Bushwalk Australia

Any recommendations for a light weight and inexpensive tarp?

It only needs to provide sitting space to shelter for 4 persons from rain during lunch etc and as a very tight squeeze emergency overnight shelter.

It doesn't have to be durable as it won't be used often.

Any easily obtainable options? I need it soon but don't want to pay much.

Builders plastic from the hardware with duct tape corners?

Less than $20:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/products/ou ... ulin-tarps

Thanks guys.

I could probably go a quality and lightweight level one up from Bunnings.

How big do you think I'd need? Was thinking 2x3m? Saw a 2mx2.5m but concerned that might be a bit small.

An army hootchie is just big enough to fit 4 people under it but without room for packs etc.
Used to use one when I walked in a group, any more than 4P and I'd have wanted 3600*3600mm or two hootchies to spread the load.
Despite the weight I still like the versatility of the army issue and the new ones are much lighter and stronger than the old Vietnam era ones.
However a dedicated Silpoly would be lighter.
A small tarp is very useful to add a decent porch to any tent

Agree with Moondog military Hootchies work really well and there are also some lightweight poncho hootchies that work really well and have dual purpose.

Military 1st have a number of these and their customer service and delivery is very good.

Thanks WW, good excuse to put up the tarp in the backyard, which may give you some help with sorting out what you need. I own a Wechsel Zero-G wing tarp (https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/wechse ... een/231144). Weighs 360g with ropes (but not pegs) and $200 so not cheap. It's roughly 3m x 3m end to end and side to side but with cutouts. I reckon 4 people could fit under it for lunch but probably only 2 if you were going to use it to camp in. A 3m square tarp would give you a fair bit more room. Here's a photo with a big ugly bloke underneath.

Stumbled on this fairly cheap tarp at under $30, looks interesting and lightweight (note one reviewer said the 3x3 weighed heavier than stated):
https://www.amazon.com.au/Triwonder-Waterproof-Hammock-Footprint-Sunshade/dp/B01IXTAIWO/ref=sr_1_3?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&keywords=Camping+Tent+Tarps&qid=1637119099&refinements=p_89%3ATRIWONDER&rnid=5373057051&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3&ts_id=5044814051

Thanks. Il check em out.

Appreciate the pic johnno, now I know to go for minimum 3m X 3m

Decathlon has one: 2.85m x 2.4m - 360g. Costs $99.

Not as light as a similar size Sea to Summit tarp - but much cheaper.

Comes with pegs and guy ropes - adding up to approx 485g in total - based on their itemised weight listing.

https://decathlon.com.au/products/trekk ... t-features

(Edit: Just realised that it needs to be for 4 people - Decathalon says this is for up to 3.)

Just got an email
Back in stock
https://www.snowys.com.au/hiker-fly

I just ordered one of each.
I'll let people know what the quality is like when they arrive.
I need a fly for my winter base camp tents and hopefully these will do.

Joynz wrote:Decathlon has one: 2.85m x 2.4m - 360g. Costs $99.

Not as light as a similar size Sea to Summit tarp - but much cheaper.

Comes with pegs and guy ropes - adding up to approx 485g in total - based on their itemised weight listing.

https://decathlon.com.au/products/trekk ... t-features

(Edit: Just realised that it needs to be for 4 people - Decathalon says this is for up to 3.)

So you could do away with the bag, and pegs (use your tent pegs). It's not too bad in regards to weight for the price.

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Thanks for the options and ideas.

I ended up going for the Grand Trunk Abrigo Rain Fly Tarp.
https://www.grandtrunk.com/products/abrigo-rain-fly

453 grams (tarp only) for 2.93m x 2.93m


$127.35 at wild earth at the moment including guys/pegs.

Will see how it goes for 4 persons in the rain. Hopefully just for lunch stops but it might be put into service for a very cozy overnight if we get stopped by a swollen creek somewhere.

The flying diamond is a good choice for a quick shelter from vertical rain, one end to a tree as high as possible and the other end to a walking pole and can also be used as an extended porch for a tent.
Adaptable too as it could be matched with a smaller square or rectangular tarp and some trekking poles to make a very large group shelter.
Nice choice but more money that I thought you wished to spend

Moondog55 wrote:Nice choice but more money that I thought you wished to spend

It was.. but then I started to get into weight for size and thinking I may actually want to use this solo occasionaly. That never ends well on the wallet.

Those cheap tarps have arrived, about the quality I paid for, not well made and as usual the supplied pegs and guys are both barely usable.
I consider them a semi disposable; I'm interested in your feedback on the Abrigo when you get a chance to use it/inspect it.

I've wondered if there are any AliExpress dyneema options out there. I wouldn't mind one as well for a bit of a group shelter... But carrying an extra half a kg isn't appealing haha

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Ask at TerraRosa or DIY from RSBTR
https://terrarosagear.com/collections/h ... -small-dcf
https://ripstopbytheroll.com/collection ... ic-ct1e-08
I've never seen Cuben/Dyneema fabric over at Ali-X

Moondog55 wrote:Ask at TerraRosa or DIY from RSBTR
https://terrarosagear.com/collections/h ... -small-dcf
https://ripstopbytheroll.com/collection ... ic-ct1e-08
I've never seen Cuben/Dyneema fabric over at Ali-X

Cheers! I'll check them out.

I have one of the terrarossa tarps, and from memory it's one of the polyester tarps (doesn't get slack in the wet, but not as stretchy)
For the weight/size, it's very good. At the end of the day you pick two from cheap, durable, and light, and it seems to be durable and light. For reference with rigging and stakes, it's 720g and I'd call it a six-person tarp for most things. I don't have the dimensions to hand but it's on the larger size, easily big enough for two people to sleep under with gear.
In my way of doing things, a group shelter's weight should offset another bit of kit, say a larger FAK or cookware. So in the end yeah half a kilo might be a bit much, but anything under that, so long as it's balanced off by someone else's load is well within what I would expect. Mine is large, but it's also either a solo shelter, or someone else is carrying gear to make up for it as a backup.