Tarps are so versatile, I love them. Tents just feel like a chore to setup and pack.

Great teaching tips! The Army taught us Infantry Grunts to use a downed branch, to stick directly in the ground where the rain runoff from your shelter will be and draw a deep line away from your shelter. I always made my lines wide & deep. This gives the rainwater someplace to go and prevent pooling. Also, it's also a good idea to grab handfuls of leaves and put them all around the bottom of the shelter. This keeps the wind from blowing thru any ground gaps all around the shelter. I always found dead tree limbs and put them on top of the leaves all around shelter. Keeps them from blowing leaves completely away in strong wind gusts. Remember the name of the game is to stay as dry & warm as possible. Waking up soaked in a puddle of water in your shelter will definitely set your mood for the morning, even after 1st coffee🤠😎😜🤣😝

I do love the idea of tarp shelters. Unfortunately in Australia there are too many bugs, spiders and slithery things that can enter all the openings. If there was a way of excluding all those things then I'd certainly give it a go.

I got most of my tarp camping tips when I started following your channel a few years ago. Everyone has proved to be a lasting winner. To return the favour. Before putting the centre pole inside your tarp tent shape, to prevent it puncturing the tarp, put the tarp bag over the end, or use some leaves or moss instead. Thanks for many years of happy, successful tarp camping! 👍

Great content as always. This takes me back to my youth serving as a Royal Marine Commando. I prefer a tarp over a tent with the points you have mentioned. It's versatile, and on summer days, it can ve turned into a hammock. The other alternative is a bivvy bag tent, this is great if you're trying to hide out of plan sight and/or if you're doing a long endurance ride that requires you to camp, these are also ideal. The only downside to a bivvy bag tent is that it doesn't give you much room to carry out some much needed personal/kit admin in the dry. This is where a tarp wins. I tend to spend more time away in my camper rather than sleeping in a heavily grown woods sleeping on backbreaking tree roots, haha! Great times had! Once again, keep up the great work.

Love watching this channel, you teach so many valuable things that everyone should know.

As a Boy Scout I used a piece of poly sheeting for a backpacking shelter. The plow point setup you show was my favorite configuration. (The poly doesn't give as much privacy as the tarp but it was Boy Scouts - everybody knew what everybody else was doing already.) Instead of tie-out points I'd form a pocket in the poly and tuck a rounded pebble into it, then tie my cord around it on the opposite side. That held the cord tight without having to pierce the poly. It's also handy if you need to attach a cord to a tarp at a place where there's not already a tie-out point.

With a tarp, i use walking poles and, weird as it sounds, half a tennis ball to put on top of the pole to protect from rips :-)

I've been using tent 10yrs, but from the last 2 yrs i like Tarp for camping.

Tarp master race! 🤘

I love the tarp tent. Ijust need to get over my aversion to slugs and I'm set.

highest quality bushcraft content on youtube (out of what I've seen). no bs, just utilitarian info.. appreciate you, brother!

One reason you get more straight pines in dense forests, at least in my North America, is that shade helps suppress pine weevils. They like warmer temperatures and thinner bark. Weevil damage to the tender treetips prompts the main trunk to fork apart. It happens a lot more on the verge of the forest for this reason.

Watching from Texas. great work!

It's a little bit like origami but with a tarp instead of paper. 😊 Thanks for this fascinating video!

Consider the following: If one is going to carry a tarp: bring along at least 4 tent stakes. (1 plastic, 3 metal). Plastic one could also be shaved to help make a fire. Metal ones could be utilized to hold a container over a fire, tied to a stick and utilized as a weapon or tool, or even possibly utilized in a trap, pit or otherwise. Multiple use items when one thinks outside the box.

This is the best tarp setup video ever

I added a huge dd tarp for my dd hammock and tarp for heavy weather getting double roof and some room to keep gear dry to. Its like a movable palace

The Plow Point is great. It sets up quickly and easily. I experimented with a cheap, 5.5' X 7.5' tarp ($6) during a recent pelting and windy rain storm. It worked perfectly, blocking the wind and keeping me completely dry. The Plow Point creates a surprisingly large interior (a2 x b2 =c2). So, my little tarp created over 8' of overhang and plenty of floor space.

your tarp skills are nothing short of amazing.

It always amazes me how many configs can come from 1 piece of material. Good solid wind and rain protection there. Nice work Mike

Always saw obliquely when using sticks from the woods. Saves time!!

The tarp tent is a firm fave, I sometimes tie off above with the centre cord you mention, allows a bit room room inside - great video. Thanks 👍

Thanks for filming and the explanation Mike! 👍😁

Must know tips in our days 💪

Yet another good video. I prefer my tent for sleeping, but I've often used a small tarp or poncho for daytime shelter when less than catastrophic rain or wind moves in. In a pinch you can stretch a heavier poncho over a good-sized bush to provide quick shelter, though it can scratch or puncture the fabric if that's pegged down too tight. A few blanket pins anchor the tie-outs to the bush.

Thank you, that was helpful! Whenever I go hammock camping, my tarp setup is very unsatisfactory. These tips will help

My friends favourite was the 'Get someone else to do it' set up. 🤣

Thank you for this video. Those shelter configurations look like great ideas.

I like this series!

Awesome vid. Your experience shines through!!

idk why I watched this, I dont camp

Good video. The first key point is really important. Set up in minutes. But that's not a quick set up. I have a Big Agnes tent that claimed it could be set up under the rain fly. Problem is there's nothing to hold the poles in their arcs. So I made a ground sheet with webbing extensions that could do this. I color coded specific corners. I never use dark or black cord. Orange, or that reflective stuff. I want to see it. I also made a DIY tarp tent (Frankenstein's monster is much prettier). No D rings, grosgrain loops. Lines attached. I also have a set of paracord lines already tied that I can loop over my hiking poles, stabe them in the ground stake out 3-4 places. Tarp goes over. No tree is needed -- good but a complication. Instead I just insert stakes in the pretied paracord lines (these can be adjusted, but usually I just move the stake) along the perimeter I'll put a a mini stake through a grosgain loop, twist it a couple of times, stick it. I almost always set up without adjusting the length of asingle line, or tying any knots. And if you're DIYing? Don't bother with any of that catenary stuff. It's just creating a permanent wind gap. Instead sew one or two more grosgrain loops along the perimeter and on the windward side, stick in a couple more stakes. The best part of using a tarp tent instead of a regular tent in high winds is the tarp is always a series of triangles. Very stable. In high winds in Connemara, Ireland my DIY barely fluttered. I never bother with sticks. Last year I hiked with a couple of Filipino Army Rangers, jungle survival experts. Part of our hike was going to be a demonstration of fire starting. These two men who are experts, who knew the forest where we were.... nevertheless brought along and carried a piece of dry non rotten bamboo. I looked for similar bamboo along our route. Saw a lot of bamboo, none that would be good for fire starting. Finding the right stick is often just not going to happen, ground sticks are usually rotten, trees at the right distance range for a hammock can sometimes be really difficult ( You know when you find the perfect trees because there's a nasty rotten widow maker limb directly above. It's why I haven't done much hammock camping. Weighs as much as a tent, more than a tarp, terrific but a bit fussy.) Mini stakes weigh almost nothing. I never bother scrounging for sticks. I noticed on my second or third day hiking in April 2018 in Dorset that I'd lost two orange stakes. I hadn't lost any of the smaller dark red ones. They had a string attached. Tails. I attached a few inches of orange para cord to the rest of them. Over the next three months never lost another one. The key to how these 'tails' work is: 1. There are two colors, somehow I could overlook orange, but not a smaller red and green. 2. The tail increases the size of what I'm looking for and is a flag. (At home I taped tails to all my remote controls, can always find them, and can always pick them up pointing in the correct direction.) The tarps I use with a ridge for hammock camping, -- I always run a line under the ridge to ease the tension on the tarp material. If a tarp doesn't have pull out loops in the middle of the panels I'll add them. I only silicone seal the stitching on the inside, I almost never silicone seal the hem that will always be near the ground or at the opening. (I buy 100% silicone bathroom caulk in the smaller 'toothpaste' type tube, at the lumber store, Mix it with paint thinner or mineral spirits. I don't mix it evenly. The thinner stuff paints on, the thicker bits fill in areas like along a ridge seam. This works for silnylon and everything else. Go to plumbing and ask for 'flux brushes.' You'll spend more than one little kit at Cotswolds or REI, but you'll never run out of sealant. And one of those kits is never enough.) Something else. I assumed that being in London before my walk I'd be able to find a ground sheet for my tarp tent. I settled on an overpriced one just a bit bigger than my sleeping pad. If I couldn't find a bigger, less expensive, piece of gear in London, I realized I'd better make sure I have it, or make it, before I go. (I sewed the tarp tent. My sewing was terrible, my new machine was a bit out of whack. Still worked. Sewing is a good fun sill set to have. You can sew thick webbing with any steel framed home sewing machine. The ball needles go in between the tough thread of the webbing. I've made safety loops for sailing that can take anything a factory sewn loop can. I hesitate at DIY climbing webbing.) I did like that ground sheet. It was just enough. Because a tarp has 360 degrees of exits and bare ground, I cook with my JetBoil inside.

Great content as always, if you’ve not looked at them jungle knots on your poncho are a massive time saver.

simplicity is always brilliant if it works. Yours does...

A good channel, where every video presents something learning, greetings from Indonesia

As a long-time subscriber, I still enjoy videos like this that show valuable skills quickly!

As always, another great video. Wish I was there with you Mike, I go camping and watch your videos, very helpful thanks.

Great video! I already watched it twice, and plan on watching it MANY more times, taking notes!!!

That was a good call on the widowmaker, something too often forgotten...

For me the ideal tarp is the wing tarp. Though it hasn't a square/ rectangular form, it's ideal for hammock setups as a diamond fly tarp as you can close of the ends 👌🏼

I admire your skills and dedication, a very interesting and pleasing video to watch indeed, thank you

Great video. I love your interpretation of 6 inches 🤣

You are really great in explaining ! I hope I can remember all the advices...

Great tarp shelter setups and tips. 👍

Very cool channel, keep up the work mate! Always nice to see other bushcraft/outdoor freaks with such talent!

Your tips are so helpful.

Thank you for the upload Brother!

Another well thought out video. Great content Mike, well done 👏

Like your work mate

Great video. You make a lot of very helpful points that I had not considered...Thank you

Thanks for the video Mike 👍

Nice continuation !

Nice one. Do like the versatility of a tarp . Take care 👍🏕

Saw the thumbnail and thought “he’s doing it wrong” 😂 I like that last method best (Loue type) More room and you can get in deep. If you use two tarps you’ve basically got a house.

Thank you 😊 Another great video

Great shelter examples 👍

Thank you. Great tutorial. I have a 3x7. Much appreciated.

Another great video adventure you are brilliant you put a lot of thought into it by just using simple things I have enjoyed every videos you have done ✔ well done all the best and keep safe

Cool Video 👍 Thank U for the Info and links 👍

I make a tarp tent with a door. Peg out the back. Bring the front two corners together. That gives you the door which you can close from the outside or inside. I put a small tarp inside to make the floor. Great for both wind and rain, requires no guylines, no ridgeline, and no trees if you use a trekking pole.

great vid 👍

Nice job on video!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🪓🔪👍👍

9:00 i totally see you doing this the whole night during some storm :D ....dude...

Cool stuff

Just what I needed to look at again after a windy snowy elk camp at 9000"

This feels like a Tarp promotion video

love watching

It was an interesting idea, thank you

I see Lidl are flogging a poncho for twelve quid, makes a great waterproof or shelter.

Another great how to video.

Paracord is handy for tieing off the tarp but a few tie down bunjie cords with hooks on both ends are a lot quicker and easier to take down when they're wet than trying to untie a knotted cord.

That was excellent..

I used the tarp tent after I watched your old video,but it did’t looked nice and tidy as yours,but i always loved it. Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹

I love a good tent, and have one of those French Army surplus F2s in nylon. Its "bombproof ". But at 58, and having injured my back and neck the service (U.S.), crawling in/out is a challenge - my knees are fine. I went with a Onewind 12ft double wide hammock and a 10x13 ft tarp. The tarp weighs less than a decent standard tent, smaller, and more versatile should trees not "be right" for my hammock. I can pitch an "A" frame at 5 ft. peak (I'm 5'8") and don't have to crawl to get in/out. Great video as always.

Very nice! Just bought a Uv50 DD tarp for summer. Going to practise with that. Will defo safe up fir a superlicht version Cheers from the Netherlands

i like the hanging tarp setup. if i get a hammock, i dont need to deal with ground condition for the night.

Very nice. Reminds me of my (U.S.) Army days. 🍻

Wonderful freind!

I love your video

good video. You can build a self feeding stick fire . . . make a shallow trench deeper at one end and shallower at the other. Parallel to your bed is nice. place the sticks in the trench so that you have each stick overlapping the previous one by a half, so that you have at least three sticks at any given point. Start the fire at the shallow end. As it burns it will spread down the trench to the deep end. Getting the burn rate right takes some experience, play with the stick sizes to get the burn rate you want. You can also use a berm, and dig the trench in the berm, if the ground is too wet

I always have my guys attached also, but I also attach tarp bungees, these automatically adjust to wind pressures and keep perfect tension without risking a rip and you don't have to worry about cordages stretching over night. Starting off with micro paracord, about 14-15 inches of it, making fixed loops about 2 inches long, and the elastic tube about 3" long. Maximum stretch is about 6 inches. When I am setting up, I always start them at about 1/2 stretch or just under, it's a lot more springy and I almost never have to adjust for stretched lines either. I don't recall ever having to adjust them after the fact even.

Awesome Video!❤ New Subscriber!!

Nice

Nice vid

NICE!!!

This is what I learned while serving. Granted, this was in Norway, but I can see you use similar techniques that we do, and I wonder if this has a common root. I can vouch for all techniques and tips.

Just a little tip from a hammock camper.... you need a bigger tarp for the hammock set up. Otherwise you can get driving rain / dripping into your hammock lines. Great setup though!

”Hey, hon, what are you watching?” “Oh just a video about tying the knot and solo pegging in the woods”

Half a tennis ball is good to put on the end of stake/pole to protect the tarp from wear and sharp edges. 4:07

Hi Mike, great vid as always. Could you do some configurations with a 4.5x3 dd tarp? Or any tips on how to use it? Thanks

This is such good content! How did you learn all these useful tips?

👌 ☆☆☆☆☆ THANKS. ...Alan in 🇨🇱

Amazing content - thank you kindly 🙏🏽 What is your average length of guide line ?

Now all I need is a storm...

Molt bon contingut,com sempre,sempre surto amb toldo i m’agrada aquest tipos de vídeo,

Muito bom, obrigado. Sds

G'day Mike, well covered mate, pardon the pun ; ) I'm with ya; for easy up, yet still very protective, the ol' poughpoint does the business, but yep, still pays to study origami though, lol, so many possibilities for a particular situation and/or personal preference. Perhaps there's better out there, but hard to beat the DD 3 X 3 for the dough IMO. Suggestion; as much as I'm into knots; I use carabiners, pre-tied to guyline hanks, because; 1. you can instantly clip them to any tie out point where needed for a particular configuration 2. should you need to pinch one for another application, there it is ....... and replace with a knot, ...... though I do carry a couple extra anyway, .... just so useful/versatile for negligible weight. Cheers Duke. P.S. oh yeah; I must say "practice, practice, practice" at home before taking the plunge, especially into a potentially nasty weather scenario, sure there's always gonna be variables, but the basic skills should become pretty much automatic, for at least no-nonsense set ups anyway.

What a nice backpack were can i buy it ?

Tarps have one weakness for a indoor person like me: Mosquitos I would hunt every single fly in the forest before I'd go to sleep.