What size does everyone like? I'm looking at the 15 x15 size. Its the biggest they make. Is this too large for the BWCA? That fella is not inexpensive so I want to make sure i get the right size. My party size is usually 2 to 3.

For that size group, you'd be plenty fine with a 12' x 12'6". We take that size with us regardless of group size. Might be six people. Sometimes eight. (Gets a bit cramped with eight if it's rainy.) You'll be very satisfied with the 12' x 12'6".

For only 2-3 people I like a 10x10 size. Plenty of room. I've actually been known to use a 5x8 size tarp with my daughter, dog, and myself when really trying to save weight and while it was cramped it did work. Stick with a square tarp no matter what size, gives you many more options for configurations.

I agree with Jackfish. 15x15 for 2-3 people seems a bit much, and I am admittedly a guy prone to doing too much. My tarp is 10x10, and I do go solo but have no problem fitting me, some gear, and space for my two labs to lay down. They each take up as much space as my REI camp chair. I’d think 12x12 would be plenty for 2-3, and a bit cheaper, lighter, and easier to set up.

Everyone and their cousin vinny knows that 10x14 is where its at.....

THEGrandRapids: "Everyone and their cousin vinny knows that 10x14 is where its at..... "

Haha yep, ^^^^^ this. We have a 10x12 and 10x14 and it's fine for up to 5 so far. But in a storm...4 or 5 and gear it's not roomy but fine for that little while hopefully.

No really, I think 15x15 is overkill for that small of a group. Something in the 10x14 or 12x12 or pick your favorite dimensions in that range and you'll still be fine. Then you still have to pick your fabric weight and color and if you want more than one color and....so many choices! haha (it's a good thing)

For a group size of 2-3 I typically recommend a 10 x 10 or 10 x 12. if you are going to do May, September or October I would then say 10 x 12 or 10 x 14, as you are more likely to spend more time under a tarp as weather events seem to last longer- multiple days of rain and or wind can make any space seem smaller than it is. Go 1.9 if weight and bulk is not much of an issue, it also blocks more UV. The 1.1 packs up smaller and weighs less.

The largest tarp I have sewn was 60' x 130'(wasn't for use in the wilderness). The bigger the tarp the bigger the wind load, and you have to be sure large tarps are set up to shed the rain/ snow load. I was in the BWCAW just this past weekend tarping it, no bugs.

THEGrandRapids: "Everyone and their cousin vinny knows that 10x14 is where its at..... "

I like this size because if it's cold and windy or raining sideways you can drop one end for a wind break and still have an 10 x 8 overhead. My brother and I both have this size and love the versatility.

With 2-3 we're generally under tarps sized ~8-10 x 10-12 ish.

15x15 sounds like a palace, which is great...if you are mostly basecamping.

If you are moving, for a group of that size, I'd go smaller. Two reasons: one, lower weight to carry. Two, 15x15 will be tough to set up in many campsites - that's a big tarp.

10'x14' for my group, whether it's two people or four. It could be a challenge fitting a larger tarp like a 15'x15' at some of the BWCA sites.

I have a 16' Kelty Noah. The cat cut makes it a slightly different animal, but I think I can still speak to the difficulties one might face fitting a very large tarp in some sites and how a small group just doesn't need something so big.

I use a 10x12 CCS for my hammock. I had just setup my tarp when a big storm hit, and the 4 of us rode it out and had room to get snacks and eat under it. I have had to squeeze even a 10x12 into spots, I wouldn't want one any bigger. With a larger group I would take 2 tarps.

I like the two tarp suggestion. I also use a 10X12 (after seeing gymcoachdan's set up) for my hammock, and bring another 10x12 if there are other people along.

We like something bigger, running over the seating area around the fire grate back towards our camp kitchen. I have been on the hunt for a used 10x16 or 15x15 (we base camp) so larger is better for us. We like to be able to all hang out around the fire when it's a cold rainy day. I honestly wish there was a 12x16!

Our 10 by 12 is plenty for 2 and works fine for 4 even with gear, but it is getting snug if you are stuck there for a long time. I would not want larger for our normal 1-4 people. Unless you will be living under it I would think 15 by 15 to be drastic overkill for 2-3. Look at sq ft. Mine is 120, the 15 by 15 would be 225. I usually figure 30-40 sq ft per person, and up to 50 if you will be spending a lot of time there. Also, if you don't use a fairly flat set-up you will lose sq ft so will have to figure that in.

I would go 10 by 12.

I kind of wonder how many rooms in your house are 15X15 . . . for comparison.

I have a 10x14 and love it. I use it solo and don't feel it's too big. Would be good for 2-3 people. When going with a larger group, we setup multiple tarps, but the 10x14 the "main" tarp. I'm also not a minimalist type and prefer to "have and not need then need and not have".

We run two 10x12 tarps for bigger groups. Run a ridgeline rope and overlap them. I like to carry a pole from my Megamid to push out the center of one of the tarps for more use-able space. Huge coverage. Tarp-mahal.

A single 10x12 would work great for 2-3 people. And if you needed more coverage for a bigger group sometime in the future you could add another 10x12 to your kit. That way you would have less initial cost but would leave the option open for mega coverage in the future.

Brian

boonie: "I kind of wonder how many rooms in your house are 15X15 . . . for comparison."

That may be deceiving.... I rarely run my tarp dead flat, usually a shallow A frame. While I think 15x15 is too big, it can also be set up as a 9x15 with a 6' side wall for wind protection.

Wow y'all like big tarps! With three people a 10x10 is spacious in my experience. With two people I carry a (different brand) 8x7 tarp and don't find it too small. Are you having dance parties under your tarps?

TominMpls: " Are you having dance parties under your tarps?"

I'm not much of a dancer but my 10x10 CCS tarp is just big enough for two people in chairs with gear to stay dry. It would be fine for more with a straight rain, no wind, and little gear. I like my tarp up high for a view, so maybe that makes a difference, but any wind and I don't want to be right near the edge of coverage.
My 10x16 covers 6, but it is tight in a storm.

THEGrandRapids: "

boonie: "I kind of wonder how many rooms in your house are 15X15 . . . for comparison."

That may be deceiving.... I rarely run my tarp dead flat, usually a shallow A frame. While I think 15x15 is too big, it can also be set up as a 9x15 with a 6' side wall for wind protection. "

I have a 1.1 oz. CCS 12x10 strung on a ridgeline setup and it's never flat, usually not close to it, sometimes with a sidewall if there's windblown rain/sleet/snow. I was just trying to give him a visual at home and I assumed (maybe wrongly) that I didn't need to explain that to the OP, so thanks for pointing it out. The most people ever under it has been two and it's plenty big enough for that, but usually I'm solo. I've thought about going to a smaller one for solo, but don't want to go too small and there's not really all that much to gain in weight or bulk reduction.

I like big tarps...

The 10x12 is killer for car camping, too. It perfectly covers my screen shelter and is big enough to shelter a picnic table. Our two tarps spent four months on the road with us in the summer of 2019. All over the West. Indispensable.

boonie: "

THEGrandRapids: "

boonie: "I kind of wonder how many rooms in your house are 15X15 . . . for comparison."

That may be deceiving.... I rarely run my tarp dead flat, usually a shallow A frame. While I think 15x15 is too big, it can also be set up as a 9x15 with a 6' side wall for wind protection. "

I have a 1.1 oz. CCS 12x10 strung on a ridgeline setup and it's never flat, usually not close to it, sometimes with a sidewall if there's windblown rain/sleet/snow. I was just trying to give him a visual at home and I assumed (maybe wrongly) that I didn't need to explain that to the OP, so thanks for pointing it out. The most people ever under it has been two and it's plenty big enough for that, but usually I'm solo. I've thought about going to a smaller one for solo, but don't want to go too small and there's not really all that much to gain in weight or bulk reduction. "

Bigger option also gives you ability to double wall a wind break if its really nasty. So many configurations for those CCS tarps. I recently used my solo tarp 8x10 1.1 on a bikepacking winter trip. Comfortably slept two under it... though I only had the tarp 18" off the ground.... heavy wind we were *trying* to stop.

Also, how many times/places can you ask a question on a random subject/brand/website and have that owner chime in on their own stuff? Pretty cool to see Dan give feedback every once in a while without ever sounding sales-y. I only know of a select few in Ag, but none that don't try and self-promote at least some. Thanks Dan

Tarp size. Everyone has had different experiences and have different expectations, as the previous posts have expressed.

There is the size of the tarp and then there is the area that the tarp protects. This past summer on Lac La Croix we had a lunch on an island campsite. As we were finishing up a storm announced itself with a low constant rumble. A 10 x 12 tarp was set up hastily in kind of a ridgeline set up. 12' being the ridgeline length. With a little slope of about a foot coming off the ridgeline on both sides. We watched as the wind whipped the calm lake to whitecaps in a few moments, The rain came then sideways mostly. Our upper bodies stayed dry but the legs were quickly soaked. It was warm and the 2 year old enjoyed playing in the river running underfoot. Had the tarp been set up so it was 30°off vertical, we could have stayed completely dry. It was not the size of the tarp- but how it was set up that determined how much usable space there was. Often the trick is to match the set up to the weather conditions; and secondly the ability to quickly modify your set up.
Practicing different set ups and knots in your back yard can make your adventures less stressful, and you more confident that you have the skill set to thrive and not just gut it out.

I've been looking at the CCS tarps and noticed that there is not a big price difference between the 10x12 and the 10x14, but you don't see people mentioning the 10x14 nearly as much as the 10x12. Is there a reason for this?

I could see the 10x14 as being much better at pitching one end lower to protect against the wind, but would it be worse for a standard ridgeline setup? I could see it if the 10x12 was more versatile but is that really the case?

I like big tarps and I cannot lie
You other campers can’t deny
That when the rain rolls in and the covers kind of thin
And it’s more than just-in-case,
You get strung, wanna get well hung
‘Cause you notice that the weather looks tough
It’s a small space that you’re sharing
Too close and you’re gonna start glaring
Friends, I wanna be with ya
Not touch and squish ya
That little tarp you set
Keeps me choosin' 'tween cozy and wet

A1t2o: "I've been looking at the CCS tarps and noticed that there is not a big price difference between the 10x12 and the 10x14, but you don't see people mentioning the 10x14 nearly as much as the 10x12. Is there a reason for this?


I could see the 10x14 as being much better at pitching one end lower to protect against the wind, but would it be worse for a standard ridgeline setup? I could see it if the 10x12 was more versatile but is that really the case? "

There's really no reason not to buy the 10'x14' over the 10'x12' Tundra tarp. I just realized the pics I posted above are of my green 10'x12' tarp and my yellow 10'x14' tarp. The coverage is obviously very similar, but I found that it's nice to have the extra coverage provided by the 14' tarp, especially when we have four people and it's raining for a while.

Keep in mind that one that's not square, can have either a short or long ridgeline.

I solo a lot so an 8 x 10 is the bees' knees for me... but I'm in a minority on that perspective. :)

boonie: "I kind of wonder how many rooms in your house are 15X15 . . . for comparison."

That makes for a good visual

cyclones30: "

THEGrandRapids: "Everyone and their cousin vinny knows that 10x14 is where its at..... "

Haha yep, ^^^^^ this. We have a 10x12 and 10x14 and it's fine for up to 5 so far. But in a storm...4 or 5 and gear it's not roomy but fine for that little while hopefully.


No really, I think 15x15 is overkill for that small of a group. Something in the 10x14 or 12x12 or pick your favorite dimensions in that range and you'll still be fine. Then you still have to pick your fabric weight and color and if you want more than one color and....so many choices! haha (it's a good thing)


"

Hey Cyclones30, completely off topic but I have to ask. Was this pic taken at a campsite on Lake Agnes? Looks EXACTLY like where I strung up my hammock on a trip last Sept.

Okay, back to regularly scheduled programming....

Oh, and nice tarp!

No, this was on an island in Snow Bay of LLC

PSA to follow:

Lots of times Dan puts on a class at the Winter Camping Symposium. At the end of the class there is a good chance he will sell the tarps he is using at a discounted price. that's how I picked up my tarp and my son's tarp for Scouts. :-)

I have a 10x14 and find it nicely versatile. Two days of storms, it took care of a group of seven. A little tight but not bad. I also was on a trip with one other person who brought a tarp. Mine was in my pack...I noticed something about my old untreated tent fly and since weather was wet and cold I decided to set the tarp up over my tent. If it's only a couple people, the 10x14 is pretty luxurious.

I am reminded of the Monty Python skit with Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson, as I am thinking of getting a second tarp, a 10x10, sort of as a supplement or for solo trips.

Here's another way to look at it. Weight wise for 10x10, 10x12, 10x14 and 15x15 in 1.9 oz are 31 oz., 37, 42, and 67; in 1.1 oz are 20 oz., 22, 24 and 40 respectively. 15x15 is way to big, short of a circus and you'll have a tough time finding good space to set that up. For the additional coverage you get, it's only a few ounces more and for a 10x14 in 1.1, you get an additional 40 sq. ft. of coverage for a quarter pound. Is is worth it? I think so. I've never heard anyone in foul weather complain the tarp was too big.

PSA - look for sale prices at Canoecopia next weekend.

portagedog09: "PSA - look for sale prices at Canoecopia next weekend."

I've been chatting with Dan about pricing/availability, etc. He says that for Canoecopia, Rutabaga offers discount pricing (15%) on his items that they have in stock. Unfortunately, a very limited number of items available right now. No Canoecopia discounts on special orders. I could get a 10x14 1.1 oz, but they only have green or brown. I could get another Pioneer pack, but no short torso in stock...

BrianDay: "I like big tarps...


The 10x12 is killer for car camping, too. It perfectly covers my screen shelter and is big enough to shelter a picnic table. Our two tarps spent four months on the road with us in the summer of 2019. All over the West. Indispensable.





"

In the picture with the dog, it looks like the rope is running directly from his tail. I like to pre-rig my tarps with lines, but I've never seen a pre-rigged dog.

"In the picture with the dog, it looks like the rope is running directly from his tail. I like to pre-rig my tarps with lines, but I've never seen a pre-rigged dog. "

Definitely had to rig the dog. If he had the chance he would have wandered off, following his nose and looking for treats!

Brian

schweady: "

portagedog09: "PSA - look for sale prices at Canoecopia next weekend."

I've been chatting with Dan about pricing/availability, etc. He says that for Canoecopia, Rutabaga offers discount pricing (15%) on his items that they have in stock. Unfortunately, a very limited number of items available right now. No Canoecopia discounts on special orders. I could get a 10x14 1.1 oz, but they only have green or brown. I could get another Pioneer pack, but no short torso in stock...
"

I'm confused by this. When I look up CCS tarps on the Rutabaga/Canoecopia website, they are listed as the same price as Dan has online. Does one have to purchase an admission ticket to take advantage of the 15% discount?

yes.

cofit: " I like big tarps and I cannot lie
You other campers can’t deny
That when the rain rolls in and the covers kind of thin
And it’s more than just-in-case,
You get strung, wanna get well hung
‘Cause you notice that the weather looks tough
It’s a small space that you’re sharing
Too close and you’re gonna start glaring
Friends, I wanna be with ya
Not touch and squish ya
That little tarp you set
Keeps me choosin' 'tween cozy and wet
"

Shut down the internet. We have a winner! :-)

Hi Dan Thanks for your help. I did not realize that this is your company. I ended up getting one of your 10 x 14 tundra tarps. Thanks again for your expertise!

tonyis38 thank you for your support. Glad to help out folks with what I have been able to glean over many years doing canoe tripping and more. Enjoy your adventures.

I would like to say thanks as well. I purchased the 10x12 and a 10x14, and Just received my 60 L Barrel pack at great deal because of blemish on top of pack. I have already got tarps set up in ridge line sacks. They are AWESOME!

A 10x10 has been very adequate for 2 adults and a dog. I highly recommend getting a telescoping pole for the center. I sliced a "x" into a tennis ball, and put this over the 'point' of the pole. It protects the tarp, and with the CCS design, you can easily cinch the center loops around the ball/pole end, and run your rope down the pole to a stake in the ground at base of pole. You get a lot of added wind-related security, and better drainage with the elevated center. [CCS sells "shelter poles" and pole bags.]

HighnDry: "I solo a lot so an 8 x 10 is the bees' knees for me... but I'm in a minority on that perspective. :)"

I'll update this post to reflect that I bought a 10 x 10 silnylon (1.1oz) from Dan through 'Copia. It's the multicolored panel version and I can't wait to get it out there in the backcountry. I need to purchase some extra tie down cord for all of the tie outs but it'll be ready by May.