The joy of tarps

Among all the tonnes of kit you take with you, can I suggest that you make space for a tarpaulin, bungees, poles and guy lines. Now you may well be asking what does this have to do with cooking? Well I'll tell you. If there's only one thing anyone takes away from this blog it's the ABSOLUTE mantra to never, ever, cook inside your tent. 


Every year people die because carbon monoxide from bbqs in their tent poisons them while they sleep. Why? Because the weather's a bit crap or it's easier to be near your bed. 


Well, if a tarp gives the protection from the wind and rain that makes you stop thinking about cooking inside, then I think it's a few quid well spent.

Simple, but effective

You can park the table, stove and all the other cooking stuff under it, so that even if the weather turns a bit grim you're dry. They also provide shelter from the sun - handy if the weather is unusually hot (I'm writing this during the wettest spring ever recorded in the UK). 


What you get depends on your budget and penchant. For the lightweight, no need for a tent, crew, then Alpkit's Rig is for you. If secretly you want to be 'in the field' then a camo tarp should be in your bergen.


If you're a tightwad like me then a huge blue monstrosity from Wickes should fit the bill. The important thing is take the right stuff to attach it to something. If you're camping in trees, then think bungees and paracord. If you're in a field then guylines, poles and paracord should be in the bag. 


But wherever you are, think about the following: 

• Which way is the wind generally blowing? Make sure the low end of the tarp is in that direction.
• Does the tarp have the right pitch? You want it to shed water quickly - if it's too flat then it will act as a massive bucket and end in tears - if not waterfalls.

This may not be the most exciting of posts - but if it saves anyone from the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning  - then that's surely a price worth paying.

Thanks for reading.