That $20 tarp from Walmart is actually fine for car camping

I see so many people dropping $80 on fancy poly tarps with reinforced edges, but I've been using the same blue Walmart special for 3 years now. It's held up through 12 trips to Shenandoah and a few thunderstorms. The grommets are starting to pull a little, sure, but for what it costs I could replace it 4 times. Anyone else just use the cheap ones and not worry about it?

2 comments

2 Comments

claire4431mo ago

That cheap tarp really does get the job done for a fraction of the cost.

margaretw411mo ago

The 99 cent blue tarp at the hardware store tore in less than a month on my shed last winter. I get that saving money is the goal, but you really do get what you pay for with those super cheap tarps. The grommets pulled right out the first time the wind picked up, so I was out there trying to tie it down with bungee cords. Had to buy a mid-grade one for like 12 bucks and it's still holding up fine two seasons later. For a one-time cookout or covering some firewood for a weekend, sure, go cheap. But for anything you actually need to work for more than a few days, spending a little more upfront saves you the headache later.