I didn't want to hijack my tarp thread but have a related question and would appreciate the thoughts of others.

When it comes to the color of equipment I have always leaned in the direction of earth tones. I'm not talking about camouflage but I am talking about more subdued colors that don't scream out "HEY, THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!!!"

For example, concerning tarps, I've read of people preferring a yellow, orange, or red tarp to brighten up a dreary day. But I've always gone with dark green as I didn't want my camp to stand out to be seen from a mile away.

I guess when I think of wilderness and the leave no trace ethic, to me that also include being quiet both audibly as well as visually. In the BWCA it's pretty tough to not see other parties but when not out on the water I prefer to be less seen.

Thoughts?

I totally agree. I like to use natural colors when available. I do however, use bright orange reflective guy lines so I and others don't trip over them bringing down the tarp or tent.

Agree totally about being visually unobtrusive.

Some argue that the bright colored tarps are better for search and rescue situations. I opted for a white tarp, which actually looks more like silver or grey and is plenty bright underneath when cloudy, but have learned that it isn't a great color for search and rescue if it is set up in thick timber.


CCS white 10X12 tarp

I've got a yellow tarp as that was what was on sale. Otherwise I used to be more into the earthtone colors for gear to blend in with the surroundings. Although any more it seems like the gear makers want to make things out of bright colors.

Our tarp is light green - I like it because like yellow it is nice when you are under it - I tend to camp in areas without a ton of people so I am not so concerned about obtrusive/unobtrusive

Brighter colors are easier to spot, which is good if you're trying to find your way back to your campsite, or you need to be rescued.

It's also easier for other traveler's to spot your camp so they don't waste a lot of time paddling across the lake only to find the site occupied.

Always went with earth tones, thruwback to bowhunting out of a tent camp. not anymore,


butthead

I agree too, but as I was checking into Quetico and they were asking the color of some of my equipment, presumably so they know what to look for in the event I'm not heard from again, I started to feel like a real idiot. I prefer the earthtones, but since that day I've been opting for the circus look.

I don't mind seeing other people's campsites, but I don't want to hear them. The colors of most of my gear are rather muted.

tent is multicolor blues, packs are red, bright blue, some green, whatever colors CCS packs come in. i love the yellow but it shows the dirt too easily.

Earth tones for me. Not sure I picked them out specifically, just ended up that way.

the brighter the better for me!

quote butthead: "Always went with earth tones, thruwback to bowhunting out of a tent camp. not anymore,



butthead"

+1

I want my equipment to stand out so I don't misplace it in the woods hence a lot of my gear is red.

As far as tarp color a campsite is a campsite and it's temporary. I don't mind seeing a tarp at a campsite especially when I'm on the hunt for one.

The ethic is LEAVE no trace.

my stuff is in muted greens because i like a "quiet" camp.
however it would be great if everyone else would use "survival orange"
so i don't have to paddle ,solo, down a bay only to find someone camping
with woodsy tinted gear!

true dat!

quote awbrown: "Brighter colors are easier to spot, which is good if you're trying to find your way back to your campsite, or you need to be rescued.


It's also easier for other traveler's to spot your camp so they don't waste a lot of time paddling across the lake only to find the site occupied."

+1

quote AdamXChicago: "

quote awbrown: "Brighter colors are easier to spot, which is good if you're trying to find your way back to your campsite, or you need to be rescued.

It's also easier for other traveler's to spot your camp so they don't waste a lot of time paddling across the lake only to find the site occupied."

+1"

+2. I've paddled across lakes a time or two thinking a site was open just to find darker colored tarps and tents there. I use to be much more concerned about blending in, but am shifting more toward lighter and brighter colours.

For what I can recall of various past threads about how one group has diminished another group's experience with noise, trash, or some other rudeness, I don't recall complaints of colourful equipment being mentioned much.

I'm not much concerned about the color of my (or others') stuff. A lot of my gear is whatever color was on sale or available. I do prefer a light colored tarp or tent to a black one though ;).

I chose a yellow tarp. I choose tents based on my criteria, color not important.

I also like the earth tones for my stuff. Green and tan colors are what I look for in nylon things.

I bought my tarp before this thread started and I custom selected the colors.



It only stands out if you look at it.



My pack is digital camo though so no one can see me traveling.

quote SevenofNine: "I want my equipment to stand out so I don't misplace it in the woods hence a lot of my gear is red.


As far as tarp color a campsite is a campsite and it's temporary. I don't mind seeing a tarp at a campsite especially when I'm on the hunt for one.


The ethic is LEAVE no trace."

Actually using equipment in muted earth tone colors used to be part of the Leave No Trace Ethics back in the early 90's. You were supposed to blend in with the environment.

Interesting topic. I try select gear that blends into the environment. Over the years, however, I've acquired a lot of blue-colored gear, simply because the items I wanted weren't available in earth tones. Blue was often the least-bright color available. I generally stay away from yellows, oranges, etc., except in the case of PFDs and a few other emergency-type items.

Lost my green canoe for a bit when I put it down to bushwack to a lake to find the correct trail....
that wasn't good.
dr bob

quote IceColdGold: "I bought my tarp before this thread started and I custom selected the colors.



It only stands out if you look at it.




My pack is digital camo though so no one can see me traveling."

What exactly am I looking at here?

quote unshavenman: "

quote IceColdGold: "I bought my tarp before this thread started and I custom selected the colors.





It only stands out if you look at it.





My pack is digital camo though so no one can see me traveling."

What exactly am I looking at here?"

It's one of the CCS multicolored tarps with a mosquito netting tied up inside of it.

I am more interested in/concerned with product specs and performance than color. And if I can find a deal, color means nothing to me.

If my memory serves me right, doesn't the Forest Service BWCAW instructional film recommend muted colors so that one does not stand out in the woods?

If we're talking canoes, everyone knows that red ones are faster!

Any color...as long as it's green

All my big camp things are the muted colors, the tent, tarp and canoe are all green. However, all of my packed gear is bright colors, mostly orange. Spoon, fork, headlamp, parachute cord, you name it, all are bright colors so I don't lose them.

Can't tell you how many feet of camouflage parachute cord I have packed out of the woods.

Always preferred earth tones myself over the years, but as I age many of my "Tastes" have changed including tarp coloration. I now enjoy bright and cheery, especially on a rainy day. Years ago, when I ordered my CCS, I told him I was a St. Louis Blues hockey fan and I wanted at least a little blue in it. He came up with the blue, yellow, and white pattern and I love it. Some of my friends have even more colorful CCS tarps and I love sitting under theirs too on a rainy day. When I think of all those camps beneath my drab, gray Kelty and compare it to this......well, there IS NO comparison!

I think skeeters are attracted to red and blue. Yellow and white make a poor sunshade.

I like to see the camps that are taken before I get too close to them. That being said, I am pretty much muted earth colors, other than my backpack. I am tempted to hang a nice big Arsenal (red/white) flag at the site, just so everyone knows its in use without having to paddle all the way over.
My days of being tacticool are long over.

quote awbrown: "It's also easier for other traveler's to spot your camp so they don't waste a lot of time paddling across the lake only to find the site occupied."

Yep

I want everything Green. My canoe, packs, tent,tarps, hammock. I like green

Actually mosquitos and black flies are attracted to dark colors like navy blue and black, whereas with the lighter colors they are not.

Not one person has discussed color coordination, where is the sense of fashion? All practical reasoning. Blatz is close. I like green, too. But also red and blue and having bright gear of different colors gives my camp ambiance. Plus I can see things and tell what is what easier, too.

quote OldFingers57: "Actually mosquitos and black flies are attracted to dark colors like navy blue and black, whereas with the lighter colors they are not. "

More than color I think Mosquitos are attracted to warmth. Thus it makes sense that dark colors will absorb more heat and attract mosquitos.

Flies love love love light blue.

University of Florida Study - flies are attracted to blue

Like many above, I am partial to the earth tone colors, however, i did find some parcord that had some reflective strands in them, that I use as tie-out lines, so that you can see them in the dark.

2 years ago I was at Midwest Mountaineering shopping for a CCS Tarp and found a bright orange stuff sack on the shelf, thought it would be a good color for a tarp. When I took it out of the stuff sack on our first trip the tarp was not orange at all, it was blue, white, red and yellow. Not my first choice, but we had to set it up.

Now each year when we set up the tarp the group sings a circus song. I would prefer a different color, but really it doesn't matter as long as the tarp functions, and it does function very well.

gkimball: "Agree totally about being visually unobtrusive.


Some argue that the bright colored tarps are better for search and rescue situations. I opted for a white tarp, which actually looks more like silver or grey and is plenty bright underneath when cloudy, but have learned that it isn't a great color for search and rescue if it is set up in thick timber.



CCS white 10X12 tarp"

How well does your white tarp do for sun protection?

I have an earth tone tent, a green tarp...why? They were the items I wanted and those colors were on sale at the time.

I appreciate when others have brightly colored stuff, it has saved me some long paddles to check out if a campsite was available. I am sorry I haven’t reciprocated.

T

Have you ever seen a water colored canoe? I have not. Big potential market for those who wish to keep gear low and sneak up on camps.

How well does your white tarp do for sun protection?"

The color has less to do with it than the thickness of the material- thicker blocks more of the "heat" of the sun from what I have experienced. Darker colors may be a tiny bit cooler but the do provide more eye shade.
Colors also tint whatever is below the tarp/ tent. Green tarps give a sickly green, Red you tend to look like the burritos under the warming lamps at the 7-11 and so on. White changes the colors the least- better colors when photos are taken of things under the tarp.
My personal preference is white for shelters, yellow for portage packs. More colors of your gear helps us composition challenged photo takers to take a bit more interesting photos.

Birdknowsbest: "

gkimball: "Agree totally about being visually unobtrusive.



Some argue that the bright colored tarps are better for search and rescue situations. I opted for a white tarp, which actually looks more like silver or grey and is plenty bright underneath when cloudy, but have learned that it isn't a great color for search and rescue if it is set up in thick timber.



CCS white 10X12 tarp"

How well does your white tarp do for sun protection?"

Dan's post is accurate. I have yet to spend a really hot sunny day under my white tarp so I can't say how hot it gets. I have been under some dark colored tarps out in the sun and they get pretty warm in my experience. I do like the color, or lack of color, create by the white tarp.

My newest tent is a nice forest green, hardly even notice it in the woods.

Having said that, I'm a red gear kinda guy. So is my hound.
:)

Added a red CCS tarp to the mix last year.

Red is bedder. :-)

I started buying things in bright colors lately, so I and others can see them better.

My tent from the Gov firefighting is Green, I have had to camp on logging roads and beside roads in the past with this tent.
I started tying pink flagging on it to minimize the chance of getting hit by a vehicle when camping near roads or in a Fire Spike camp .

The second pic is of my tent on the Old Denali Hwy in Ak.
It was a pull out on the road, the road only sees a couple cars an hour at best.

Green tent, green tarps, green canoe, green rain jacket, green CCS pack. And a yellow CCS pack that always looks dirty. Should have doubled up on the green!

I bring binoculars to help with spotting camo camps before I get there. Sometimes it works.

I prefer loud colors in things like water bottles, BDBs, cordage, etc for easily visibility around camp.

I have a ton of earth-tone stuff from hunting that I've used for years. However, as I've started to add gear specifically for canoe trips I've been getting brighter colors. Added a red CCS pack this year. Looking at a yellow or white tarp next. I like the idea of being able to easily see gear when on ground as well as having a camp that can be scene from a distance. And yes, I also like the photogenic aspects of it as well.

Lean toward earth tones. Reminds me of a joke:

Do you know why elephants wear green sneakers? To hide in the grass.

Most of my equipment blend in with the woods. Until I got a bargain on a red canoe. Then another red canoe. Currently, fav tent is an orangey Limelight 3. Also, I do regret not buying CCS multi-colored tarp instead of the green one. It looks so pinwheel-ly. So, over the years.....preference changed.

I have a combination of gear. Some green, some yellow, and other random combos. Recently picked up a red CCS pack that I love, also have a couple in blue, and a green Kondos pack. Tarps, I have one green and one yellow in different sizes. I like having a bit of variety.

Tent and tarp are eart tones.

Packs and duffels are bright colors.

What I prefer and what I have are not always the same. Tents don't always have choices and color is not high on the must have list of needed specs. I like some things bright so they are easy to find, like the back flushing syringe for the water filter (I added fluorescent orange tape to it so I don't loose it in camp). And I like it when others have something bright at edge of camp so I don't have to paddle that way to see if a site is occupied! Some colors are ok in small quantities(pack) but not in large things like a tent or tarp.

So I have an orange tent, light green tarp, black/ orange pack, one green and one yellow canoe.

Dan Cooke: "How well does your white tarp do for sun protection?"

The color has less to do with it than the thickness of the material- thicker blocks more of the "heat" of the sun from what I have experienced. Darker colors may be a tiny bit cooler but the do provide more eye shade.
Colors also tint whatever is below the tarp/ tent. Green tarps give a sickly green, Red you tend to look like the burritos under the warming lamps at the 7-11 and so on. White changes the colors the least- better colors when photos are taken of things under the tarp.
My personal preference is white for shelters, yellow for portage packs. More colors of your gear helps us composition challenged photo takers to take a bit more interesting photos."

Very much the same observation Dan. Dark tarps just feel cooler, the yellow and white seem a bit warm underneath (I'm a redhead, now mostly gray, Scandinavian and sunburn under florescent lighting). My green choices were from earlier years and blending in consideration. Any new purchases will be the multi colored panel version> Something for every condition!

butthead