Why You Should Use a Tarp with Your Tent
Camping is an amazing way to get out in nature, but anyone who’s spent a night in the wild knows the weather and terrain can be unpredictable. Rain, mud, sharp rocks—these can all make a camping trip less enjoyable if you’re not prepared. One simple yet essential piece of gear that can make all the difference? A tarp.
If you’ve ever woken up in a puddle, struggled with a muddy tent floor, or wished for a bit more dry space to cook and relax, a tarp is the solution you need. Whether you put it under your tent for ground protection or above your tent for extra shelter, a tarp can improve your camping experience in more ways than one. Let’s break it down.
1. Protects Your Tent Floor from Damage
Ever found a tiny hole in your tent floor and wondered where it came from? Chances are, it was from pitching your tent directly onto sharp rocks, sticks, or rough ground. Even a smooth-looking patch of grass can have hidden hazards.
Placing a tarp under your tent acts as a protective barrier, preventing wear and tear over time. This helps:
✅ Stop punctures that lead to leaks.
✅ Prevent small stones from digging into the fabric.
✅ Make your tent last much longer.
Example: Imagine setting up your tent on what looks like a soft grassy patch, only to realize the next morning that a sharp twig has torn a hole in the bottom. A tarp would have prevented that!
Pro Tip: Use a tarp slightly smaller than your tent footprint. If the tarp sticks out, rainwater can collect underneath, which is the last thing you want!
2. Keeps Your Tent Dry from the Ground Up
Ever woken up to a damp tent floor? Even if it hasn’t rained, moisture from the ground can seep through, making your sleeping bag feel cold and clammy.
A tarp underneath your tent creates a barrier that stops moisture from soaking into the fabric, keeping everything dry and comfortable.
Example: You set up your tent on a damp patch of grass after a rainy afternoon. Without a tarp, the moisture from the ground starts to seep into the tent overnight, making your gear feel damp. If you’d had a tarp, that moisture would’ve been blocked!
3. Helps Keep Your Tent Clean
Packing up a muddy tent is the worst. If your tent floor is directly on the ground, mud, leaves, and dirt can stick to the fabric, making clean-up a nightmare.
A tarp under the tent keeps the tent base clean, so when it’s time to pack up, you can just shake off the tarp instead of dealing with a muddy mess.
Example: You wake up after a rainy night, but because you had a tarp, the bottom of your tent is still clean, making packing up way easier.
4. Creates Extra Shelter Over Your Tent
A tarp above your tent gives you extra protection from rain, wind, and sun.
When It’s Raining:
⛺ A tarp overhead acts as an extra rain shield, preventing heavy rain from soaking your tent fabric.
⛺ Helps prevent condensation by keeping the outer layer of your tent drier.
When It’s Hot and Sunny:
⛺ Creates shade, keeping the tent cool.
⛺ Gives you a dry, shaded place to sit, cook, and relax outside your tent.
Example: You wake up to heavy rain and realize that without the tarp, your tent’s outer layer would have been soaked. With a tarp above, rain rolls off, and you have a dry space to make breakfast outside.
How to Set It Up:
• Tie a tarp between trees or use poles and guy lines to create a sloped cover.
• Angle it so rain runs off instead of pooling.
5. Adds More Living Space
Camping is more fun when you have extra dry space to sit, cook, and store gear. A tarp can extend your tent setup, giving you:
✅ A dry area to cook without worrying about rain.
✅ A shaded spot to sit and relax.
✅ Extra space to store wet boots and gear, keeping your sleeping area dry.
Example: It’s been raining all evening, but thanks to the tarp, you and your friends can still sit outside and enjoy dinner instead of being cramped inside the tent.
How to Use a Tarp with Your Tent
🔹 Under the Tent (Ground Tarp) – Protects from mud, moisture, and sharp objects. Make sure it’s slightly smaller than your tent!
🔹 Above the Tent (Rain/Sun Shelter) – Provides shade, rain protection, and a dry communal space. Secure it with guy lines to trees or poles.
A tarp is one of the most useful and versatile pieces of camping gear you can bring. It keeps you dry, comfortable, and protected, making your tent last longer and your camping experience much more enjoyable.
If you’re planning a camping trip, don’t forget to pack a high-quality tarp—it could be the difference between a great trip and a soggy disaster.
Check out our range of tarps and camping accessories right here on our website and get prepped for your next adventure!