In this review the item was free and I get a commission for sales from the link in the blog but you will pay the same price as you would otherwise.  Thankyou for helping to support the site.

Super Speedy Summary

The Outdoor Vitals Ultralight Tarp is a very light weight and versatile tarp that can be set up in a number of configurations and supported by tying to nearby trees or self supported with trekking poles. The 20D ripstop fabric is treated and water repellent and the seams are also taped for extra security. The stuff sack and 6 included pegs come in at under 10z as well. My only minor gripe is the tent pegs which are fiddly and hard to use. A superb piece of well made lightweight kit at an astonishingly good price.

Sadly this product is no longer available so I recommend the MSR Thru Hiker as a superb alternative.

In Depth Review

When lightness of pack is key it may be that the conventional tent as we know it is dead. More and more I’m seeing fastpackers, Thru hikers and adventure racers switching to simple, quicker solutions and I’ve really come to favour carrying either a bivvy bag or tarp rather than a tent. My FKTs involved the ‘stealthy quick and dirty crash’ approach to sleep and this tarp meets all those needs. I cover some of the other elements of Stealth and Wild Camping in my Article on this site as well as my full Ultra Multi Day Running Kit List Guide.

Rain Repellent and Shade Providing

So the great thing about tarps is they don’t have to be high tec breathable fabrics because they aren’t a sealed tent. They naturally have some airflow due to the nature of how they are set up. This means all they have to do is keep the wind and rain out so you can make some serious weight savings. The material on this tarp is made from a 20 Denier rip stop nylon that feels very heavy duty. Its waterproof and treated to repel water too so it beads with droplets. This makes it easier to shake the bulk of the rain away when packing up.

The material is light enough to keep weight down and water off, but also thick enough to be able to provide an adequate shade from direct sunlight if you are putting a tarp up to keep cool rather than keep warm. Its also a muted grey color so you aren’t spotted easily when setting up a temporary camp.

I was pretty brutal when first setting this up. Often tarps are put up in a rush in the rain at night when hikers or runners are tired and just need shelter fast so we can be clumsy. The material is strong and even using my trekking poles to support it the material took a lot of abuse without ripping.

When rolled out of the stuff sack you find a smaller mini pouch that contains 6 red alu mini pegs for tying the tarp to the ground.

Setting up

Its all great when its daytime and you are rested and have a beer in your hand, but the true test of a tarp is how easy it is to get up fast when the wind is blowing, its dark, raining and you are so tired you cant remember a single knot from scout camp.

This tarps best feature may be how easy it is to set up. Some serious thought has gone into helping me when my IQ is at it lowest from tiredness and my need for shelter adds pressure to my task.

Adjustable cords on all corners

So the reason this tarp is so easy to set up is that the cords are attached to the corners and ends already and are adjustable as they are more than you would need length wise. You simply lay the tarp out in a square and peg the cords down about 3 to 4 ft diagonally out from the tarp corners. The cord is black, which suits me fine for being stealthy but some people might prefer having a brighter color to void tripping over them by accident.

The red alu pegs have a hole you will need to thread the cord through which is a it fiddly and rather than a mini ratchet system you will need to tie them off yourself once you are happy with the tension levels all the way round.

If you are using the cords in diagonals to keep the shape all you have to do now is either tie the ends to two nearby trees to hold the shape up or use two trekking poles set up upside down at either end ( if there are no trees). The tarp has a triangular loops at the end of trekking poles but for security I prefer to wrap the cord round one section of the pole grip to ensure it doesn’t slip.

I tend to run a tarp to the ground so that I get full shelter from the wind as well as the rain so I tend to peg my corners in direct to the ground without using the cords. The guide loops and cords mean you get the option to either tie off to trees or put cord in the ground.

Size and Shape

There is enough room for 2 people if you use this tarp in the conventional ‘tent shape’ but you can opt for more complex shapes depending on the weather. If you want more shelter from the wind you can keep one end closer to the ground or put a trekking pole in the centre at one end to create a Tee Pee shape instead.

I would also use this in a ‘quick and dirty’ configuration if I was on an long distance race and simply roll myself inside this on the floor with no preparation using my weight to keep it down. This would give me a roomy ‘bivvy bag’ for me and my gear with the minimum of fuss. Id also say this is large enough to nearly cover the front of an Appalachian Trail shelter too.

Compatible with mesh tents and hammocks

This wing is simple enough to be configured for mesh tents or hammock tents too giving any user the option of taking this tarp on its own in relatively benign weather or the option to pair with a mesh tent or hammock tent in more challenging weather. When I’m buying something I tend to think about its uses for all my outdoor adventures not just the one I’m buying it for. I do a separate review of the MSR Mesh House here which would be helpful in the summer when the biting insects can be at their most fearsome.

Gripes

I’ve got two minor gripes with this tarp but its important to keep in mind the price of this tarp in relation to the features it has. My first gripe is the fiddly tent pegs with just a small hole and no hook. It would be much easier to have a hook than to have to thread the cord. If you don’t replace the pegs Id suggest pre threading all 6 through the cord before packing away so that when you need top set the tarp up you aren’t messing around trying to thread something when you might be tired or under pressure to get shelter.

My second gripe is also a minor one. It would be good to see a little ‘widget’ on the cord to all the cords to be locked off at the right length and tension without having to tie a knot.

Verdict

This is a very light weight and versatile tarp that can be set up in a number of configurations and supported by tying to nearby trees or self supported with trekking poles. The 20D ripstop fabric is treated and water repellent and the seams are also taped for extra security. The stuff sack and 6 included pegs come in at under 10z as well. My only minor gripe is the tent pegs which are fiddly and hard to use. A superb piece of well made lightweight kit at an astonishingly good price.

Sadly this product is no longer available so I recommend the MSR Thru Hiker as a superb alternative.

Features

Extremely compact and set up with adjustable durable tie-outs High-grade aluminum stakes included (one for each tie-out) Ultralight premium fabric cuts weight and retains strength Catenary cut sides keep the tarp fabric tighter when hung Loops for trekking pole placement on edges Durable 75D Poly carry bag Limited Lifetime Warranty

About Outdoor Vitals

Outdoor Vitals challenges outdoor enthusiasts to “Live Ultralight” through use of premium ultralight products that eliminate waste.

While in college the founder (Tayson) developed a passion for ultralight outdoor gear. His goal was to lighten his pack and stay comfortable in the backcountry. After college, he set out to help others more fully enjoy the outdoors by starting Outdoor Vitals; a premium outdoor gear company with a unique business model.

Outdoor Vitals focuses on designing premium ultralight products that are comfortable and multi-functional. Their high standards of quality and versatility keep customers from buying multiple items or replacing gear to often. Living Ultralight means buying less quantity and getting higher quality!

They specifically don’t sell through retail stores to avoid their additional markups on gear! This is a hard thing to do for them as a business, but saves you 40% or more on your purchases. It’s all apart of our vision to Open The Outdoors to everyone!