The Carp Tarp is overlooked by Carp anglers even though it offers a range of advantages over conventional brollies and bivvies. Let’s look at the Carp Tarps available on the UK market and go into the real-world experience of using them.
What Is A Carp Tarp?
A carp Tarp is a lightweight, waterproof sheet carp anglers use as a minimalist shelter. They are typically made from tough, weather-resistant materials like nylon or ripstop polyester, often with multiple reinforced eyelets or loops for pegging out or attaching to trees, rods, or storm poles.
Advantages Of The Carp Tarp
A carp tarp offers several advantages over regular bivvies and brollies:
- Carp tarps are incredibly versatile, quick and easy to set up.
- Ideal for short sessions or mobile anglers who move swims frequently.
- Much smaller and lighter than bivvies or shelters—can be carried easily in a rucksack, bag or barrow.
- Can be set up in multiple configurations (lean-to, A-frame, diamond, over a brolly, etc.).
- Less visible/obvious to other anglers and the general public
- Good airflow
- 100% waterproof
- Reduced condensation build-up compared to enclosed shelters.
- Cheaper than full shelters or bivvies.
- Great as a backup shelter.
- Great for tight swims.
- Can be set up with a groundsheet built in.
- Can be used as a groundsheet.
- Can be used as a cover to keep your gear dry.
- Can be used as a bedchair cover
Who Makes Carp Tarps?
Carp Tarps are available from several manufacturers, which include:
Nash Bank Life Multi Tarp Camo
Made from 3000mm waterproof enlarged camo nylon, the Nash Bank Life Multi Tarp Camo blends seamlessly into the surroundings while keeping rain and UV rays off.
The Nash tarp has two four-section locking poles, which can be broken down into shorter supports to customise your tarp configuration.
Packed dimensions are compact at 78cm x 26cm, and at 5.6kg, it includes everything—guy ropes, T pegs, and a carry bag.
- Open dimensions: 377cm (W) x 304cm (D) x 235cm (H)
- Weight: 5.6kg
Nash Bank Life Multi Tarp XL Camo
If you need even more room for social setups or gear-heavy sessions, the Nash Multi Tarp XL version delivers expanded coverage without sacrificing portability.
With a wider footprint and the same rugged camo fabric, it’s ideal for group angling or making a base camp in unpredictable weather.
Supplied with the same versatile pole system and fixtures, the XL is a stable and reliable shelter.
- Open dimensions: 460cm (W) x 364cm (D) x 235cm (H)
- Weight: 6.4kg
- Packed size: 80cm x 28cm
Fox Camo Tarp
The Fox Camo Tarp has a generous pitch size of 430cm x 345cm x 200cm. It’s perfect for extending bivvies, sheltering cooking areas, or keeping bait and tackle dry in heavy rain.
The fully waterproof khaki polyester laminate blocks sunlight and moisture, while reinforced corners, storm poles, cords, and pegs ensure a rock-solid pitch in minutes.
- Material: 100% waterproof polyester laminate
- Supplied with Storm poles, guy ropes, pegs, and a carry bag
Fox Voyager Tarp (Large & Small)
The Fox Voyager Tarp range combines the flexibility of lightweight camping tarps with the durability carp anglers demand. Available in two sizes, both tarps come equipped with 4-part adjustable poles, allowing multiple pitch heights and setups.
Use the Tarp to create a quick overhead shelter, bivvy extension, or shaded work area. The khaki laminate blocks sunlight and enhances stealth, while reinforced corners and guy line eyelets improve overall tension and structure.
- Large: 430cm x 345cm | Weight: 2.55kg
- Small: 320cm x 320cm | Weight: 2.15kg
- Both come with Pegs, guy cords and a carry bag
- Packed dimensions: 60cm x 10cm (both sizes)
Wychwood Tactical Carp Tarp
The Wychwood Tactical Carp Tarp is a true multi-tool for the modern carp angler. Made from 10,000mm hydrostatic head HD ripstop material, it offers waterproof protection with a minimal footprint.
The standard size (250cm x 150cm) weighs just 800g, making it ideal for mobile anglers and overnighters. It features Velcro loop fastenings on all four edges, allowing it to double up as a bedchair cover, barrow protector, or emergency shelter.
Reinforced webbing loops and corner pole slots open up endless setup options, while the included 5m reflective cord ensures it’s easy to find in low light.
- Dimensions: 250cm x 150cm
- Weight: 800g
Wychwood Tactical Carp Tarp XL
The Tactical Carp Tarp XL measures 285cm x 185cm and weighs 950g. It shares the same high-spec waterproof ripstop fabric as the standard version. Ideal for covering larger bedchairs or kitting out a more spacious overnight setup, it also features 18 reinforced webbing loops, storm pole pockets in all four corners, and flexible pitching options.
- Dimensions: 285cm x 185cm
- Weight: 950g
DD Hammocks Tarp 3×3 Multicam
While not a fishing-specific product, the DD Hammocks Tarp 3×3 works great for Carp Fishing. Weighing just 790g, this 3m x 3m tarp is ultra-packable, fully waterproof (PU 3000mm), and equipped with 19 reinforced attachment points.
The Tarp’s unique DD Multicam print will blend into various outdoor settings, from dense woodland to reed-lined banks.
Use it as a lean-to, A-frame, bivvy extension or even a quick shelter for your cooking area. Built for the outdoors and trusted by military and bushcraft enthusiasts worldwide.
- Dimensions: 3m x 3m
- Material: 190T polyester with PU waterproof coating
- Weight: 790g
- Includes: 4 pegs, guy lines, stuff sack
DD Hammocks Tarps are also available in 4.5×3 m, 3.5×3.5m, 3.5×2.4m, and a compact 2.8×1.5m version.
Carp Traps Compared
All the above Carp Tarps are compared in the table below.
Personal Experience Using Carp Tarps
When it was released, I got the Wychwood Tactical Cap Tarp and was fishing short afternoon/evening sessions on day-only water.
The Wychwood Tarp is small, extremely lightweight and easy to carry. I used it with a standard carp chair during brief showers on several occasions. While sitting under it wasn’t that comfortable, it worked and kept all my gear and me dry.
I have also used the Wychwood Tarp as a groundsheet on overnighters under a brolly, and it worked great. It’s smaller and lighter than standard ground sheets like the Trakker Tempest groundsheet.
A while back, I fished a few nights on local water, which had to be accessed by walking, navigating through tight spaces, and fishing in tight path-like swims. A barrow wasn’t an option, nor was a brolly, so I opted for the Tarp.
The first night, I used the standard Tarp over my bedchair (example pic below). It rained heavier than forecast, and I got soaked and abandoned the session.
While the standard Whychwood Tarp will work for dry overnighters, I didn’t feel it was big enough to deal with rain.
Following this, I ordered the DD Hammocks 3×3 multi-camo tarp. I played with different configurations in my garden (pics below), the first couple of nights, and I set it up with my bedchair over the Tarp on the ground on the front edge (so there was some groundsheet). On the other side of the bedchair, I had my rod back with a rucksack at the head end, then wrapped around the Tarp. I pegged it in the corner by the foot end of my bedchair and attached the head end to two storm rods via converted storm caps (pic below).
This configuration was extremely warm and kept me dry from the rain. The storm rods, however, had lost their tension by the morning.
Following this, I learned to tie jungle knots and set up the Tarp again on the ground with my bedchair on the front edge, rod bag and rucksack on the ground on the other side of the bedchair, Tarp wrapped around, and ropes attached to trees at the front of the swim. There was ample room underneath, and my rucksack, higher than the bedchair, created some nice headroom. The side of each Tarp was pegged into the ground, adding some shape and shelter (pics below). The ropes were attached to trees at the front of the swim, which made the Tarp solid. This setup offered more room than the first setup (although it was not as warm), and the gain kept me dry during rain.
Conclusion
The Tarp offers more airflow and freedom than a standard brolly system/bivvy, and you can see more of your surroundings. The Tarp is easy to set up, put away, carry, and dry out following a session. The only downside is that tarps do not offer the same level of protection as brollies and bivvies, but if your Tarp is big enough, it can be set up to protect you and your gear from the elements.
Carp tarps are extremely versatile and excellent for the lightweight/mobile angler, and they are even a useful addition to the session angler. I like mine so much that I’ll probably use it occasionally at Carp Lakes over my Trakker Tempest (weather and swim permitting).
The two tips I give to anyone buying or using a tarp are:
If you attach it to trees or bushes, your Tarp setup will be more comfortable, solid, and satisfying.
When buying a Tarp, ensure it’s big enough for you and your gear. A Tarp that’s too big is better than one that is too small.