Tarps and camouflage nets from Recon Company – weather protection and camouflage for operations and the great outdoors

A tarp is one of the most versatile pieces of kit in the field. Rain protection, wind protection, a sunshade, a storage area for equipment or a canopy for an outdoor kitchen – all with a single tarp. A camouflage net completes the picture in a tactical context: it breaks up contours, absorbs light and renders vehicles, equipment or positions invisible from a distance. With over 30 years’ experience as a supplier to the public sector, we stock both to meet professional requirements.

Outdoor Tarp – Material, Size and Set-up Styles

The choice of material determines what your tarp can and cannot do. Lightweightsilnylon tarps weigh under 500 grams and pack down to the size of a fist. They are the first choice for bushcraft and long-distance hikes, where every gram counts. When well-made, silnylon can withstand a water column of around 2,000 mm. More robust multi-purpose tarps made from ripstop polyester with a PU coating can withstand 3,000 mm and more, are significantly more abrasion-resistant, but weigh twice or three times as much. For tactical use, we offer tarps with an IRR coating that reduces infrared reflectivity. This makes you much harder to spot under night-vision devices and IR reconnaissance.

The size depends on the intended use. A3×3-metre tarp is sufficient as a sleeping shelter for one person with kit. If you want to span a hammock , you’ll need at least this size. For groups, equipment depots or stationary camps, sizes from 4×4 or 5×5 metres are advisable. The number of guy points and eyelets determines the pitching options: an A-frame as standard shelter over the ridgeline, a lean-to as a semi-open windbreak, and a C-fly for maximum cover against driving rain. Look out for reinforced corners and double-stitched guy points. Cheap tarps tear in exactly these places first, because the entire tensile force is applied there.

Camouflage netting and ghillie material – visual concealment in tactical operations

A camouflage net works differently to a tarpaulin. It does not protect against rain, but against detection. Modern camouflage nets break up the outlines of equipment, vehicles or observation posts and reduce reflectivity in the visible and infrared spectrums. High-quality models are IR-treated and can withstand detection by night-vision devices.

Ghillie fabric takes this a step further. It serves as a base for custom camouflage, which you can supplement with natural materials from the surrounding environment. A ready-made camouflage net in Flecktarn or Woodland provides immediate camouflage in Central European deciduous woodland without any preparation. Ghillie material requires some assembly, but offers superior contour blurring in specific operational environments.

Tarp or tent – when is a tarp sufficient?

A tarp is not a substitute for a tent in every situation, but it is superior to one in certain scenarios. For a quick bivouac, a tarp weighs a fraction of a tent and can be pitched in under two minutes. It offers ventilation that no enclosed tent can match and gives you a full 360-degree all-round view. In the face of heavy insect pressure or severe ground frost without a bivouac sack , an open tarp reaches its limits. The solution: a tarp as a roof combined with a bivouac sack or hammock as a closed system underneath.

At Recon Company, you’ll find ultra-lightweight tarps for your rucksack, robust multi-purpose tarps with an IRR coating for military use, and camouflage nets for tactical applications. Remember: a tarp is not ready for use without guy ropes. Paracord, pegs and guy ropes should be packed in your rucksack before you pack the tarp. Combine your weather protection with the right sleeping system from our bivouac and camping range.

• 10% discount for government agencies, the military and the police.
• Field post delivery worldwide to your area of operation.
• Expert advice from the Recon team on materials, sizes and set-up – in our Salzgitter store or online.
• ISO 9001-certified quality processes from procurement through to delivery.