Originally Posted By: Denis

I have to admit, having to rig up a tarp over a tent is a huge pet peeve of mine; for some reason I just can't accept the idea of doing that. I see it all the time in the car accessible camping sites but as far as I'm concerned my tent is there to protect me from all of the elements. In my mind, if it can't do that then it doesn't belong in my camping gear.


I have to agree with Pete and AKSAR. Having a tarp to be used in tandem with a tent makes a lot of sense in wet inclement weather and provides the outdoors person with many options no matter if they are car camping, back country hiking etc,

Also in hot weather, a light weight tarp can be improvised (use your hiking/trekking poles) to provide some midday shade relief in very hot and sunny weather when hiking in open or alpine terrain where there is no shade tree coverage.

At times, depending on hiking trip, expected weather and terrain, I will pack a sil tarp. These sil tarps are much better then the common blue tarps that so many people use as they can weigh as little as 1 lb and pack down to a size of around 9"x7" for a 7.5' x 10' sized tarp.
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Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock