You will notice that some of the best tarp poles on this list come in pairs, and others are sold in singles. This isn’t what makes one pole better than the other; it just depends on what kind of shelter you want. The Odoland Adjustable Tarp Poles come as a set that by no means could be classed as lightweight, but you can obviously cut the weight in half by just taking one pole. The length of these tarp poles is ideal for creating steeply pitched rooves or raised shelters that let a breeze through. The Kelty Noah adjustable aluminum pole comes as a one-piece. It weighs 1 pound 8 ounces, has a collapsed size of 2 feet 4.75 inches and extends from 6 feet 8 inches to a maximum of 8 feet 3 inches. It has three sections, of which one segment is telescopic, and features a non-slip rubber foot and two-inch grommet spigot. The Verdict The Kelty Staff Tarp Pole is designed to work perfectly with the Kelty Noah’s Tarp but will provide plenty of structural integrity to any tarp shelter set up. We recommend getting two for a simple freestanding pitched roof design, but it is tall enough to work on its own.

The Kelty Noah Adjustable Aluminum Pole was our best overall tarp pole. It’s versatile and can be used to create a shelter with a significant amount of head room reaching heights of 8 feet 3 inches. It can also be used to support an awning, build a shelter for shade, or many other tarp configurations. Whatever your camping needs, this pole will certainly stand up to it. The Paria Outdoor Products Adjustable Tarp and Tent Poles are not the lightest, but they are incredibly sturdy and versatile. There is a wide rubber foot on one end so that it works on practically any surface and a thinner tin at the top, which has excellent clearance through tarp eyelets. Weather is unpredictable, and if you’re caught in heavy rain, then these would be the best tarp poles to use to create a pitched shelter. If you extend them to their full length of 8 feet 2.4 inches, this will help in shedding the heavy rain. If you’re car camping, the adjustable pole would be perfect to set up a shade shelter with your tarp. In Summary These poles are strong enough to withstand adverse conditions with a large tarp, like the 16 x 16 feet Kelty Noah tarp, especially if you anchor them properly. This pole will extend high enough if you’re setting up a shade shelter or using it to stabilize your tarp as a windbreak.

Using Trekking Poles With Your Tarp

If you need your tarp to be low to the ground, you can adjust the height by removing segments of these poles. You can combine all sections together so that you’re able to create one long pole; this could come in handy if you need to set up a diamond shelter, and you find yourself in an area without trees. However, most do seem to be on the heavier side. Whatever way you look at it, it is still far lighter than most tents and far cheaper than a Hilleberg! Length You could also use them to set up an awning on a camper to have a protective shelter to sit beneath. You could use the poles to pitch a tent, as the removable, anti-slip, silicone tip would prevent any tears or damage to the canvas. In Summary These tarp poles are versatile and can be used to pitch a tent, and an awning if you’re car camping. Availability VERDICT: The Six Moon Designs 49-inch carbon fiber tent pole is our number one recommendation to anyone who wants a taut shelter. They are lightweight, strong, easy to use, compact, extendable, stable, and everything else you might want in a tarp pole.

The Thermarest Tranquility 6 Awning Poles are designed to be used specifically with the Tranquility 6 tent, but they work perfectly well with tarps for shelter building. You can set a tarp up over your tent for extra protection or use it on its own with a sleeping pad and bag.Paria Outdoors Adjustable Tarp Poles – Extends from 2’ 10” (3 sects) to 6” (5 sects). Collapsed height 2’ 10”. Weighs between 14oz (3 sects) to 1lb 12oz (5 sects). They have a spike design on the foot for rooting into the soft ground like an anchor, which is a contrast to the many flat, rubber foot designs out there. Of all the affordable tarp poles out there, I think these offer the best value for money and do not look cheap in any way. They look great. Top marks for being lightweight without feeling too thin or fragile and offering two meters of headroom which is more than enough for most people. VERDICT: This set of two adjustable tarp poles by Odoland is great if you like to set your tarp up first and adjust your tarp poles to create tension on the roof. The two reasons to buy are because they are adjustable and come in a set of two. The reason not to buy them is that they are quite heavy. The Paria Outdoors tarp poles come as a set of two; each pole weighs 14 ounces, and the maximum weight would be 1 pound 12 ounces. If using them as separate poles, the minimum length is 2 feet 8 inches, with a maximum length of 6 feet. If you combine all the sections, it will have a maximum length of 12 feet. With two shorter tarp poles, you can create pitched roofs, A-frames, and lots of other lean-too-type shelters. The choice is ultimately up to you, but some set-ups do require some skill to get right, so be sure to make a few different shelters before you buy any tarp poles. What to Look for in a Tarp Pole to get a Taut Roof