The best tarp for a beginner is the DOD Itsuka no Tarp. The fabric is about 420×410cm (12.9m²), sized for 3.7 people, with 2 poles, pegs and ropes included, at a list price of JPY 11,330. JPY 877 per m² is the lowest of the 10 tarps I could calculate. I ranked 5 tarps by headcount, including a LOGOS for families and a mont-bell for solo campers.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Choose a tarp by the fabric area that fits your headcount. I divide fabric area by 3.5 for a rough headcount. The Itsuka no Tarp is 12.9m², or 3.7 people. It costs JPY 11,330 with poles and pegs included, so there's nothing more to buy. So for a beginner's first tarp, this is my pick.
Key points
- The Itsuka no Tarp is 12.9m², sized for 3.7 people. JPY 877 per 1m² is the lowest among the 10 tarps I could calculate
- For 4 to 5 people, the LOGOS neos Hexa Tarp Set L-BB. 21.4m², sized for 6.1 people, with a total weight including poles of about 4.7kg (220g per m²)
- The mont-bell Mini Tarp HX weighs 870g, but poles are sold separately. Adding 2 poles makes it 1,410g and JPY 13,380
What is in this article (14 items)
- Hexa and rect tarps have different shade areas even at the same dimensions
- I looked at area, included parts, then ease of pitching
- How many people should the tarp be for?
- Where people stumble with tarps: headcount, parts, fire
- Quick table of 5 tarps for beginners
- What decided the order of the 5 tents
- No. 1 DOD Itsuka no Tarp | All-inclusive for JPY 11,330
- No. 2 LOGOS neos Hexa Tarp Set L-BB | For families of 4 to 5
- No. 3 Coleman Hexa Light II | Light, with a short packed length
- No. 4 mont-bell Mini Tarp HX | A solo roof at 870g
- No. 5 Coleman XP Hexa Tarp/MDX | The standard size for 4 to 5 people
- Re-checking the area for a family of 4 and for 3 people
- Who is it for?
- FAQ
Hexa and rect tarps have different shade areas even at the same dimensions
For the Snow Peak HD Tarp Shield, the official capacity is 4 people for the hexa (M) and 6 for the rect (M). The fabric is 475×420cm for the hexa and 415×340cm for the rect. The hexa is bigger, yet fits 2 fewer people.
The reason is shape. A hexa is a rectangle with its four corners cut off, so its area is length × width × 0.75. In this article I worked out fabric area with that formula and divided by 3.5m² for a rough headcount. I ranked on headcount, price per m² and ease of pitching.
I looked at area, included parts, then ease of pitching
First I looked at fabric area. Divide the three hexas with an official capacity by area and you get 3.5 to 3.7m² per person. So I use area ÷ 3.5 as the rough headcount.
When you spend over half the year camping, the tarp is the gear you pitch and pack away most often. For a beginner, whether poles and pegs come with it is an important test too.
How many people should the tarp be for?
For a family of 4, a hexa of around 440×430cm. At 3.5m² each, 4 people need 14m², and a hexa needs length × width of 18.7m² or more (14 ÷ 0.75). For solo camping, around 7m² of fabric, or a hexa of around 340×280cm.
A hexa is easier to pitch and is said to suit beginners. I wrote up the calculations for 12 tarps by size in tarp sizes and headcounts compared.
Where people stumble with tarps: headcount, parts, fire
- Headcount: fabric area ÷ 3.5 is the guide. For breathing room, choose one size up.
- Included items: is it a set with poles, pegs and ropes? If they're sold separately, the cost grows later, as with 1,410g and JPY 13,380.
- Fire: don't light a fire under or beside a tarp. Even flame-retardant ones are no-fire.
Quick table of 5 tarps for beginners
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Fabric area | Headcount guide | Price per ㎡ | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 DOD Itsuka no Tarp | 12.9㎡ | 3.7 people | JPY 877 | JPY 11,330 |
| No. 2 LOGOS neos Hexa Tarp Set L-BB | 21.4㎡ | 6.1 people | JPY 1,106 | JPY 23,650 |
| No. 3 Coleman Hexa Light II | 13.2㎡ | 3.8 people | JPY 1,397 | JPY 18,480 |
| No. 4 mont-bell Mini Tarp HX | 7.1㎡ | 2.0 people | JPY 1,885 | JPY 8,100 |
| No. 5 Coleman XP Hexa Tarp/MDX | 15.0㎡ | 4.3 people | JPY 1,598 | JPY 23,980 |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
DOD Itsuka no Tarp
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 10,119 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by up to JPY 14,220 between shops. Prices change daily.
What decided the order of the 5 tents
| Rank | Model | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itsuka no Tarp | Poles and pegs included at JPY 11,330. JPY 877 per 1m² is the lowest. But total weight is about 5.4kg |
| 2 | neos L-BB | 21.4m², sized for 6.1 people. Light at 220g per m² with poles included |
| 3 | Hexa Light II | 0.7kg lighter than the Itsuka no Tarp, with a packed length 24cm shorter. Waterproof rating about 1,200mm |
| 4 | Mini Tarp HX | At 870g, for solo use. Poles are sold separately, and the pitched height is 165cm and 137cm |
| 5 | XP Hexa Tarp/MDX | 15.0m², 4.3 people. JPY 23,980, and 506g per 1m² |
No. 1 DOD Itsuka no Tarp | All-inclusive for JPY 11,330
I'll say it with some heat. 2 poles, pegs and ropes are included, at a list price of JPY 11,330. The fabric is 150 denier with a minimum waterproof rating of 2,000mm, thicker on paper than the similarly sized Coleman Hexa Light II (75 denier, about 1,200mm). You can pitch it the day you buy it.
This is a weak point. The poles are steel, and the total weight is about 5.4kg. At 418g per m², it is heavier than the Hexa Light II's 355g. The material is polyester, so take care not to light a fire under the tarp.
No. 2 LOGOS neos Hexa Tarp Set L-BB | For families of 4 to 5
The fabric is about 570×500cm, or 21.4m². Divided among 5 people, that is still 4.3m² each. With poles and pegs the total weight is about 4.7kg, and 220g per m² was the lightest figure among sets with poles. The price per m² is JPY 1,106, about 0.6 times that of the Snow Peak set of the same 570×500cm (JPY 1,853).
This is a weak point. Even with a flame-retardant sheet, fire is banned under and beside the tarp. It can be too big for families who often use small campsite plots.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
LOGOS neos Hexa Tarp Set L-BB
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 18,303 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by up to JPY 23,700 between shops. Prices change daily.
No. 3 Coleman Hexa Light II | Light, with a short packed length
About 420×420cm, or 13.2m². It is 0.7kg lighter than the Itsuka no Tarp, and its packed length is 24cm shorter. It's for people who want to stand it in a gap in the cargo area. The list price is JPY 18,480, or JPY 1,397 per m².
This is a weak point. The waterproof rating is about 1,200mm, lower than No. 1's 2,000mm. If you'll use it in a rainy season, choose one with a higher number.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Coleman Hexa Light II
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 15,860 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by up to JPY 20,761 between shops. Prices change daily.
No. 4 mont-bell Mini Tarp HX | A solo roof at 870g
870g with pegs, guy lines and a sack. Even with the 2 recommended poles (165cm) added it is 1,410g, and it packs to 12.5×23cm in diameter and length. It suits people who want to carry a light sun and rain cover for solo camping.
This is a weak point. Poles are sold separately, and the pitched height is 165cm and 137cm. It isn't a height you can stand and walk under, but a roof to sit under.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
mont-bell Mini Tarp HX
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 12,570 (as of 10/20). Prices change daily.
No. 5 Coleman XP Hexa Tarp/MDX | The standard size for 4 to 5 people
About 460×435cm, or 15.0m², sized for 4.3 people. It is 75 denier with a waterproof rating of about 1,500mm and a list price of JPY 23,980. At 506g per m², it is heavier than the neos L-BB. It's a candidate for a family of 4 who care about how it pairs with their tent.
Re-checking the area for a family of 4 and for 3 people
4 people need 14㎡ (3.5 × 4). Two tarps reach it: the Neos L-BB (21.4㎡) and the XP Hexa Tarp/MDX (15.0㎡). The Neos L-BB is 6.4㎡ larger than the XP and JPY 330 cheaper (23,980 − 23,650).
The Itsuka no Tarp (12.9㎡) falls 1.1㎡ short for 4 people. For 3 people you need 10.5㎡ (3.5 × 3), which leaves 2.4㎡ to spare. If you start at JPY 11,330 with nothing more to buy, it is a tarp for up to 3 people: 1 tarp.
Who is it for?
Who it suits most: people who want to settle their first tarp cheaply for 3 to 4 people with family or friends. With the Itsuka no Tarp, there's nothing more to buy. For 5 or more people, the neos L-BB; for solo, the Mini Tarp HX, chosen by fabric area.
If you haven't settled on a tent, choose Best Tents for Beginners: 5 Picks first, and the tarp's headcount follows. For fire, choose from Best Fire Pits for Beginners: 5 Picks.
FAQ
What is the best tarp for a beginner?
The DOD Itsuka no Tarp. About 420×410cm, sized for 3.7 people, with poles and pegs included, at a list price of JPY 11,330.
Hexa tarp or rectangular tarp: which is wider?
For the same dimensions, the rectangular one. At 570 × 500cm, a rectangular tarp is 28.5㎡ and a hexa is 21.4㎡, 75% of length × width as an upper guide.
What do I need to buy extra for a tarp with poles sold separately?
Match the length and number of poles it takes. mont-bell lists 2 poles of 165cm for the Mini Tarp HX and 2 poles of 240cm for the Big Tarp HX.
Is a lower price per square meter always better for a tarp?
It is a guide to value, but whether it covers your group comes first. The mont-bell Mini Tarp HX looks pricey at JPY 1,885 per square meter, yet it is enough for one person (7.1㎡, 2.0 people). The Itsuka no Tarp (JPY 877) is not enough for 4.
