Uploaded July 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video I show a simple thing you can make to keep your camping tarp compressed, dry, and super packable. All it takes are 2, 2-Liter pop/soda/coke bottles (the kind with the flat sides). I use my Kelty Noah's Tarp (the 12-footer) for this and it works great! If you use a silnylon tarp,this can be a big help in that it will allow you to compress the tarp and gives you two containers that you can use for other things once your camp is set up.
To do this simply...
1) cut 2, 2-liter, flat-sided pop/soda/coke bottles. Cut one just below the line where it tapers and the other one about halfway down. Make sure that there are no sharp edges around the rim after.
2) remove any adhesive from the label with WD-40 or "goo-gone" etc.
3) poke a small hole in the bottom of the smaller half so air can escape when compressing
4) roll your tarp up and insert it in the capsule. Be sure to tuck the seams in so they don't catch on the edges.
That's it!
The advantages of this include...
1) (almost) waterproof tarp container.Will definitely keep it dry if sitting in your pack right.
2) Bottles are multifunctional after tarp setup. Use the bigger one for water runs to the creek and the other for collecting tinder, wild edibles, rocks etc.
3) Compresses better than the provided nylon bag, or many other stuff sacks.
4) simpler to shove in the pack when you are done.
One disadvantage I can possibly see in doing this is that it is not very breathable, so if your tarp is wet, you won't want to leave it in there for more than a couple of days without drying it out first.
Hope you find this tip helpful! Let me know if you do this and use another kind of tarp so others can know if this will work for them as well.
See you outdoors!
----------
If this is your first time with us, my name is Dave, and David's Passage is the name of my vlog. This passage in life started with a desire to share my love of the outdoors with the world. My hope is that those who tune into my videos will be inspired to venture out and enjoy all of creation for what it's worth. This video blog features videos on an array of outdoor-related topics, as well as DIY projects that might just help you more fully enjoy the outdoors. New videos come out on Tuesdays at 3pm EST, so please subscribe and be on the lookout for new content soon!
----------
To keep up with what I'm doing outdoors, please subscribe to my channel and visit: davidspassage.com
You can also connect with me on twitter: twitter.com/davidspassage
and on Facebook: facebook.com/davidspassage
In this video I show a simple thing you can make to keep your camping tarp compressed, dry, and super packable. All it takes are 2, 2-Liter pop/soda/coke bottles (the kind with the flat sides). I use my Kelty Noah's Tarp (the 12-footer) for this and it works great! If you use a silnylon tarp,this can be a big help in that it will allow you to compress the tarp and gives you two containers that you can use for other things once your camp is set up.
To do this simply...
1) cut 2, 2-liter, flat-sided pop/soda/coke bottles. Cut one just below the line where it tapers and the other one about halfway down. Make sure that there are no sharp edges around the rim after.
2) remove any adhesive from the label with WD-40 or "goo-gone" etc.
3) poke a small hole in the bottom of the smaller half so air can escape when compressing
4) roll your tarp up and insert it in the capsule. Be sure to tuck the seams in so they don't catch on the edges.
That's it!
The advantages of this include...
1) (almost) waterproof tarp container.Will definitely keep it dry if sitting in your pack right.
2) Bottles are multifunctional after tarp setup. Use the bigger one for water runs to the creek and the other for collecting tinder, wild edibles, rocks etc.
3) Compresses better than the provided nylon bag, or many other stuff sacks.
4) simpler to shove in the pack when you are done.
One disadvantage I can possibly see in doing this is that it is not very breathable, so if your tarp is wet, you won't want to leave it in there for more than a couple of days without drying it out first.
Hope you find this tip helpful! Let me know if you do this and use another kind of tarp so others can know if this will work for them as well.
See you outdoors!
----------
If this is your first time with us, my name is Dave, and David's Passage is the name of my vlog. This passage in life started with a desire to share my love of the outdoors with the world. My hope is that those who tune into my videos will be inspired to venture out and enjoy all of creation for what it's worth. This video blog features videos on an array of outdoor-related topics, as well as DIY projects that might just help you more fully enjoy the outdoors. New videos come out on Tuesdays at 3pm EST, so please subscribe and be on the lookout for new content soon!
----------
To keep up with what I'm doing outdoors, please subscribe to my channel and visit: davidspassage.com
You can also connect with me on twitter: twitter.com/davidspassage
and on Facebook: facebook.com/davidspassage
