Customer Reviews

Kelty Noahs Tarp

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am an avid canoe camper and have been using various sizes of Keltys' Noahs tarps for years. They are versatile and seemingly bulletproof. I have had my 12' model in winds in excess of 45MPH and it fared extremely well. This is an upgrade to a larger model for me- I normally set two tarps in addidtion to my tent, one as a kitchen and the other as a viewspace- this will take over kitchen duty.

Got this tarp for my 30th birthday and took it out the next weekend to use for an overnighter on the Uwharrie Trail. For a single person overnight, this tarp is awesome. With four stakes, four guy ropes, and no poles, this thing weighs next to nothing and fits anywhere in or on my backpack. I didn't set it up as pictured; instead, I staked three corners to the ground to form a triangle, and used my trek pole to hold up the fourth corner. This worked well because I oriented the sides staked to the ground so that the open end was out of the wind. There are numerous guy points all over the tarp. Since I had only used one rope for the initial setup, I attached two more along the middle axis of the tarp and then tied them to a tree to give me a little more space inside.

A word to the wise, though: Kelty has some illustrations showing how you can fit a BUNCH of people under this tarp. I tried setting the tarp up several different ways in my back yard, and I think that more than two people might feel a little crowded with any configuration.

I found the Noah 12' Tarp to be lighter, and packed smaller than anticipated. While provided with 4 ea., stakes, tie down lines, and line adjusters, I recommend users have on hand at least 4 additional light weight stakes and lines, and one long heavy line with 2 ti 4 heavier stakes to secure the tarp in windy conditions or in small oddly shaped spaces. My initial use has been limited to benign conditions, however, I am confident with the numerous tie down loops on the perimeter and in the center of the tarp, it can be rigged securely in any shape space and weather.

Great design&liteweight make this tarp perfect for solo trekkers who need a sturdy&lrg sq ft. The Nite Ize cord clips work great,I even bought an extra set.Just be sure to always keep the tarp well secured to prevent leaks from pooled water,and exessive flapping which can lead to damage and a wet nite in the wilds!

I should have sent it back when I realized they only provided 4 stakes for a 16 ft wing. Under tension, with very light rain and little wind, it popped two grommets and almost lost a third. I replaced it with an MSR outfitter wing but it was quite a bit more.

I didn't buy this from Amazon but rather at an REI sale. I have owned it for about 4 years now and have never experienced any negative issues with this tarp. The only negative (hence the 4 stars instead of 5) is the lack of stakes. I am reviewing the tarp, not the stakes, but Kelty really could double the number of stakes to at least 8. I use MSR brand Ground Hog stakes instead of the flimsy ones that come with the tarp. I usually carry 8 on me. If you need more, just whittle a couple up.

When strung overhead, the Noah's tarp 9 covers my hammock, as well as providing a sheltered kitchen and small "common" area. I have used it configured as a wickiup style shelter with a single wood pole and stakes when we knew we couldn't outrun a bad summer storm on a day-hike. Yes I carry one tarp or another (among other "survival" items) every time I go off into the woods. It has kept me bone-dry in a 36 hour torrential downpour with 30-40 mph wind gusts. Granted however, It helps to know how to rig this tarp in multiple configurations ahead of time.

Since 1984 I have been using Kelty packs/tents and their craftsmanship AND customer service are impeccable. Heck, I named one of my dogs "Kelty" after Dick Kelty. When I was in the market for a larger heavier tarp than the "Siltarp's" I use, I didn't hesitate to purchase a Noah's tarp by Kelty. They have been making these type products long enough to know how to build quality into the product. Attention to detail in the stitching, how the fabric is cut, plenty of guy-out points, waterproofing, etc.

I have never so much as popped a stitch, even while pulling the lines tight using Alpine Butterfly knots for tension. I can't believe for a second that if you properly tie this tarp out its gonna shred to pieces... mine never has.

I also feel I need to address the subject of UV damage since it was mentioned in another review. If Amazon didn't mention the possibility of UV damage with prolonged sun exposure in the item description.. But the manufacturer does warn against it in the owners manual.. be upset with Amazon not the manufacturer. The last time I checked UV rays were not good for any type of fabric.

In my opinion this is a piece of backpacking/camping equipment. It is not intended to be setup and left in one spot all summer long. If you do that it probably will get damaged. It's definitely not for the beach either.. We tried :(

If you hammock camp, and have ever woke in the middle of the night because your 5'x8' tarp is letting sideways rain get to you.. You will appreciate being able to pin the sides of this tarp tight to the ground. My Noah tarp is part of my year-round sleep system. I love it!

Thanks for reading!

Bought 2...shame on me for spending money on junk. Stakes are cheap; guylines are string; one tarp totally disintegrated after 2 months. Sent the tarp back to Kelty and they blame UV damage on the tent...easy out. Kelty should warn about UV damage on the Amazon listing instead of the last page of their instruction book after purchase.
Don't waste your hard earned money on this product.

Love this tarp! However. Some things to think about.

-This is not really a backpacking tarp.

-This tarp is freaking huge. No really. You read 12' and it's like, ok, what ever. But when you go to stretch it out you realize you only needed 8.

(I'm not knocking the tarp, It's great, hell I bought two, it's just over kill for a lot of things.)

-Very well built.

-Nice color, almost an off greyish, not as white or blue as it looks in the photo.

-Will actually stuff back into the bag with out needing to fold up.

That's all I got. If you want a big freaking tarp, you will be very happy with this one.

It is odd to me that some other reviewers complained about poor quality. I've used my 16 foot Noahs tarp for 3 or 4 years and it still works great. It has stretched a little from strong winds or over tightening but it works great and is light weight. I was checking Amazon so I could buy a second (since my cheap tents don't handle the storms well) and I was surprised to see any negative reviews so I figured I'd put my 2 cents in.
After 3 or 4 years, I'm adding a second. Not because the first one failed but because I want two.

I was essentially in the market for an EZ-up pop up tent. The problems with EZ ups are they are bulky and heavy, must be weighted down to prevent winds from ripping them away, and require multiple people to set up and take down. Plus they have limited utilities in my opinion as I want something I can use as a shade tent at the park and something I can use off the side of my car for an improptu shelter.

So enter the Kelty Noah Tarp! It's everything I hoped it would be. Lightweight, easy to pack, and I can put it up by myself. I do wish it had grommets on all four corners, but I have even used a blunt ended pole to put three corners on poles and the fourth corner tied to a tree. It worked great. This tarp is exactly what I was looking for and I would recommend it to anybody.