I still consider myself to be a newbie when it comes to sleeping under a tarp and except for one time always set it up in a low A frame style with my feet pointed in the direction of the wind so that if it rains then there is less chance of rain hitting my head. I have noticed in a lot of pictures that people set their tarps up quite high or open on one side and was wondering why because if it rains then are you not going to get wet?

I'm a total dummy when it comes to tarpology, but I think the pitch height will be dependant upon the conditions...pitch low to the ground for weather protection, pitch higher for good ventilation. I'm currently trying to work out the ideal tarp shape for pitching with a bike/wheels & will post a thread asking for suggestions in a bit.

If you're using something like a simple 1.5m x 2.5m tarp then an A frame is going to give you the most protection. As you say Ray, have your feet at the lowest end and face that into the wind. I hate not been able to sit up, so tend to set the high end to around 1m or thereabouts and drop the tail to whatever the weather dictates ... maybe even all the way to the ground if things are really bad.

A lean-to set up only really offers protection from one side ... great if you know the weather will stay in that direction, potential disaster if it changes in the night. I've just started working on some 'clip on' tarp ends ... think lightweight vestibules for tarps set up as A frames.

After extensive nobbing about, I still believe that a square (ish) tarp offers more set up options than the more usual rectangular offerings people seem to produce.

Yea, mine is 1.5 x 2. Not tried setting the high end that high yet, think i'm just paranoid about getting wet (too used to tents) but i'll give it a go. I was also thinking of adding some lifting points to it. Firstly so I can run a guy along the ridge line and also/maybe to pull out the sides as i've noticed it tends to bow inwards if the wind hits it from the side, in high winds I think it would bow a lot.