Originally Posted By Jimshaw
I thought a shelter with a roof, and a sewn in floor and full netting aroound the sides was called a tent?


Here's my thinking on this. Feel free to disagree.

A Tarp Tent has a roof and (usually) a floor, but the two do not connect. There is netting in between, but it is possible to lie down and see out in all directions. Like a tarp -- which is why they are called "tarp tents." That is certainly the case with every Tarptent that I have tried.

A Tent has a roof and a floor and the two are connected. Sometimes there is a separate second roof (the fly or outer tent), sometimes not. But one cannot lie down and see outside in all directions. This makes Tents more useful when one requires complete protection from the weather (heavy snow, winter storms, etc.)

A Tarp is just the roof. One uses a separate floor and possibly some separate bug netting. Or one pulls the open side over ones prostrate form when it rains. (Try that in a one of our 3-day monsoons. Ha.)
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--Ken B