Sea To Summit Escapist Tarp (only) – FIELD REVIEW

Category: Shelter & Sleep
Tested by: Jack
Location(s) tested: Fiordland, Queenstown area, tested in Personal trips.
Duration of use: 1+ years

Quick Verdict

Sea To Summit is a very well respected outdoor gear brand. This tarp can come with fly net tent as well as other features. for this review this is the base product. 

Key Specs

  • Weight: 340g Sm or 440g Lge 

  • Price (NZD): $250

  • Intended use: Backpacking, Tramping, Travel, Ultralight, Thru Hiking.

  • Conditions tested in: overnight, remote. 

Pros

  • Light 
  • Small
  • Adjustable

Cons

  • Tarp line adjustment system.
  • Unnecessarily small stuff sack
  • Less adjustable as some other options

Real-World Performance in NZ Conditions

how the gear actually performed on real trips.

  • Comfort: Good it is very light and relatively easy to setup for a tarp. Camping in tarps generally can be more comfortable then tenting but this one only ranks 3/5 because its string mechanism slips in windy or when they are firmly tight requiring an extra knot to secure.   3/5

  • Durability: Good, for how light it is it is relatively robust, I have used this on many occasions and it hasn’t sustained damage. still not rated highly because of the line tightening system slipping in wind if its setup the way it is intended from instructions I have seen. 

            3/5

  • Weather resistance: Great. for the same reasons as written above this tent would not be my most trusted shelter in a storm but in saying that you can wrap yourself in it in an emergency.

           4/5

  • Packability / weight: Weight Great this is an ultralight shelter. Packability, Good it doesn’t take up much space but the stuff sack is tiny making it a real unnecessary time consumer to pack away.

          3.5/5

  • Anything that stood out (good or bad):

  • THE GOOD: this tarp does have a user friendly setup and designed to be compatible with its inner (tent fly net) when you setup a frame which is pretty cool and for tarp beginners a great package. 
  • THE BAD 1.The tarp line mechanism may be just me but it is a serious annoyance. 2. The stuff sack is way too small. 3. There is no loop in the middle to hold the roof high in certain configurations. 4. This may be nit picking but it would be nice if there was extra line and loops provided with the tarp for different variations. 

Who This Gear Is (and Isn’t) For

This gear is a good choice if:

  • You want a first purchase tarp at a relatively affordable price.
  • You want a tarp specifically good for A frame design.
  • You want a tarp that is “trekking pole compatible” for conditions that may not have trees.

This gear is NOT a good choice if:

  • You want a more “storm friendly” system

Final Thoughts

Would you personally use this gear again? Yes and No

I own this tarp and will definitely use it again as I am the only reviewer who doesn’t have great things to say about this tarp and am testing regularly as I want it to be great.

No I wouldn’t use this tarp if I had other options available. This tarp “personally” doesn’t fit my style I would prefer a large square shaped tarp, more robust with a loop in the middle for holding the roof up in configurations or even to put a lamp on. I am still yet to find my perfect tarp as this is an awesome storm worthy style of camping but this will not be it for me.