Tarp vs. Tent weights

6 Months ago I would have said tents without hesitation. However, now I like tarps + bug nets. I like having the flexibility of leaving the bug net at home when it is not buggy, and I like the different pitch options with a tarp.

With a tarp you can experience your environment better

With a tent, you're inside the tent

Easy. Tarp.

– low bulk!
– modularity (bivy or not to bivy? bug shelter or not? inner? etc.)
– minimal and practical
– adjustable pitching
– enables me to be engaged with my surroundings rather than detached
– usually requires me to be more diligent in my site selection
– durable (abuse them over and over again…no hubs, poles, flys, gear lofts, etc.)
– less maintenance

* Where I do 90% of my backpacking, a tarp is all I need.

Once upon a time, I loved tarp camping, or better yet, just open skies. Nowadays, I get pretty good welts with even the smallest of bug bites. Combine that with my desire to sleep near-nekkid, and my inability to change clothes in a sleeping bag, and a true tent is about my only option.

"With a tarp you can experience your environment better

With a tent, you're inside the tent"

I guess it depends on your definition of tarp. Does 5" of view at the bottom really make that much of a difference? But this reminds me of the cowboy camping thing about being able to look at the stars. I do that while I'm hanging out but when I get in my sleeping bag, I go to sleep. But whatever works for you. I think the difference is all about weight. A more relevant question is probably: If you are are only going to own one shelter, tarp or tent? Otherwise, I'd lean toward the tent when it's buggy and the tarp when it's not.

Good question. Tarps generally take up less space when packed. A tarp weighs less (mine is ~ 5 oz). Don't own an inner net. I don't use if unless the weather threatens. Usually I can look out the front, rear, and sides. No condensation. Easier to cook inside. More floor space. Often can pitch in spots where a tent cannot fit. Sometimes when there is a slight chance of rain I bring no rain gear, and have worn my tarp as a cape (not real efficient). Open feeling.

Optional Tarp is the key aspect for me.

With the tarp and bivy setup, I have the option of using the tarp, with the bivy providing me my bug protection.

I agree that with the tarp, even with a 5" view that is 360 degrees around, I do feel more connected with my environment and surroundings.

However, on the nights with little to no chance of rain, I have enjoyed simply sleeping out in my bivy and being able to look up at the stars.

Sometimes, I have slept with the bivy open and cowboy camped…it the weather turned or the bugs became a concern, I was easily able to zip myself into the bivy.

I still have my tarptent and think it is a great bit of gear, but I have enjoyed the flexibility that the bivy gives me to use a tarp or not….it simply gives me a different experience while backpacking.

Maybe that is the question….what sort of experience do you want to have while being outdoors?

The bivy & tarp has its limitation vs. a tent. The tent gives me the option to move around a lot more than with in the narrow confines of the bivy and provides more protection against the weather with a tarp. Yes, a tarp pitched low and tight can handle the worst of storms, but let's be honest…it is not a tent with a floor and full protection all around.

Hike your own hike and understands the strengths and weakness…the trade offs in weight or flexibility.

My two sense….maybe not better, they are just different choices.

-Tony

Works like this for me.

I started with no money. Tarp was the only option. Tarps are larger area for less weight than a tent generally. At least you have the option of setting it up in said configuration. This is REALLY nice in winter when you get to dig in chairs, benches, bathrooms into the snow. Knowing that the ol' snowcave is a bad weather option.

If you are going to be sticking to trails and not the alpine environment then one usually has easy access to trees for easy setup and little/less wind. Yea, with hiking poles and stakes its ok, but in a very rocky environment, Good Luck. Option is to accept this problem and camp lower forcing higher mileages and elevation gains to go peak bagging.

Spring/Winter one gets to snow to anchor said tarp to.

Since I have been more into mountaineering for the last 10 years instead of backpacking, a tent is nearly a necessity as the weather is far worse up higher. The only other option would be a poncho tarp and serious suckage factor in bad weather. Suckage factor for 2 or 3 days running is NOT fun. Its not fun inside a tent either. One can go for the breathable waterproof bivy as well for such scenarios. Once again, serious suckage in bad weather if it lasts for any period of time.

Personally, if its summer, why would anyone take a tent backpacking? I suppose so you could feel better for having spent more money than if you used a cheepo easily replaceable tarp suspended by trees/sticks/trecking poles.

The environment you hike in is one factor.
Here, there are no trees above 1000' and in summer, midges (Culicoides impunctatus) are a real nuisance if there is no wind. Then you really need to be enclosed.
A light pack is all very well, but you only carry it for ~50% of the time and I want to be comfortable for the other 50%, whatever the weather.

A tarp/bivy runs around 12-13 oz (8 oz tarp (ex: Spinntwin) and 5 oz bivy (ex: BMW), assuming stakes and lines are a neutral factor. Even with the lightest solo shelters, the weight savings is not immaterial, but probably not worth it, in my opinion, if the bugs are really heavy. The mesh on the bivies will keep the bugs away from your face, but I find it hard to sleep with bugs buzzing around my face. I worry I will roll over and the mesh will rest against my cheek and the bugs will get me.

That said, I would only take a tent if I was pretty sure the bugs would be very bad. Tarp camping is A LOT more enjoyable for me. I find myself hoping for rain b/c I find it so enjoyable to be sheltered in my tarp watching the rain work its way over a ridge, etc. I feel like I am outside and connected with the location, whereas in a tent I an "in the tent", even with tents that have a lot of mesh. (My "bug" shelter is a TarpTent.)

You can pitch tarps in places you can't pitch a tent.

You have the option of the best ventilation for hot nights or the least ventilation for cold, depending on your pitch.

If bugs are an issue and you don't like the mesh close to your face of some bivys, get a bivy that has a bigger mesh area and suspend it from a line under your tarp or your poles.

It is much safer to cook under a tarp than in a floored tent. Just keep the stove away from your ground cloth or bivy.

It can be drier under a well pitched tarp in the rain. Condensation and spray are not going to gather in your bathtub floor.

More?

I use a poncho/tarp, so the savings are pretty significant over a tent (and rain gear)- my shelter (and rain gear :)) w/ guys/stakes/bivy is 18.4 oz

as others have mentioned, along w/ low weight you also have low volume (I use a small pack) and there is definitely something about sleeping under an open shelter that makes you feel a little more connected- this is probably one of the ymmv deals, but don't discount it until you try it

And low volume means that it is easier to stuff in an outside pocket or strap on the outside if it is damp from the nights rain or dew.

A low volume pack is more comfortable and balanced than a big pack.