Switched from a big tent to a tiny tarp shelter last year and I'm never going back

For years I used a heavy 4-person dome tent for solo trips, thinking the extra space was worth the weight. Then on a trip to the Gila Wilderness, I saw a guy using a simple 8x10 silnylon tarp and a bug net, and his whole setup weighed maybe 2 pounds. I tried it myself last fall, and after 3 rainy nights, I was totally sold on the simplicity and the feeling of being more connected to the site. Anyone else made a big switch from traditional gear to something more minimal?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarah_hart1mo ago

That 8x10 tarp is actually a palace.

dakota_patel981mo ago

My first tarp setup was a 9x7 and I felt like I was in a studio apartment. Upgraded to the 8x10 and suddenly I had room for a gear "porch" and could sit up without my hair getting wet. It's funny how a few extra square feet of nylon can make you feel like a backcountry king with a dining room.

the_eric1mo ago

Switched to a tarp myself after a similar moment, and that feeling of connection is the real win.