Wilderness survival training is essential if you like to hunt, hike, or go camping. It’s also necessary for those working in the military or national guard careers.
In this guide, we’ll explore why a survival tarp should be an essential part of your survival kit and the many different ways to use a survival tarp in the wilderness. If you're planning a wilderness excursion or wilderness training, look at the tactical gear and resources available at PSPCorp.
What Is a Survival Tarp, and How Do I Choose a High-Quality One?
The survival tarp is the foundation of any survival kit. You can use a tarp in a crisis, in the wilderness or at home.
A survival tarp is waterproof. A waterproof material provides a water-tight seal for staying dry - ensuring you, your clothes and your equipment are protected from the rain. Or, you can use it to collect water.
When choosing a survival tarp for your kit, opting for a rectangular or square shape is best. This shape provides the most versatility regarding function and will be easier to fold neatly and quickly.
Some tarps are explicitly designed for camping and hiking and thus have more complex shapes to fit into your
hiking backpack more easily. However, these unusual shapes make camping and hiking tarps far less versatile.
The ideal size for your tarp is 8 by 10 feet, as this will provide enough shelter without being too heavy or cumbersome. Additionally, you should choose a tarp with tie-out loops and grommets for easy tying and structuring of your tarp.
What Are the Different Uses for Survival Tarp?
Let's explore how your survival tarp can be useful in a wilderness excursion - or even simply in your home.
Rain Cover and Shelter
You can easily create shelter out in the wilderness using a survival tarp. If you become wet during your survival excursion, you will become cold, your clothes will be wet, and your health will be at risk. Staying dry is the key to survival. You can use a rope to arrange your tarp and ensure enough shelter keeps you dry from the rain.
Ground Cover
If you're sleeping or resting in the wilderness, you might need cover to ensure the wet ground does not affect you. Your clothes, kit, and body will become wet if you sleep on sodden earth. The tarp will provide a base from which you can create a bed using blankets and pillows, keeping these items from spoiling.
Collecting Water
You need water to cook, bathe, and drink in the wilderness. If you don’t have a
tactical hydration kit, you need something to carry water with. A tarp makes for an excellent make-shift water container, allowing you to collect water and bring it back to camp for sanitation, cooking, and drinking.
Stretcher
If a person becomes injured during your excursion, they may be unable to walk. A tarp provides the necessary strength to carry the person. Multiple people can assist if the person is too heavy to carry alone. Or, you can drag the person using the tarp if the situation demands it. A tarp can be essential to your
first aid kit in the wilderness, especially when travelling in a group.
Dragging Heavy Objects
You might need to collect firewood, drag game from hunting, or carry heavy kit items during your excursion. You can easily move heavy objects across the floor with your survival tarp.
Tactical Gear for Your Survival Kit
Your survival kit would be sorely lacking without a tarp. Tarp can be used for lifting, keeping you dry, collecting water, and escorting an injured party to safety. A high-quality tarp can be the difference between survival and danger in an emergency in the wild.
The
PSPCorp blog provides tactical and safety equipment information for various excursions and training. Browse the blog for the best equipment for your next wilderness excursion.