In this article I will cover the best budget tarps for backpacking, hiking and camping. These options are also valid for hammock camping.
What tarp is right for you
In this article I will cover the best budget tarps for backpacking, hiking and camping. However, some of you might be looking for a tarp to use as a ground sheet. Some of you might be looking for an overhead tarp in combination with a hammock. Others might simply be looking at a tarp as a replacement for a tent.
I will make sure that all of you have the right tarp for your needs, at the best possible price.
Except for the price I also look at the durability/quality, “weatherproofness”, size, weight and convenience.
Best cheap multi-purpose tarps
Th multi-purpose tarps can function as ground sheet, hammock tarp or as a tent. Perfect for those of you who want to use the tarp for multiple purposes.
Outry Waterproof Multi-Purpose Tarp
| Size | Price | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small
4′ 9″ x 7′ 2″ |
$ | 12.7 oz | Nylon
210D oxford fabric |
| Medium
5′ 9″ x 6′ 10″ |
$ | 16.6 oz | Nylon
210D oxford fabric |
| Large
7′ 9″ x 6′ 10″ |
$ | 20 oz | Nylon
210D oxford fabric |
The outry multi-purpose is cheap, lightweight, waterproof and durable. On top of that, it’s available in 3 different sizes.
The tarp can be used as a ground sheet, a tent, or a hammock tarp.
The material is lightweight, but tough enough to function as a ground sheet, tent or hammock rainfly. The 210D oxford fabric makes it ripstop and waterproof.
In very heavy winds, the eyelets can get damaged. If you intends to use it in extreme weather, you should know this can be a risk. However, if you can avoid the very heavy winds, this product will last you a long time.
As always, budget items can be more than sufficient in the average situations, but for extreme situations you might be better of spending a bit more money.
The Outry tarp comes with stuff sack and 6 stakes in the medium/large version or 4 stakes in the small version.
Be careful that you take a size that is large enough to go over your hammock, in most cases I would recommend the largest version.
The cheapest price can usually be found on amazon: Outry tarp
Best cheap tarp rainfly
If you are only looking for tarps that function as a rainfly for hammock camping, one of these should be perfect.
Wise Owl Outfitters
| Size | Price | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard
6′ 10″ x 7′ 10″ |
$$$ | 26 oz | Polyester
210T |
| Lite
6′ 10″ x 6′ 10″ |
$$ | 18.9 oz | Polyester
210T |
The Wise Owl Outfitters tarp is a bit more expensive, but makes up for it in quality. It’s not really an option to use as a tent, but it’s perfect as a rainfly for hammock camping.
The material used is 210T ripstop polyester, which makes it durable and waterproof. The overall quality makes it one of the better budget options for extremer conditions.
Stuff sack and stakes are included.
The standard version is more convenient, but the lite version might be more suitable for hikers who care a lot about the weight of the product.
The cheapest price can usually be found on amazon: Wise Owl Outfitters
Eno eagles nest outfitters pro
The Eno eagles nest outfitters pro is one of the best priced high quality tarps out there. Making it a perfect addition to the list of best budget tarps for backpacking or hiking.
It has a built-in stuff sack, but it does not come with stakes, you would still have to buy these separatly.
The shape and design of the tarp make it more suitable for stormy weather than the other options on the list. For hikers who intend to use their tarp on many occasions and might be facing a couple of stormy nights, this tarp would be my recommendation for you. It’s only a bit more expensive than the other tarps, but it will be worth it!
| Size | Price | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10′ 4″ x 8′ 7″ | $$$$ | 22 oz | Polyester
210T |
The cheapest price can usually be found on amazon: Eno eagles nest outfitters pro
Best cheap ground sheet tarp
If you are only looking for a tarp to use as a ground sheet, one of the following should be perfect.
Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Tarp
| Size | Price | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6′ 10″ x 6′ 10″ | $ | 11 oz | Nylon |
| 6′ 10″ x 7′ 10″ | $ | 19.5 oz | Nylon |
The Wise Owl Outfitters ground sheet tarp is a simple but solid product.
It’s very budget-friendly, pretty light and pretty durable. If you want something that’s truly cheap (and still decent), I would look no further.
Important for hikers and backpackers, this tarp is lightweight, which makes it perfect for people who have to carry it for many miles.
The cheapest price can usually be found on amazon: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Tarp
Amazon Basics Waterproof Camping Tarp
| Size | Price | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6′ 10″ x 7′ 10″ | $ | 24 oz | Polyethylene |
| 9′ 5″ x 11 ‘3″ | $$ | 38.4 oz | Polyethylene |
The Amazon Basics Waterproof camping tarp is also very solid and loved by many.
However, this tarp is not as suited for backpacking and hiking because it’s simply pretty heavy.
For those of you who don’t have to hike too far, it might be a great option.
If you are interested, you can buy it from amazon: Amazon Basics Waterproof Camping Tarp
What’s important for a backpacking tarp?
Except for the price there are som other very important factors to look at.
The cheap tarps that are selected are selected based on their weight, size, durability and weatherproofness.
Weight
For backpacking and hiking, the weight of the tarp is very important. A tent is usually a lot heavier than a tarp, but even between tarps the weight difference can be very big. It’s important to always look at the weight of a product.
Usually, the lighter the material, the more expensive the product. Therefore, doing enough research before buying a budget tarp is very important. Luckily, I have done this research for you!
Size
Another very important factor is the size of the tarp. For a ground sheet, you have to make sure that your tarp is actually larger than your tent.
For hammock camping your tarp should be at least 6 inches larger than your hammock at each side. This way you can be sure to end up dry during the night, at least, if you have the proper setup.
Durability
Durability is an obvious one. However, it’s tricky to find a tarp that is lightweight, durable and cheap. There is still a big difference between the durability of these tarps and the very expensive variants. However, overall all the tarps discussed in this article are pretty good and have at least decent durability.
Weatherproof
We don’t want our tarp to allow water to seep through. However, it should also be able to deal with heavy winds.
Conclusion
In this article I covered the best cheap tarps for backpacking, hiking and camping. I included ground sheets, tents and hammock rainfly’s.
The most important factors are size, weight, durability, weatherproofness and ofcourse: the price.
You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to get a solid tarp. Especially if you intend to just try it out for a couple of nights.
For those of you who are really looking to use their tarp a lot and might be facing some really bad weather, the Eno Eagles tarp would be my go-to recommendation. It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s the best priced product (in my opinion) that is also suited in those extremer situations.
PS: I cover a lot of budget hiking gear, if you are interested in other recommendations, feel free to take a look : Where to buy cheap hiking gear online