My switch from a cheap tarp to a proper rain fly after a storm in the Smokies

For years I just used the same blue tarp I bought at a hardware store for $8. It worked okay for a while, but last June I got caught in a nasty thunderstorm near Clingmans Dome. That tarp ripped right at the grommet around 2 AM, and my whole sleeping bag got soaked. I switched to a silnylon rain fly from a local outfitter in Gatlinburg, cost me about $60. The first night I tested it in a drizzle, not a single drop got through. Has anyone else made a similar switch and regretted not doing it sooner?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia_allen2mo ago

2 AM in a thunderstorm on Clingmans Dome with a ripped tarp? That sounds like an absolute nightmare, I can't believe you had to deal with that. I've always wondered how people trust those cheap tarps for real weather when a proper rain fly is built for it. Silnylon is a game changer for sure, glad you finally got one.

tyler_wilson2mo ago

I mean, a ripped grommet at 2 AM in the rain definitely sounds annoying, but come on. "Absolute nightmare"? It's just a wet sleeping bag lol. You dry out in a few hours.

the_evan1mo ago

Dude I've been there and it sucks way worse than people realize lol. I had a cheap tarp rip on me during a downpour in the Smokies once and it wasn't just a wet bag, it was everything soaked including my clothes and food. Took me almost a full day to dry out even with the sun out because the humidity just hangs there. What finally worked for me was switching to a silnylon tarp with reinforced corners and guylines I tied myself. Also started carrying a small piece of tyvek to throw under the bag as a backup ground cloth. Total game changer for peace of mind.