Tent or Tarp Shelter: Which Camping Shelter Do You Need?

You are packing for a weekend outdoors and you have room for one shelter. Do you bring a tent or a tarp? The answer depends on how many people are going, how much rain you expect and how you like to sleep. Nu'Jants lists one of each, and the product pages give enough detail to compare them honestly.

The dome tent

The 3-4 Person Camping Dome Camouflage Tent page shows prices starting from $57.99 today. It is described as waterproof and windproof, with breathable mesh windows for ventilation. The dome shape gives headroom, and the interior is described as roomy enough for sleeping bags and gear. The page says it is easy to set up and take down, and that the camouflage design suits hunting and other outdoor activities.

The package includes one tent, four metal mounting stakes and one carrying bag. That is useful to know before you pack, because you will not need to buy stakes separately for the basic setup.

The tarp shelter

The Rainproof Camping Hammock and Tent Tarp Shelter page shows prices starting from $43.99 today. It is made of solid Oxford fabric and described as waterproof, built to protect hammocks or tents from rain and snow. The page offers three sizes: small at 118 by 118 inches, medium at 157 by 118 inches and large at 197 by 118 inches. Colors include dark grey, brown and army green.

How to decide

• Pick the tent if you want walls, a floor and a space that keeps bugs out. It sleeps three to four people, per the page.

• Pick the tarp if you sleep in a hammock, or if you want a dry area over a campfire or picnic table.

• Pick both if you camp in rain-prone places. A tarp stretched over a tent gives you a dry spot to sit and cook.

• Pick the larger tarp size if you are covering a group, and the small one if you are covering one hammock.

What the pages do not say

Neither page lists a packed weight, a pole material or a season rating. If you are planning a long hike with a heavy pack, ask about weight before you order through the contact page post. For car camping, those numbers matter less.

A simple weekend setup

For a family weekend near the car, the dome tent plus a medium tarp gives you a place to sleep and a place to sit when it rains. Add a waterproof 100L hiking backpack if you are carrying gear in from a distance, and an insulated tumbler for the morning. The best insulated tumblers guide has ideas.

Paying for it

Shipping at Nu'Jants is a flat $5.99 on every order, and Afterpay, Klarna and Affirm are available at checkout if you would rather pay in 4. A share of every Nu'Jants sale also goes to the American Red Cross.

See the whole Outdoors collection, or read about a gift for the hiker in your life in the mountain necklace post.

One more thing before you check out: new subscribers can claim a free pillow. The details are in this post about the free Roses Are Red pillow.