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My buddy swears his $20 tarp from a gas station is better than my $150 'ultralight' shelter.
He said it's never leaked in 5 years of Colorado trips, which makes me question all the fancy specs. Has anyone else had gear that was cheap but just refused to quit?
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claire8725mo ago
Remember my old army surplus poncho that outlasted three fancy rain jackets.
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claire8725mo ago
Lol is your buddy camping or building a fallout shelter? That tarp probably weighs a ton.
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xena_bailey185mo ago
My uncle used a tarp like that to cover his woodpile, but it ended up becoming a permanent roof for his dog's house. The thing survived two hurricanes and a fallen tree branch. It had more duct tape than original material by the end. What's the most beat-up piece of gear you've seen still in use?
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taraross4mo ago
The 5 year stat is what gets me. Five years of Colorado weather - that means snow, hail, intense sun at altitude, and probably some wind that would shred most ultralight fabrics. I had a similar experience with a $15 blue tarp from Home Depot that spent two summers as a sun shade over my deck. It got brittle and started flaking but NEVER actually leaked water. Meanwhile my expensive silnylon tent floor developed pinhole leaks after three seasons. What I wonder is - did your buddy's tarp start out life as a heavy duty construction tarp, or was it one of those thin emergency tarps? Because a 10oz tarp that costs $20 is one thing, but a heavy woven poly tarp that weighs 3 pounds is a whole different conversation when you're carrying it on your back.
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