I'm trawling for other people's experience of using a tarp for protecting a tent from extreme weather, possibly heat and more likely rain. For those not in the know a tarp is a large waterproof sheet strung up over your existing tent. Like a tent over your tent.
If big enough it also provides a porch under which to sit, cook etc. If it rains you can pack your dry tent whilst under the tarp. Clearly you have more to carry, set up etc.
Any feedback based on experience is welcome although im bracing myself for abuse too.
I have a small tarp that I have guylines that I can attached to the poles and bike so I can cook under if needs be. As for over the tent it just seems a faff to do and the tarp could damage the tent fabric or poles if it flaps around or worse still take off with tent attached. My tent is double skinned with a flysheet and aledgedly can withstand a fair old storm, wind is the main problem so its wedge shape takes care of that so having a loose fitting tarp in a howling gale might be counter productive imho.
Seems a good idea in theory, but you still have a wet tarp to contend with and as my tent only takes minutes to take down and pack away and would dry out pretty quick I guess I am better off without one. Still go for it, don't blame me if we have to extract you from a battered and rolled up tent and tarp from a hedge
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