Need help choosing a tarp

**smalz1234** · 07-05-2017, 20:55

I want to choose between either a kelty noahs or the free soldier tarp currently liking the free soldier better and how long does a normal tarp have to be to be used as a winter tarp.

**Hanginw/sasquatch** · 07-05-2017, 21:55

I use the kelty 12 as my winter tarp till I can afford a better one. Can't give an opinion on the other but the kelty works well for decent coverage and flexibility.

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**Hanginw/sasquatch** · 07-05-2017, 21:57

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**Big Flounder** · 07-05-2017, 22:23

The Kelty is an awesome tarp for the money. Look around a bit and you'll find them on sale for a decent price. I really lucked out when I bought mine, as it was new for $30. I should have bought them all. Lol! I too use mine for a winter tarp until I can afford a better one with doors, but also take the Noah 12 if I'm car camping and/or expecting a lot of rain.

**SilvrSurfr** · 07-05-2017, 23:32

No comparison between the two - thousands of satisfied users of the Kelty Noah, as documented on this site. You'll be lucky to find one review of the Free Soldier tarp on HF.

**Big Flounder** · 07-05-2017, 23:48

Here's a pic of my Kelty Noah 12 in the upper peninsula, at my brother in law's cabin, over Memorial Day weekend. Everyone slept in the cabin while I opted to sleep outside in my hammock. Weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms, so I took the Noah instead of my smaller cuben fiber tarp. Glad I did as the skies cut loose one of the nights and it rained hard. My gear and I stayed dry as a bone under the Noah. I think for the money, it's hard to beat.

**smalz1234** · 07-06-2017, 09:01

Thank you all

**smalz1234** · 07-06-2017, 09:01

Originally Posted by Lost Woodsman

The Kelty is an awesome tarp for the money. Look around a bit and you'll find them on sale for a decent price. I really lucked out when I bought mine, as it was new for $30. I should have bought them all. Lol! I too use mine for a winter tarp until I can afford a better one with doors, but also take the Noah 12 if I'm car camping and/or expecting a lot of rain.

I want to ask where you found the tarp at for 30$ and what time of the year. Also i am a bushcrafter will this tarp work on the ground to make an a frame shelter like a normal tarp cause i almost doubt it can just because of the shape.

**Big Flounder** · 07-06-2017, 09:07

Originally Posted by smalz1234

I want to ask where you found the tarp at for 30$ and what time of the year. Also i am a bushcrafter will this tarp work on the ground to make an a frame shelter like a normal tarp cause i almost doubt it can just because of the shape.

I just had it pitched in the diamond shape, but it would make an A frame type shelter on the ground just fine. If you do a Google search for "Kelty Noah 12" and I'm sure you'll find a ton of pictures, some of which would be in the A frame set up.

I really lucked out when I found the tarp for $30. I was working a booth for some friends at the Midwest Outdoor Experience show in Dayton, Ohio. A few booths down from us was a vendor selling used backpacking gear, as well as stuff that was new they had bought from stores going out of business or on clearance sales. There was a pile of about a dozen Noah 12 tarps brand new, for 30 bucks each. I bought one but like I said, I should have bought them all. I want to say the show was in early October. Neat show if you're ever up that way around that time of year. http://outdoorx.metroparks.org/

**Big Flounder** · 07-06-2017, 09:09

Here you go, simple Google search for "Kelty Noah 12 A frame" came up with a lot of pics showing how big of a tarp it is, even in A frame mode.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kelt...w=1518&bih=723