What the Shelters department is for
Not every trip needs a full tent. A shelter is the lighter, quicker answer to one job: a roof over a hammock in the woods, shade on the beach, a screen against the wind, or a bag at the bottom of your rucksack in case a walk goes wrong. Most of what is here weighs far less than a tent and goes up in minutes, but each one does less than a tent does. Few have a floor, many have open sides, and some are made only for shade. This page sets out what each range is for, so you can find the one that fits the job in front of you.
The ranges in Shelters
- Emergency shelters are light mylar tube tents and emergency bags to carry in case you are caught out. See emergency shelters.
- Survival bivvy bags are bags to sleep or wait in, from reflective emergency bags to a Tyvek cover for your own sleeping bag. See survival bivvy bags.
- Tarps and tarp shelters are sheets that pitch into a roof between trees or on poles. See tarps and tarp shelters.
- Hammock tents are hammocks with a mosquito net, some with a rain fly or poles, and one hanging tent for two or three. See hammock tents.
- Sun shelters give shade with open sides, from a small beach shade to a canopy for a group. See sun shelters.
- Pop-up shelters spring open from the bag in seconds. See pop-up shelters.
- Windbreaks are screens that keep the wind off where you sit. See windbreaks.
How to choose between them
Start with what you need cover from. For sun, look at the sun shelters and pop-up shelters, which give a UV figure on the product page. For rain, a tarp or a hammock with a rain fly, and check the waterproof rating in millimetres. For wind, a windbreak, or a tarp pitched low with one edge to the ground on the side the wind comes from. For a night you did not plan, carry an emergency shelter or bag: it is a backup, not a replacement for a tent.
Then think about how far you carry it. The emergency bags here weigh as little as 110g and the lightest tarp about 160g, so they disappear into a rucksack. The big group canopies, tunnel shades and inflatable pop-ups are made to go in the car.
Questions people ask about shelters
Can I sleep under a tarp instead of a tent?
Yes, many walkers do. A tarp has no floor and open sides, so pair it with a groundsheet and a bivvy bag, and pitch it low in wind and rain. See groundsheets and footprints.
Is a sun shelter waterproof?
Some are and many are only for shade. Each product page says whether the fabric is waterproof and gives the rating where the maker states one.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
More to look at