You know that is interesting that you said that because I have been thinking about tarps as well for that same reason. I was in a wind storm on mount Rainer once and the wind was so powerful that it blew branches and debris down the side of the mountain and ripped two of our three tents to shreds It even picked up all our lose equipment and scattered the stuff around. Wind can put a cramp on plastic shelters and it is better to have something you can tie down quickly.