Tarps: The Ultimate Survival Tool

Having a tarp on hand can make all the difference if you find yourself caught in a pinch. Whether it’s during a natural disaster, an accident, or getting back to nature, you will want to have a high-quality tarp on hand.

Here are a few ways a tarp can help you out in a jam.

Ground Cover

Tarps are excellent for ground cover. A tarp will help protect you and your gear from moisture that can seep up into your equipment. They can also protect your tents and sleeping bags from unexpected holes or tears. Staying dry and intact is top priority when you are in any type of survival situation.

Sleeping Bag

While we're on the topic of sleeping bags, here's another tarp fact: in a pinch, you can easily make a bedroll using your tarp.

Lay your tarp in a rectangle or square shape and lie down on it. Reach down and grab the bottom edge and fold that over your feet. Lie back, grab the right side and left side and fold them over you. All you must do then is simply flip over onto your stomach.

Now you have more protection from the elements than you would if you simply hunkered down with the tarp over you. This is super important if you are out somewhere where you don’t have access to additional coverage. You can also use a tarp in this method to add extra insulation to your sleeping bag.

Storage

Have you ever been out in the wild in a prime spot for animal intrusion? It’s never fun to get back to camp and find all your gear strewn about and your food ruined. A tarp can turn the tide on the varmints.

Simply gather your gear in the center of the tarp and with some para-cord or rope for a makeshift bear bag you can tie up in a tree. No more worrying about raccoons and bears swiping your food.

Water Collection

If you are in an emergency and need to collect water, simply dig a hole and line it with your tarp. Then you can catch rain or dew. If you have the right tools, you could even make a frame for your tarp rather than having to dig.

Travois or Stretcher