I enjoy the outdoors more when I have the right gear to be comfortable, safe, and dry. Tarpestry’s Rugged Style Tarp is ideal for so many outings that it has a permanent place on my front-door shelves, along with a container of bungie cords.
Durable and Functional
At 7.5′ x 4.5′, the Tarpestry Rugged Style Tarp is large enough to cover me, my gear, or the ground. It’s made out of a tough woven UV- and water-resistant polyester on the bottom with a UV- and water-resistant polyester top layer. Tarpestry makes its tarps in a variety of fun, colorful patterns on the top layers (the UV protection means the tarp is supposed to hold its color) that come with grommet reinforced holes in each corner to allow for hanging, securing, and otherwise attaching the tarps to other objects and to the ground. (Tarps are also available with six, eight, and 10 grommets.)
I like this tough tarp because it’s much more durable than my old cotton bedspread, so I can use it on rocks, sand, wet grass, and other surfaces without tearing it or getting wet. Water beads off the tarp, making it ideal for picnics (people always spill) and providing cover when I need to dash from car to cabin in a deluge.
One of my favorite parts of the Rugged Style Tarpestry tarp is the small corner pocket with the Velcro-like seal. I lose everything, so I have lanyards on my phone, keys, and wallet. When I’m on my tarp I can stash all those items in the pocket and just enjoy my picnic or yoga practice. When I’m ready to leave everything I need is still safely stored in the pocket.
Easy to Clean
The Rugged Style Tarpestry tarp is easy to clean. I can shake off debris, wipe off dirt with a damp cloth, or hose it down if it’s covered with mud, grass, or sand. I could put it in the washing machine, but over time that will break down the water-resistant coating. On its website Tarpestry suggests that if this happens consumers can spray the tarp with water-protective coatings sold at outdoor gear stores.
So Many Uses
I’m impressed with how well made the Rugged Style Tarpestry Tarp is, with the added bonus of water-resistance. I can finally replace the ratty old quilt I used on the backseat of my car to protect it from the dirt and moisture from the wheels of my fold-up walker/rollator. The Rugged Style Tarpestry Tarp fits into the rollator’s basket, so when one of my friends drives (they have nicer, newer cars than I do), I feel good knowing than I won’t get their seats wet or dirty with the rollator wheels.
It’s warm enough where I live to exercise outdoors in winter, but the grass is usually pretty wet and sometimes muddy. I use an old sleeping bag with a yoga mat on top, but the other day it occurred to me that the Rugged Style Tapestry Tarp would be a better option. I used the sleeping bag against the ground since I didn’t want to get mud on my tarp, and placed the tarp on top. So much better. More room than the yoga mat, and the woven fabric has some purchase so I had no trouble with my planks. Better, even though the water soaked through the sleeping bag, the tarp kept me totally dry. Now the challenge is to part with both the quilt and sleeping bag because I no longer need them!
Because of the grommets, it would be easy to make a simple shelter with the tarp, rope, and some stakes. It’s also ideal for back of car/SUV covering for people who bring their dogs on outdoor adventures. In an emergency, the tarp is strong enough that it could be used to carry someone to safety. I think photographers and other people using cameras, video recorders, or other devices would like to use the tarp as a staging area where they could keep their equipment off the ground or protected from direct sunlight.
My neighbors’ kids love the tarp because I hang it off of their deck to create a fort in mere seconds. Confession: I’m a fan of forts myself…not to mention I like to block out the sun when I sneak off to nap under my loft bed, I hang the Rugged Style Tapestry Tarp from the top of it so I can block out the sun.
I can think of so many places the Rugged Style Tarpestry Tarp would be handy, including outdoor concerts and festivals, campsites, sporting events, parks, boats, and more.
Bottom Line
I’m infatuated with the Rugged Style Tarpestry Tarp. I keep finding more uses for it, and it’s much more protective than my old quilt, which is going to get cut into cleaning rags, and my old sleeping bag, which is going to the donation box. If I could change anything about the tarp I would make six grommets the standard and maybe add another corner pocket. This is a wonderful gift item for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
$177.00 – $192.00 at Tarpestry.com