Used to think cheap tarps were fine for ground cover under my tent

Last spring in the Smokies, I went with a $7 tarp and woke up in a puddle after rain seeped through the weave. Switched to a heavier poly tarp with sealed seams for $20 after that trip, and now I actually sleep dry every time. Any recommendations for a tarp that won't break the bank but actually holds up?.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_drew3d ago

Did you check if the cheap tarp had any kind of coating on it, or was it just that thin woven plastic? In my experience, the real difference is whether the tarp has a polyurethane or polyethylene coating that actually seals the fabric. Without that coating, the weave acts like a wick, pulling moisture right up through it.

wendy_park762d ago

Yeah, that wicking thing is real.