manufactured and this tube tarp also comes in OD GREEN W/Mylar lining (which I would prefer), but yeah all the UST tarps, fire starters, and quite a bit of these products from UST r at least "middle of the road " gear, meaning anyone on a budget can definitely afford all their items. But like a lot of companies they produce a lot of "nonsense " items, but all in all their website is definitely worth checking out...lots of good affordable gear.

Looks like a steal for the money. I will be looking around here in Birmingham Al for one of those. Look forward to your new videos every week. Have to say I just got into prepping not long ago and your gear reviews have shown me what to buy. Keep up the great work.

I just ordered this and 2 nite ize hooks for 48 bucks delivered

I have one too! Would this be a Jessica of tarps, I mean there's better tarps out there but for the price I mean I don't think you can beat it!

Wish they made a camo version. I don't always want to be so visible when camping. Having the reflective side available for signaling is good enough for me.

This is a great review of a pretty nice piece of gear! I thought UST had lesser quality gear. I will give this bad boy a shot. You thought this review out and it shows. Thanks for the effort. I subscribed too : )

This tarp looks great for a lot of thing, could you sip 2 of them together to make a larger cover! Awesome find. Thanks

what about covering one side so the wind doesn't blow through?

I got the smaller diamond tarp in the orange and then found this tarp on Amazon in olive green for a couple more dollars.

I know this video is older than dirt, but I wonder how it would work with two of them to zip them together?

i like the hammock/tarp setup in the square configuration. for a decent price you'll get a great shelter that will pack up real light and keep you dry if it rains at night

These are great I have two of them rolled up tight it fits in one bag

awesome bit of kit, will be getting one for hammock rainfly

I would like to see a thicker silver lining. I could almost see through that. For decent sun shelter, it needs to be a decent sun block. Otherwise, great!

I ordered mine in the middle of this video, when you said you love it. Man, you inspire trust. Keep up the good work....

Springfield xd mod 2

Excellent find Chris. This looks like a really great deal on a very high quality tarp. Thanks for sharing this.

Will 2 zip toether ?

I bet you could zip 2 or more together for more coverage

Got to pick up some of those tarp clips.

The tripod pole idea is genius! McGyver would be proud! Lol

Ok Chriss gotta delete your channel just can't afford you anymore. lol I just ordered the tarp shelter then I noticed your vid on the " bombproof pants " ordered 2 pair of them. Every time I watch your vids I end up buying something. Great vids keep them coming. Did you notice Rambo survival knife is back !

I'm looking for a tarp for the desert. something that shades me in the day but might help heat me at night. would this tarp be any good for that.?

Camouflage hammock... ust makes a camo hammock...w this..definitely....lightly sprayed with a break up color. bit keep the orange back ground or at least a solid side for signaling. plow point with one stick in front. for quick out of the way...makeshift breakup camo w orange beneath. best of both worlds. emergency orange & Olive drab Ollie.

I've been thinking about buying this for a while now. This pretty much sewed it up for me! Awesome review man, love your videos!!!

Have you ever played with what spray paint that might work best to knock down the orange? Thanks. Love your videos. Thanks for all the hard work.

So what were the dementions? roughly 8' x 6'

The speed up was great!