My $50 tarp failed in a storm in Zion

Camped at Watchman Campground last October. Woke up at 3am to rain pouring through my setup. The cheap tarp I bought at a big box store tore right at the grommet. Had to pack up wet gear in the dark and sleep in my car. Now I only buy silnylon tarps with reinforced corners. Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_leo13d ago

Honestly, that exact same thing happened to me in the Uintas a couple years back. I got cocky with a blue tarp from Home Depot and woke up soaked when a grommet ripped out at 2am. Learned the hard way that those cheaper tarps just can't handle wind gusting under the edge. Now I only trust silnylon with taped seams and I always seam seal the corners myself before a big trip. Totally worth the extra money to not have to sleep in a wet car again.

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the_susan13d ago

Remember that same lesson myself out in the Gila Wilderness a few years ago. I thought I could save a few bucks with the Harbor Freight special and it shredded on me the first real storm that came through at night. The noise was terrible too, like sleeping under a snare drum every time the wind picked up. Now I only buy the heavier duty woven poly tarps with reinforced corners and I always bring extra guy lines to stake everything down solid. It is a pain to pack but it beats waking up in a puddle at three in the morning. You just cannot cut corners when it comes to staying dry out there.

christopherw3413d ago

Join the club @the_leo, but at least yours didn't sound like a drum solo in a windstorm.

ward.kim13d ago

The_leo mentioned "seam seal the corners myself" and that's actually a bigger deal than people realize. I remember reading somewhere that most tarp failures happen at the seam tape, not the tarp material itself, because the glue just gives up when it gets cold and wet at night. I started treating my seams with this gear aid stuff before every season and it stopped those little leaks that used to drive me crazy. Plus I learned to pitch my tarp lower on the windward side and leave a gap on the leeward side for ventilation so the condensation doesn't build up underneath. It's amazing how much difference a few little tweaks can make compared to just buying the most expensive tarp and calling it good.