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They aren’t the tallest or the shortest when packed, but they are strong, lightweight, and super versatile when building shelters. Camping wild is a great way to get away from the stress of modern life and get a little closer to nature.
The idea is that if you can’t find a place to hang your hammock, then you can use the tarp… But what if you are above the tree line and you can’t even find a single tie-off point that is suitable? VERDICT: The Six Moon Designs 49-inch carbon fiber tent pole is our number one recommendation to anyone who wants a taut shelter.
Another set of tarp poles worth mentioning are the Exped 115 Tarp Poles which didn’t make the list because they seem to be rather hard to come by these days. If you want to stay lightweight, you will have to put up with shorter poles, but if you want the comfort that headspace brings, then these long tarp poles might be what you need. The Azarxis Aluminum Alloy Tarp Poles are a happy medium between affordability and lightweight gear you can trust.
The Kelty Staff Tarp Pole is designed to work perfectly with the Kelty Noah’s Tarp but will provide plenty of structural integrity to any tarp shelter set up. They provide excellent rain and bug protection but are very limited in what they can do compared to a tarp, and if a pole or zip breaks in heavy wind, replacements are expensive. It does also come in a steel version, which is cheaper, and an adjustable version, which is heavier, but I think the Aluminium Staff Tarp Pole offers the best all-around performance. If you consider that your average lightweight 1-2 man backpacking tent is less than 100 cm high inside, you can safely assume that a 110 cm tarp pole will give you a similar amount of headroom. VERDICT: The Kelty Staff Pole is a favorite of wild campers and backpackers around the world who like to get closer to nature with a tarp tent.The Six Moon Designs carbon-fiber tarp pole also comes in a 45″ version, but as they weigh almost the same as each other, I would always opt for the longer version. The 8-foot pole is more suitable for larger groups, and the set of 4-foot poles is ideal for solo camping, but 5 feet is a workable size for most people and situations. VERDICT: The MSR Adjustable Tarp Pole is an excellent choice for lightweight backpackers and hikers who want a tarp pole that won’t bend in the wind and will support the center of the roof. At just 364 grams for the pair, these tarp poles are super lightweight and lighter than a pair of most hiking poles. Any time I go hiking with a wild camp, these are the poles I take; if I have the car close by, then I will often take something longer and thicker.
Not a bad choice for beach shelters, festivals, and small groups but quite bulky for small solo campers. They come in a nice fabric roll bag with 3 x stakes and guy lines, which weigh an additional 140 grams, but you can leave that at home if you wish. The 5-foot pole, though, is ideal to use on its own for lightweight campers or as a pair for a spacious pitched shelter. VERDICT: This set of two adjustable tarp poles by Odoland is great if you like to set your tarp up first and adjust your tarp poles to create tension on the roof. For other people, the length and/or pack size may be more important than weight, as this often dictates whether you would be better with 2.The Paria Outdoor Products Adjustable Tarp and Tent Poles are not the lightest, but they are incredibly sturdy and versatile. These are not designed for the ultra-lightweight backpacker, but they are solid, and you don’t have to worry about them breaking in heavy winds. These tarp shafts are fairly lightweight for the money and offer decent headroom, but the pack size isn’t too good at 67 cm. Tarp poles are essential for pitching a rain fly, but should you be looking at tents and hammocks instead?
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