Bought a $40 tarp off Amazon and it shredded in the first windstorm at Big Bend

Now I'm stuck replacing it before my next trip and wondering if anyone else has had bad luck with those budget silnylon tarps falling apart after one weekend.

3 comments

3 Comments

emeryj662d ago

Tack onto what @foster.tessa said about poly tarps being tough, but have you actually weighed both options for a multi-day hike where every ounce counts? Silnylon can be worth the weight savings if you buy from a reputable brand instead of the cheapest Amazon special. What brand was that $40 tarp so I know which one to avoid?

foster.tessa6d ago

Haven't you heard the rule that cheap tarps are basically single-use rain gear? That $40 silnylon is honestly just a fancy plastic bag. Grab a regular poly tarp from the hardware store next time, it'll survive at least a couple seasons.

margaretramirez6d ago

@foster.tessa has a point about poly tarps being tough, but silnylon is actually a lot lighter and packs way smaller for backpacking. A 10x10 silnylon tarp weighs around a pound while a poly tarp of the same size is easily double that. For car camping though, I'd grab the $10 poly tarp from the hardware store every time, don't you agree?