Bushwalk Australia

Hey guys.

Looking to give 'tarping' a go.

Got a shaped tarp SMD gatewood cape. Want to go next weekend, going to spray it with pemetherin for bug protection. And use a ground sheet.


Any other reccomendations for 'roughing it'?

Slightly nervous about bugs even with pemetherin, should maybe hopefully be ok

Any other tips?

There shouldn't be many bugs about at the moment so I wouldn't worry too much about this. I always used mine with the net tent inner.

With the Gatewood Cape you need to keep an eye on how the hood is covering the top opening if it is wet and windy. Also, like with all tarps, keep an eye on your groundsheet to ensure it doesn't stray outside the sheltered perimeter of the tarp. I tend to pitch the tarp low to the ground in wet conditions to minimise blow in.

Thanks Mark. I got the serenity net tent. But I wanna leave it home so I don't have the luxury or I will just pitch it and then I am sleeping in a tent. And great tip about the ground sheet. I wouldn't have thought about that and would've got soaked if it rains. haha

Site selection is everything with a tarp, next time you're hiking in the rain observe where the water pools and where it doesn't, groundsheets are useless if you set up in the wrong place.