Camping can be an amazing and relaxing escape from your daily routine. It is an extremely beneficial outdoor activity for both your body and soul. When you're out there spending time in nature, you can unplug and enjoy listening to the sounds of wind, water, and birds, while creating beautiful memories with your family and friends.
However, if you're planning a camping trip, you need to be well prepared and take everything you will need, and the tarpaulin is one of the most important items you should bring along with you. Tarps are extremely versatile and practical – they don't take up much space in your backpack, but they're very durable, reliable, and can be helpful in numerous outdoor situations. Take a look at some of the best uses for tarps while camping.
Shelter
One of the most common and best uses for a tarp is a shelter. Tarps make very good shelters that can keep you and all of your things dry and provide a sense of safety and comfort in emergencies. Therefore, a tarp is probably the one thing you should always carry in your backpack when camping. There are plenty of ways to construct a shelter from tarps, however, the A-frame shelter is the most popular one among hikers and campers, because it's quick to construct and provides effective protection against rain, wind, or sun.
This basic type of shelter can be made by stretching a cord between two trees and draping the tarp over it. The only disadvantage is that there's no floor, but you can use another tarp for that and problem solved. There are so many different types of tarps available and they can all be used as shelters, but the Oilskin Tarp is the best when it comes to providing protection from heavy rainfall, because it's extremely durable and functional.
Water Collector
Another good way to use tarps when camping is to collect rainwater. If you ever find yourself in an emergency survival situation and you don't have enough water, you can easily collect drinkable water simply by using tarps. To do this, you will have to secure your tarp to trees, allowing it to dip down right in the middle. Tarps can collect a huge amount of rainwater, and the best thing about this is that it can be consumed right away without any need to purify or boil the water. However, even though rainwater is safe to drink, before you start collecting, you need to make sure that your tarp is clean.
Ground Cover
We already mentioned that tarps are very versatile and can also serve as ground covers that protect you against water and insects when camping. Use it underneath your tent to add extra protection from rocks and sticks, or simply lay it out on the ground to provide a place to sit when you're picnicking or sitting around in the campsite. Spilled drinks and food are much easier to clean or scoop off of tarpaulin ground sheets than out of sand or grass.
Hammock
Hammocks are the perfect shelters in warm and wet climates or places that are full of snakes and spiders. Many campers want to sleep under the stars, so they prefer hammocks over tents. And tarps (especially long rectangular ones) can be transformed into really good hammocks that you can use to take a nap after a day of adventure. All you need is some strong rope and a tarp and you're good to go.
Transportation
Heavy-duty tarps can also be used as makeshift containers if you need to carry something or someone. You can use your tarp to wrap up your stuff or food and carry it across your back while walking, but you can also use it to carry firewood back to your camp, transport rocks, or other heavy things. A tarp can even be used in emergencies when you need to transport an injured person toward safety.
Sunshade
Did you know that tarps can block UV rays? Many types of tarps are treated to block UVA and UVB rays, so if you're camping and spending a lot of time outside, tarps can protect you against the sun and its harmful rays and prevent sunburn. Tarps make excellent makeshift shelters that provide shade and protection from the sun, so you'll be able to enjoy nature to the fullest even in scorching hot temperatures.
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