Tarp Rigging

When to use this

Before rain arrives — a tarp rigged after the storm starts is rigged in the rain.

• Emergency or budget shelter when a tent isn't available
• A kitchen shelter over the picnic table during rain
• Supplemental coverage over a hammock

See it done

What you need

• A silnylon or polyethylene tarp (8×10 or 10×12 ft)
• 50 ft of 550 paracord
• Six to eight tent stakes or rocks for edge tie-outs
• A trucker's hitch or bowline for the ridgeline

Step by step

1. 1.A-Frame (best all-around): string a ridgeline between two trees at head height. Drape the tarp over it centered, pull all four corners outward and stake down. The peak sheds rain; the sides give side-wind protection.
2. 2.Lean-to (maximum ventilation, one-sided protection): tie one long edge high between two trees, stake the opposite long edge to the ground angled away from the wind. Best for keeping rain off a fire.
3. 3.Plow-point (best for driving rain): anchor one corner to a tree near the ground, tie the opposite corner high. The steep angle sheds rain fast and the low front blocks wind.
4. 4.For any setup: use the trucker's hitch on the ridgeline to get it truly taut. A sagging ridgeline pools water in the center and collapses in moderate rain.
5. 5.Stake out every corner and edge point. Unsecured edges flap, admit rain, and can blow the tarp off in wind.
6. 6.Pitch the tarp angled so rainwater flows off a corner or edge — not toward your sleeping area or fire.

Pro tips

• A ridgeline 1 inch below true horizontal allows water to run to one end — preventing a sag pool in the center.
• Guylines at 45° from the tarp corners add storm resistance. Two extra lines can hold a tarp in a downpour that would collapse an A-frame without them.

Common mistakes

• Setting the ridgeline too low — people hit their heads, side rain gets in. Aim for 6.5–7 ft for adults.
• Skipping the stake-outs. One unsecured corner flapping in wind turns a rainy night into a wet one.

Continue learning

• Shelter Setup

  Hammock Setup

  Hang level, hang safe, and wake up without back pain.

• Knots

  Trucker's Hitch

  A compound knot that gives you 3:1 mechanical advantage for lashing loads tight.

• Knots

  Bowline

  A fixed loop that holds under load and unties easily.