Canoeing.com Definition: Canoeing.com Definition: Lightweight yet durable tarps are ideal for wilderness camping. Coated nylon will compress and pack more efficiently, while stiffer and slightly heavier polyethylene resists mildew. Outdoor products manufacturers make a variety of high-quality tarps that pack down small, but, if you don’t mind a the extra bulk, a general purpose utility tarp from your local hardwear store can suffice. The key to these basic tarps is their versatility: because of their flat, rectangular shape and their plentiful grommets or loops they can be strung up as shelters, laid flat as ground cloths, spread over your gear in a rain shower, or applied in whatever ways you can imagine.