Bought a cheap 'all weather' tarp that ripped in a light rain

I got this tarp from a discount store for about $15, thinking it would be fine for a quick weekend trip. It was labeled for all weather, but the first time it rained, just a normal shower in the Pine Barrens, the seams tore right open. My whole sleeping area got soaked, and I had to pack up wet gear at 2 AM. I ended up having to buy a proper one at the campground store for triple the price. Has anyone else had a tarp totally fail on them? What brands actually hold up?

3 comments

3 Comments

tarat592mo ago

Oh man, that's the worst feeling, getting soaked in the middle of the night. I've been burned by that "all weather" label before too, it's basically meaningless. Did the tarp feel really thin and plasticky when you first took it out of the package, or did it seem okay until the rain hit?

wesleyw462mo ago

I mean mine felt solid until the storm hit.

the_logan25d ago

That reminds me of when I bought a "waterproof" tent that was fine in my backyard but leaked like a sieve on the first real trip. At least you found out before you were miles from the car.