The tarp is one of the most difficult outdoor tools to handle. When I think of outdoor people, I imagine them nimbly setting up a tarp to shield themselves from the elements with ropes while the rain is pouring down. I think there is nothing more impressive than someone who can build a shelter out of a piece of cloth in the wilderness, but that is certainly no mean feat and I think many people will agree with me.

We also tend to think of the tarp as an equipment to be used with some other gear for camping, but if we simply view it as a piece of cloth, then we can expand its potential use as an individual tool. In other words, if a tarp is versatile and easy to pitch, it can be used for many purposes. It was with that idea in mind that I began developing this product in the summer of 2013.

The first prototype I made was an irregular hexagon tarp. However, it was difficult to pitch, which was not what I intended. It does not matter if a tarp is stylish or has a multitude of pitch configurations; it is useless if it is difficult to set up, so I changed my focus to developing a tarp that is easy to pitch. After countless trials and errors, we discovered the benefits of a shuriken-shaped tarp. Usually, we need to peg down the four corners first before setting up the pole at the end when pitching a tarp, but with this new shape, we can reverse the steps. This makes it possible for a person to set up the tarp alone regardless of the weather! Another benefit is that the position of the pole is not fixed, so the configuration can be changed according to the situation. We have finally achieved our goal of creating a useful tool with this NINJA TARP.

There are 30 possible pitch configurations, but I have no intention of explaining them one by one here. I hope that you will have fun exploring the tarp and discover new ways of using it, as I believe a true outdoor enthusiast would.

I am sure that the NINJA TARP will come in handy no matter what activities you are doing this weekend, so pack it in your bag and let’s head outside!

Let's pack and go!