SolaDirect Heavy Duty Waterproof Tarpaulin for Campervans Review
by SolaDirect
The SolaDirect Heavy Duty Tarpaulin offers robust, all-weather protection for your campervan accessories. With UV resistance and reinforced eyelets, it's built to last.
Our Verdict
Consensus Verdict
This is a classic 'you get what you pay for' bit of kit, splitting opinion right down the middle. For quick and simple jobs, it's praised as being perfect and well-priced, ideal for chucking in the back of the van for a weekend . However, if you're after a long-term solution to leave out in the elements, be warned, as several buyers report it breaking down in under a year due to UV exposure .
Our Verdict
Who should buy this?
Who should consider alternatives?
Value for money
Our honest take
What Customers Say
Highlights from 20 customer reviews"it says heavy duty and its not, its a lot lighter in weight than other tarpaulins I have purchased."
"in under a year it started breaking down. It would appear to me to be due to high UV, but it gets little sun on the north side of our house."
"I've been wanting to have a solid but transparent curtain/cover to block the wind and draft for the side of my gazebo and this product is perfect."
"The only annoying thing is that one side didn’t have an eyelet hole in the middle of the side."
"Very poor product honestly very thin like a Asda plastic bag disappoint"
"Paired it up with some Amazon bungees much cheaper than buying a full blown cover for the set I have."
"My Only gripe would be the thickness of the sheet, it is quite thin so not the same rigidity I was expecting as my other sheets."
"this is a perfectly good tarpaulin for general use around the garden. Not heavy duty but for covering cut logs etc its absolutely fine."
"NOT VERY PLEASED WITH HOW THE EYELETS HAVE BEEN DONE OBVIOUS NOT BEEN CHECKED"
"Honestly brilliant quality dont want to sound like a fake review but the thickness and strength was top notch"
Key Specifications
Technical Specifications
| Size | 1.5 x 2m |
| Colour | Green |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| High UV Resistance | Yes |
| Tear Proof | Yes |
| Washable | Yes |
How Well Is It Built?
Construction quality is a point of contention among users. While some praise it as "heavy duty as described" and of brilliant quality, others strongly disagree, describing it as thin and flimsy. It's made from polyethylene with rustproof aluminium eyelets, though some buyers have reported issues with faulty eyelet placement.
Material and Thickness
The SolaDirect tarp is made from polyethylene (PE), a standard material for this type of product. The big question is thickness and durability, and customer opinions are sharply divided. On one hand, you have 5-star reviews calling the quality "top notch" and confirming it's "heavy duty as described" .
On the other hand, several buyers felt let down. One 4-star reviewer noted it was "quite thin so not the same rigidity I was expecting" , while a more critical 3-star review described it as being "very thin like a Asda plastic bag" . This huge difference in perception suggests a potential inconsistency in the product's grammage.
Eyelets and Reinforcement
The tarp features rustproof aluminium eyelets spaced every 100cm, which is standard. While generally adequate for light-duty securing, their quality has been questioned. One user specifically highlighted a "FAULTY EYELET", suggesting quality control may not be consistent .
How Does It Perform?
For short-term, simple tasks, it performs effectively. Buyers have used it successfully to cover items in a vehicle or block drafts on a gazebo. However, its long-term performance in outdoor conditions is poor, with multiple reports of it breaking down and disintegrating from UV exposure in under a year.
Short-Term Use
When put to work on temporary or simple jobs, this tarp seems to hold up well. It's proven effective for tasks like hiding the contents of a pickup truck canopy during travel, with the buyer noting it was "Perfect for this simple job" . Another user found it ideal for blocking wind on their gazebo, stating it was "Very effective and practical" . For these kinds of applications, its waterproof nature and size are perfectly adequate.
Long-Term Durability & Weather Resistance
This is where the product falls down significantly, despite its claims. The 'High UV Resistance' is strongly contested by real-world experience. One user bluntly stated, "it started breaking down in under a year... due to high UV" . This is echoed by others, with one German review stating it's not suitable for continuous outdoor use after it dissolved in 1.5 years .
An even more damning 1-star review from Italy reported it began peeling, changing colour, and developing cuts along the fold lines after only three months outdoors . This suggests that leaving it exposed to the sun for any extended period is a recipe for rapid degradation, making it unsuitable for many typical campervan and garden uses.
What Features Stand Out?
Key features include its waterproof polyethylene material and rustproof aluminium eyelets for securing. It's also washable and mould-resistant. However, the advertised 'High UV Resistance' and 'Tear Proof' qualities are significant weak points, failing to hold up under real-world, long-term outdoor conditions according to numerous customer reviews.
Core Features
The SolaDirect tarpaulin ticks the basic boxes for a utility cover. It's waterproof, made from polyethylene, and features aluminium eyelets that won't rust and stain whatever you're covering. The fact that it's washable and mould-resistant are also plus points for outdoor use.The Missing Feature: Real Durability
Where this tarp disappoints is in its advertised 'heavy duty' features. The claims of being 'Tear Proof' and having 'High UV Resistance' are where the marketing clashes with user experience.Customers have found that while it might resist an initial tear, it becomes brittle and weak when exposed to sunlight. Reports of it "sfogliando tutto" (peeling all over) and starting to "break down" show that the UV protection is minimal at best. For vanlifers who need gear that can withstand being left out in a sunny field or protecting an awning from the elements, this lack of genuine, long-term durability is the critical missing feature.
Who Is It For?
We've analysed how this product fits different buyer profiles. Find your situation below to see if it's right for you.
Weekend Campers & DIYers
"Perfect for chucking in the car for a weekend job. It's cheap, does what I need for a couple of days, and I won't cry if it gets wrecked."
What They Love
- Extremely affordable
- Gets the job done for short tasks
- Light enough to pack easily
Considerations
- Won't last more than a season
Full-Time Vanlifers
"I need gear that earns its spot and won't fail me on the road. This is too much of a gamble – I can't risk my shelter or stored gear getting soaked because the tarp disintegrated in the sun."
What They Love
- Okay as a disposable groundsheet
- Cheap emergency backup
Considerations
- Unreliable for long-term use
- Not truly 'heavy duty'
Gardeners & Allotment Holders
"I need something to cover my woodpile or compost heap all year round. This just won't cut it – the sun would destroy it before winter even starts."
What They Love
- Cheap initial purchase
Considerations
- Fails quickly under UV exposure
- Needs replacing frequently
How Does It Compare to Alternatives?
Priced at the very bottom of the market, it competes with other generic, budget tarpaulins where cost is the primary factor. However, it cannot compete on durability with mid-range or premium brands known for genuinely UV-stabilised, heavy-duty materials. For long-term use, investing more upfront is advisable.
In the world of tarps, you generally have two camps: cheap, lightweight sheets for temporary jobs, and heavy-duty, UV-stabilised covers for long-term protection. This SolaDirect tarp firmly sits in the first category, despite its 'heavy duty' claims. While it's priced competitively against other budget options on Amazon or in DIY stores, it falls well short of the performance you'd get from a more robust, higher GSM tarp from a specialist supplier. One user's comparison of its thickness to their "other sheets" highlights this gap in quality . If durability is your priority, you're better off spending more on a recognised brand.
People Also Ask
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What Amazon Customers Say
See all reviewsBased on 22,590 reviews
Fast delivery - Size as shown
Why did you choose this product over others?: Good sheets, do the job. My Only gripe would be the thickness of the sheet, it is quite thin so not the same rigidity I was expecting as my other sheets. Recommend all the same as needed them urgently and for the price they are doing the job - Size was as advertised 3x3m the eyelets are along the lengths and not only on the corners which is much bette...
Heavy duty as described
Bought this to hide contents of doublecab canopy when travelling. Perfect for this simple job and well priced. Would be suitable for prolonged outdoor use as thick and good quality. Highly recommended
If it does what they say, waterproof and frost proof, I will be happy
Ive knocked a star off, because it says heavy duty and its not, its a lot lighter in weight than other tarpaulins I have purchased, but if it does what it says on the tin thats fine by me. Ive bought expensive covers for my garden furniture and BBQs to find they are not waterproof, just showerproof, so things have got wet underneath when its chucked it down. Also when its time for the item to be u...
BEST QUALITY
Honestly brilliant quality dont want to sound like a fake review but the thickness and strength was top notch 100%recommend
Very effective and practical
I've been wanting to have a solid but transparent curtain/cover to block the wind and draft for the side of my gazebo that has grey curtains and this product is perfect. It fitted with ease using cable ties and lets the light through when the other three sides are curtain shut. After using it for a few days, I decided to order a second one to cover another side.
Great Item
Absolutely great quality and huge coverage, used mine double and so double the water proof
great value every day tarpaulin
this is a perfectly good tarpaulin for general use around the garden. Not heavy duty but for covering cut logs etc its absolutely fine.
Good,but not heavy duty
Not that heavy duty Reading several reviews,thinking this was heavy duty. Does the job for now Only time will tell
Gut
Gute Qualität
Correspond à nos attentes
Bâches utilisées pour une pergola. De tres bonne qualités robuste je recommande vivement très bon rapport qualité prix
Perfect for outside furniture
Just what I needed to prepare for the winter and cover my outside furniture. Paired it up with some Amazon bungees much cheaper than buying a full blown cover for the set I have.
A good tarpaulin for the price
I bought this to go over the front of where the logs are stored for the log burner - to keep the rain off. It fits perfectly and is doing the job very well. The only annoying thing is that one side didn’t have an eyelet hole in the middle of the side. There are three eyelet holes on the left side, right side and across the top, but not across the bottom, where there is just one on the left and one...
Not good quality
Very poor product honestly very thin like a Asda plastic bag disappoint
NOT QUITE TOP NOTCH FAULTY EYELET
Coverage: NOT VERY PLEASED WITH HOW THE EYELETS HAVE BEEN DONE OBVIOUS NOT BEEN CHECKED
You get what you pay for....
It claimed to be a strong robust product, but in under a year it started breaking down. It would appear to me to be due to high UV, but it gets little sun on the north side of our house. Probably best only purchased for occasional use, rather than long term. High winds (southern Britain not Scotland) caused a large rip, I suspect originating from one of the holes.
