Originally Posted by
Mustardman
There are many, many tarp options out there - the best for you is going to depend on how you plan to use it. Do you plan to backpack where weight is a concern? Do more car camping? Care about privacy? Plan to hammock camp in cold weather? Plan to camp in heavy wind-blown rain?
Tarps vary widely based on both personal preference and intended use. For most weather conditions, a standard "hex" style tarp is ideal, and you then just start thinking about size vs weight tradeoffs. For really cold or brutal weather, a bigger tarp can give you a nice tight closed in tarp to block wind, or more room to have a few friends throw their lawn chairs under your tarp and be social while it rains.