I’ve had good luck with polycro (window film) tarps.
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/how-to-make-a-polycryo-a-frame-tarp/
I use clear Gorilla Tape for mine or I just tie a sheet bend knot in each corner with shock cord.
The heavy duty polycro lasts pretty well. A guy on Whiteblaze.net put one up in his backyard to see how long it would last.
It made 100 days before his wife lost patience with him and he had to take it down.
Until we had a DCF (Dyneema/Cuben Fiber) tent I would set up our tent under the polycro tarp since polycro doesn’t absorb water.
So one night of rain and the tent + tarp weighed less than a wet tent.
It also let me set up in the rain and keep my tent dry.
With a single wall DCF tent that is a non-issue.
Though I still carry a small tarp—to block a shelter opening, or cover our sleeping bag feet. Or use as a tent footprint.
Pretty useful on the Appalachian Trail. Not sure if I’ll keep it for the PCT next year.
For someone else’s tarp:
2 thoughts on “Tarps on the trail”