What I like best about the tarp is that it’s infinitely adjustable. You can pitch it high off the ground to get lots of ventilation or low to trap warmth inside.
Played with it in the yard today to try out some different pitches. I threw a single sleeping pad inside to give a sense of scale. The 12×12 is giant for a single camper.
Plow point gives you great cover from the weather if you can point the corner into the wind. Three stakes and one high corner. If I staked out the middle of the edges on the ground, it would probably reduce the saggy belly on the sides. (Alternately, a bit of cordage from the ridge line out to the sides would also hold this sides a bit higher.)
For the next three configurations, my ridge line was at shoulder height.
The lean-to gives plenty of space and shade, but not a lot of protection from the wind.
The modified leant-to is a bit smaller, but I feel like it offers better protection if the weather starts to rain.
This is the most complex pitch I did today. Five stakes and one guy line. It’s also my favorite, as it offers what I feel is the best balance between weather protection and interior space.
I’d like to keep experimenting by lowering the ridge line and also by using a smaller tarp.
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