That cheap tarp I bought at Walmart 3 years ago finally gave out last weekend

I remember grabbing this blue 8x10 tarp for like 8 bucks back in 2021 before a trip to Lake Tahoe. Last Saturday we got hit with a sudden storm at Morro Bay and the grommets just ripped clean off on one side. It was fine for 3 years of light use but the UV damage must have been building up. My buddy had one of those heavier duty 12oz canvas tarps and his held up perfect in the same wind. Has anyone found a budget tarp that actually lasts more than a couple seasons?

2 comments

2 Comments

kai6571mo ago

Yeah that sucks man. I've had the exact same thing happen with those cheap Walmart tarps. They're fine for a year maybe two but the sun just eats through them. I switched to the harbor freight medium duty ones. They're like 15 bucks but the grommets are actually reinforced. Got one that's been through three winters now still holding strong.

margaret2341mo ago

Kai657 is spot on about the harbor freight ones. I grabbed a 10x12 medium duty there two years ago and it's still going strong, no rips or anything. The key is spending that couple extra bucks upfront, even for a mid-range tarp it saves you from replacing the cheap ones every season lol.