Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Aqua Quest Guide Ultralight Tarp vs Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Camping Tarps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Guide states fabric, coating, a 5,000 mm rating and a tie-out count for every size. The Escapist Evo is lighter and smaller packed, but you are trusting the brand rather than a published number.
Aqua Quest Guide Ultralight Tarp
Buy itA 40D ripstop nylon tarp with dual silicone and PU coating, a stated 5,000 mm rating and a published tie-out count for each size.
- The page states 40D ripstop nylon, silicone plus PU coating, and a 5,000 mm waterproof rating, so you can judge it before buying.
- The 10 x 10 size has 17 tie-outs and weighs 1.3 lb, with a stated packed size of 11.5 x 4.5 x 3 in.
- Sizes run from 10 x 7 to 20 x 13, and a stuff sack and lifetime warranty are listed.
- The page says only 'reinforced stitching' and gives no seam sealing details, so seal the seams yourself if you expect a storm.
- 40D nylon is thinner than the maker's own 70D Safari tarp, so it asks for more care around sharp bark and rocks.
- Some colors can sell out in some sizes.
Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp
Buy itA very light Ultra-Sil LS tarp in Medium and Large with a stated packed size of 18 x 8 x 8 cm.
- The fabric is Ultra-Sil LS, 15D nylon with 30D polyester ripstop, with a Sil/PeU coating and a non-PFAS DWR finish.
- The Medium is 260 x 201 cm and weighs 348 g, packing to 18 x 8 x 8 cm.
- Reinforced tie-outs with adjustable line tensioners and bar tacks for trekking pole tips are listed.
- The page lists no waterproof rating in millimetres.
- The page gives no count of tie-out points and does not list seam treatment.
- The Medium covers a smaller area than a 10 x 10 tarp, and the maker's price is the highest of the four.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Aqua Quest Guide Ultralight Tarp Our pick | Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Backpackers and hammock campers who want a light, well-documented rain tarp. | Ultralight hikers who pitch with trekking poles and want the smallest pack. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Fabric | 40D ripstop nylon | 15D nylon / 30D polyester ripstop |
| Coating | Silicone and PU | Sil/PeU plus non-PFAS DWR |
| Stated waterproof rating | 5,000 mm | Not listed |
| Tie-out count | 17 (10 x 10 size) | Not listed |
| Size compared | 9'7" x 9'7" | 260 x 201 cm (Medium) |
| Weight | 1.3 lb | 348 g (Medium) |
| Packed size | 11.5 x 4.5 x 3 in | 18 x 8 x 8 cm |
| Seams | Reinforced stitching, sealing not stated | Not listed |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Aqua Quest Guide Ultralight Tarp if
backpackers and hammock campers who want a light, well-documented rain tarp.
Know before buying: the page says only 'reinforced stitching' and gives no seam sealing details, so seal the seams yourself if you expect a storm.
Pick the Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp if
ultralight hikers who pitch with trekking poles and want the smallest pack.
Know before buying: the page lists no waterproof rating in millimetres.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Aqua Quest Guide Ultralight Tarp - A 40D ripstop nylon tarp with dual silicone and PU coating, a stated 5,000 mm rating and a published tie-out count for each size. Choose the Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp instead if ultralight hikers who pitch with trekking poles and want the smallest pack.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Camping Tarps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).