Tarptent

Tarptent is a brand that designs and sells lightweight tents and shelters. The first Tarptent was sewn by Henry Shires in the spring of 1999, and the Tarptent website launched in 2002. The brand emphasizes lightweight, innovative shelter design.

The first Tarptent was sewn by Henry Shires in the spring of 1999. It was an A-frame shelter made from purple silnylon with a mesh border. Henry was preparing for a thruhike of the Pacific Crest Trail and could not find anything on the market that was light or simple enough. After a successful thruhike, Henry published his plans online. People urged him to start a business. Henry's wife Cynthia borrowed the purple Tarptent for a thruhike of the John Muir Trail in 2000 and gave feedback. Henry spent 9 months redesigning, resulting in the Tarptent Virga and Squall. The Tarptent website launched in 2002, and on the first day received 50 orders. Initially, Henry and Cynthia contracted with a friend/retired master dressmaker in New Hampshire to sew the tents.

1. 1Tarptenttarptent.com
2. 2About Us – Tarptenttarptent.com