HOW TO: The Tarp Lean To

Today we want to show you how you can quickly set up your tarp or poncho as a "Lean To" using a tension cord - HERE is the crafting instructions. Let's get started!

First of all, what is a "Lean To"? Here you tension your tarp at the four corner points, so that two (usually) are fixed to the ground and two to trees. This creates a sloping surface under which you are protected from the weather.

Now we want to implement this. So we look for two trees that are at least as far apart as the width of our tarp. Wider is of course better. We tension our tension cord between these trees.

We hang one corner of the tarp into each carabiner of the tension cord. Now we can tension the tarp tightly thanks to the Prusik knot.

You anchor the other two corners firmly in the ground with pegs or sharpened sticks, and the "Lean To" is ready. We said at the beginning that it would be easy.

If you have a large tarp with 3x3m, you can also build a "Lean To" with a floor. In the picture you can see the Supertarp from Helikon-Tex. The first step is the same, so tension the cord and hang the tarp. Now, instead of securing the two free corners to the ground, you tension the midpoints.

This leaves you with a 1.5m wide floor that you can simply pull under the sloping roof at the front. The floor is ready. Of course, you can also use the quarter points, then you have a little less floor, but more roof.

That was the "Lean To". It is more suitable as a shade provider and does not offer as good protection in windy or heavy rain conditions. In that case, the "A-Frame" is recommended, which we want to introduce to you next time. Here you can see the assembly of the "Lean To" in moving pictures.