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$Kelty Noah\'s Tarp - 12\' x 12\'$

COOL GRAY

Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12'

$69.95

(12)

Item # 808940

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The Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 is an instant shade. This lightweight, affordable shelter is handy to have aboard for weather protection in a hurry—whether you are traveling over land or over water.

Take it camping, backpacking, boating, and to sporting events and festivals
Cantenary cut, no-sag, coated polyester taffeta allows a very taut pitch; features taped seams
Versatile 4-point shape can be pitched in a multitude of configurations
Reinforced nylon webbing pullouts; grommets allow the use of 2 extendable tarp poles, sold separately
Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 comes with four 7-ft. guylines, a Nite Ize® Figure 9™ guyline adjuster and a carry sack
Peak height varies based on setup configuration and location
Tarp poles sold separately

Imported.

Item 808940

$13.99

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

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Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12' Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12'

4.3

(based on 12 reviews)

92%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to set up (8)
Good design (7)
Lightweight (7)
Compact (5)
Durable (5)

Cons

Best Uses

Backyard (7)
Backcountry (6)
Day trip (5)
Backpacking (4)
Car camping (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (6), Casual/ recreational (5)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (8), Comfort driven (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (10)

Reviewed by 12 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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May

2013

4.0

Nice large tarp for covering hammock

By ABP in NC

from Durham, NC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Fly Works Well
Sturdy

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Backyard
Car Camping

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

I purchased this tarp to use for hammock camping while backpacking. It's a great size for this use and it can fully enclose my hammock to protect from windy rain or snow. My hammock is the Byer Easy Traveller, which is 84 inches long, and I hang the tarp with the middle of the 12' direction aligned over my hammock (not the diagonal as many do). Then you can either stake down the four corners, or stake down using the tieouts one increment in from each corner and use the remaining corner flaps as doors to close on each end around the hammock like a tent to really protect from the elements (note this requires a total of 8 stakes and guylines if you want to stake down the closed door flaps).

Because it is so large, it can be a pain to try to hang on my own. I've remedied this by first hanging a ridgeline for the tarp. Then I can hang the tarp over the ridgeline and adjust as necessary without dragging the tarp all over the place and getting caught up in it. There are various options for attaching the tarp to a ridgeline; I tied loops in the ridgeline and use little S-biners to connect the tarp tieout loops to the ridgeline loops to hold it in place on both sides.

This doesn't come with the accessories listed here... the 12'x12' comes with 6 guylines (four are shorter, about 7'-8', and two are twice as long), 6 silver metal stakes, and a carry bag. There is no Figure 9 biner. I'll eventually switch out the guylines because they could be smaller and lighter, but they work fine for now. I like the MSR groundhog stakes as a replacement or addition if you need extras; the groundhogs are the same size/weight and have a loop of reflective cord on the end that helps when pulling them out of the ground and makes them nicely visible in the dark with a headlamp. The carry bag that comes with the tarp is too large and bulky, so I'm swapping that out for something smaller.

This tarp kept me dry in a night of steady rain, and I even had to set the tarp and hammock up when it was already raining. The only negative is that, like many tents, some water may leak through in spots that you touch when you're inside the tarp, so beware of that and set up the guylines so that you have enough room to move around inside the tarp without touching the tarp much. I know I touched it in some places and there were a couple of drips, but nothing at all that affected me once I was hanging in my hammock. It's just the nature of this material. My setup kept me completely dry for the whole night, so I'm not concerned.

This is an effective and affordable option for backpacking with a hammock. Aside from water, it's the heaviest thing in my pack, but at about 2 pounds it's really not bad and I don't think you can get better for this size without going to a much more expensive material (cuban fiber).

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

5.0

Great tarp but misleading size

By Overpacked but Ultralight

from Delaware

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Sturdy

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

I use this tarp for backpacking. I stopped bringing a tent a few years back and have been relying on a hammock ever since. This has been a great multi purpose tarp for me. It's large enough to set up and congregate under with a few people. This brings me to my one point that I think needs mentioning. I have a cuben fiber tarp that has the standard hammock tarp shape. It's listed as an 11' tarp which is measured along the ridge line. The Kelty Noah's tarps are measured along the sides. They are square shaped. However, most people will pitch this like a diamond. This means the ridge line is actually nearly 17'. I like it, but when I was told I was getting a 12' tarp for my birthday, I was not expecting such a large tarp. However, the girlfriend gets 2 thumbs up. I actually carry this tarp more than my smaller tarp and find the weight difference to be far outweighed by it's utility.

One last note, this tarp has a ton of tie outs. The ridge line can be shortened very easily.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great tarp, but description needs update

By Jason Martin

from Tennessee

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

This is a well made tarp, but the product description and photo are off. The 12 x 12 I received matches the darker grey color shown on the 9' model. Also, the description says it comes with a Nite Ize figure 9, not mine did not. It DID come with 6 guy lines(as opposed to the 4 listed) and 6 x 6" Y-style aluminum stakes (not listed). Personally, I have stakes already and would have prefered the figure 9. Still, I am pleased with the tarp.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

I may have to buy the 16x16

By Lodge Pole

from Tamworth NH

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Waterproof
Windproof

Cons

Over Done Carry Bag

Best Uses

Backpacking
Backyard
Car Camping
Mountaineering

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

This tarp is not cool gray it is a burnish bronze.
It comes with 6 alloy stakes and 4 guy lines, with plastic sliders to tension the lines. I had been expecting the cool gray, but this seems to be a new color. I have a Kelty Vortex II and that is cool gray.

A square tarp is the only tarp IMO, and this is square enough to be set as a 'Diamond Shelter' for me solo, gear 2 up, and can be packed light and small for motorcycle camping off hand.
I also do winter camping and this item can be a lot of things there. Gear storage, wind break, Emergency Stretcher, or tent fly, and is just plain versatile.

I wish it came with a standard stuff sack instead of a zipper case made of the same nylon. I mix minimalist with comfort, so smaller storage in my pack is going to happen, and that case is going to stay home. I plan to change the line to far smaller line for less bulk. The 6 stakes are ok for dirt.

Service and delivery comments:

Great service from REI, This item arrived a day ahead of time!

Comment on this review

Sep

2012

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Tarp!

By Yukon Bill

from West Bloomfield, MI

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Set Up
Good Design
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backyard
Car Camping
Day Trips

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

Used this product for the first time last weekend while camping in an RV Park in South Bend, IN for the UM/ND football game. It took two of us about ten minutes to set up this tarp in rainy/windy conditions. Excellent design...very stable...kept us dry all weekend in a lot of rain (and wind).
Note that I used this tarp with the optional poles which I highly recommend. I also recommend replacing the supplied stakes with MSR Groundhog stakes.

Comment on this review

Sep

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

The proper design

By OtterOne

from west central Minnesota

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Good Design
Lightweight

Cons

Difficult Setup

Best Uses

Backcountry
Backyard
Day Trips
Travel

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

Finally had a reason to buy this tarp as I have wanted one like it for some time. My old $25 neighbood discount model finally bit the dust. This tarp follows principles developed by the Famous Frei Otto, and architect who explored ways to build temporary structures using tension principles. Hence the catenary cut. My old tarp was true square utilizing hem ropes for tightness.

This tarp is great and everything expected except the accessories have something to be desired. Unless you have a Troop of Scouts holding every corner while erecting the tarp, it is difficult to set up using two poles. This is improved by using the provided 4 guylines, 2 each, on the two ridge corners. The ridge has the seam line between the two opposing corners. Throw away the supplied keepers and either learn the tautline hitch or purchase or make tent guy line keepers that are fixed on the guys in the old fashioned way. Then find two additional guy lines for the wing sides and configure them the same. You will have six guy lines. Lay the tarp on the ground and stake out 2 each of the ridge guylines at about 45 degree angle from the ridge corners. Then slip the poles through the grommets on the ridge corners and raise the tarp, adjusting the guyline keepers as you go. The tarp will be self supporting. Then stake out the two opposing wing corners and adjust until taut. The whole tarp will be tensioned. A similar set will also work with three corners guyed out and one extra tall pole on the remaining ridge corner.
Note that the grommets are 5/16 of an inch inside diameter and most universal aluminum tent poles have 3/8 inch swaged tips. Either make some kind of adaptors with a 1/4 or 5/16 inch spike or buy poles with thin spikes. The stakes are also too small so I suggest getting some 9 inch plastic stakes, commonly found, as there will be wind and the provided stakes won't hold. Otherwise, it is a very nice tension structure and Frei Otto would be proud.

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Versatile and Lightweight

By flaxin

from Quincy. MA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Set Up
Easy to Use
Good Design
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry
Backyard
Day Trips

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

Really helpful tarp that packs light but makes a big footprint for covering a group cooking area, etc. The fabric loops along the edges give you flexibility when setting up as well as rigidity along the edges when the wind picks up.

Comment on this review

May

2012

(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Amazing!

By djminnesota

from Minnesota

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Set Up
Easy to Use
Good Design

Cons

Bulky
Heavy

Best Uses

Backcountry
Backyard
Day Trips
Winter Camping

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

I love this thing! I use it as my main hammocking tarp, and it has worked wonderfully. Normally, I set it up in a rectangular shape, and guy out the tie outs on the side. I can get four lawn chairs and gear under this thing!! Contrary to other reviews, it holds up just fine in the rain. for a more extended review, visit my blog- 52nog.blogspot.com

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

(6 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

If you want to block rain, forget it.

By danfromnapa

from Napa, Ca.

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Decent price
Easy to Use
Light weight
Strong well built

Cons

Barely blocks the sun
Does not block rain at al
Does not resist moisture
Leaks

Best Uses

Light shade

Comments about Kelty Noah's Tarp - 12' x 12':

I mistakenly thought this could be used to block rain water. It shed water just a bit better than a cloth sheet. Since it looked like tent fly material I thought it would shed water. Boy was I diappointed when Everything I had under it got wet. I really can't think of a good use for this thing. I have had other Kelty products and have been very satisfied. This sure in not one of them.