Kelty Noah Tarp Review

If you’re looking for an easy-to-pitch, inexpensive tarp to use as a camp kitchen or shelter near the campfire, then Kelty’s Noah Tarp is it. The Noah Tarp is a catenary cut, easy-to-pitch tarp. It features 12 guy-points, tapped seams and quick-adjust line tensioners. It ships with a long but narrow stuff sack and guy lines. Stakes are sold separately.

Noah Tarp is Easy to Use

The tarp’s sides measures 9 feet by 9 feet, and although its sides measure the same, the diamond shape limits the usable space, which makes it good for a kitchen or dry area near the fire but not large enough to sleep comfortably under. The best feature is how easy it is to set-up. You tie the two center ridge lines to trees, and then stake out the remaining two guy lines. To make it taut, slide the adjustable tensioners. The included guy lines are long enough to stretch between two trees even when they’re far apart. Because it’s so easy to set-up, I found myself using it during lunches just to get out of the rain.

Limited Downsides

There aren’t many downsides to the Noah Tarp. Being picky, I would complain about the weight, 1 pound, 13 ounces, and stuff sack shape. With a lighter fabric, the tarp could weigh much less. For example, my Rab (Integral Designs) 8×10 Siltarp weighs only 14 ounces, but it cost more than twice as much. The stuff sack shape is an oblong 23 inches long by 5 inches wide. If you buy the optional poles, the stuff sack is long enough to hold them, but without there’s no reason for the long stuff sack. It just makes stuffing the tarp into it difficult.

This is one of the best tarp deals on the market, because it only costs $59.99.

Price: $59.99 Buy (Note: As of 2024, this tarp is no longer available. REI makes a similar tarp for $79.95. The link goes to REI’s tarp page.