Alpkit Rig 7 Tarp (RRP: £99).
Weighing in at an advertised 550g (mine checks in at 539g in the bag). Made of PU coated ripstop cordura, it consists of two sections with a tape sealed seam. It has 16 attachment points around the outside and a further 8 on the body of the tarp itself; it packs away small but opens up to a massive 2.4m x 2.8m in size. This is more than enough for a three person canopy cover, but more realistically it’s a roomy two person affair. With this I carry a bag of assorted pegs and guy lines. As I’m normally using a pair of walking poles anyway, I can use these as supports if required, meaning I can camp out on open hillsides or in woodland with equal ease. During an exceptionally heavy rain storm I found that pooling water had caused the seam tape to fail, peeling off in the process. This was easily removed and it was resealed using Gear Aid seam sealer +SIL which has provided a more flexible, durable and secure barrier than tape, although it will increase the weight fractionally.
Reinforced corner attachments with loops
The tarp has 8 attachment points on the body of the tarp
There are 16 attachment points around the edge of the tarp and a further 8 on the main body
The Airdrie Rambler 