Ditto on experiencing the tarp envy - they're great for setting up temporary relief from heat, cold, wet or wind. Kept an overheated Scout out of the sun for a couple hours, made a tarp believer there. More often its shelter from the abrupt downpour where you just don't wanta keep trudging along the muddy trail, stop, pitch a tarp, and watch the weather for a half hour instead. Best survival has us staying warm (not too warm) and dry, tarp helps with that.