About
About
About AquaQuest
AquaQuest is a Canadian company that has made waterproof outdoor gear since 1994, based in British Columbia on the wet edge of the Pacific Northwest. Its tarps are what it is known for: the Defender (70D nylon with a heavy TPU coating, 20,000 mm), the Safari (70D ripstop nylon, 5,000 mm), the Guide (40D ripstop nylon, 5,000 mm) and the Survivor High Visibility Tarp (bright orange 70D ripstop nylon, 5,000 mm), each with taped seams, reinforced webbing tie-outs and the Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. The gear is manufactured in Taiwan. Customer support comes from Canada.
The company
Since 1994. A Canadian company based in British Columbia, on the wet edge of the Pacific Northwest. The region is rugged, beautiful and very wet, which is a good place to design and test waterproof gear, and after more than 30 years of it the gear has earned the name Waterproven.
The company started with waterproof travel products. The camping tarps are what it is known for now, and the Pharaoh bivy, dry bags, duffels, backpacks and laptop cases round out the range. The gear is manufactured in Taiwan. Customer support and warranty service come from Canada. Reach the team at info@aquaquest.com or 236-700-6044, or through the contact page.
One note on the name: it is AquaQuest, one word. Some older reviews, forum posts and retailer listings write it as "Aqua Quest", and an old company domain was aquaquestwaterproof.com. Same company, same tarps.
What AquaQuest makes
Four tarps and a bivy lead the range.
| Product | What it is | Waterproof rating | Sizes | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender tarp | 70D nylon, heavy TPU coating, heat-taped seams, 19 to 47 reinforced webbing tie-outs by size | 20,000 mm | 10 x 7, 10 x 10, 13 x 10, 15 x 15, 20 x 13 feet | 2.4 to 8.2 lb |
| Safari tarp | 70D ripstop nylon, silicone and PU, taped seams, 15 to 29 attachment points with 3 along the center ridgeline | 5,000 mm | Same five | 1.3 to 4.5 lb |
| Guide tarp | 40D ripstop nylon, silicone and PU, taped seams, 13 to 23 attachment points with a center loop | 5,000 mm | Same five | 0.9 to 3.75 lb |
| Survivor High Visibility Tarp | Bright orange 70D ripstop nylon with reflective trim, silicone and PU, taped seams, 19 or 29 attachment points | 5,000 mm | 10 x 10, 15 x 15 feet | 1.8 lb, 4 lb |
| Pharaoh bivy | 70D nylon with ripstop upper, PU and DWR, dual YKK zippers, fits sleepers to 6 feet 6 inches, elasticated hood | 10,000 mm | One size | 1.1 lb |
All four tarps and the Pharaoh come with a stuff sack. The which-tarp page compares the four tarps in detail; the size page gives the weight and tie-out count for every size.
Where it is sold
AquaQuest sells direct on aquaquest.com, with a US store and a Canadian store (aquaquest.com/en-ca) and stores for the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, and on Amazon in the United States and Canada. The product pages on aquaquest.com carry the full specifications, the size charts with weight and tie-out count for every size, and the owner reviews, so they are the place to check a number whichever store you buy from.
The warranty
Every AquaQuest product carries the Lifetime Warranty to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship. The full terms and the claim form are on the warranty page, and claims can also start with an email to info@aquaquest.com. A Defender owner on aquaquest.com: "I had a small warranty issue which was quickly and helpfully resolved." (Cav W.)
What owners say
On aquaquest.com the Defender has 235 reviews at an average of 4.8, the Safari 271 at 4.7, the Guide 289 at 4.6 and the Survivor 8 at 5.0.
Across the four tarps, owners write about the same three things: it stayed dry in a real storm, it held in wind, and it still looks new years later. Price is the common doubt, and reviewers usually settle it with "worth it".
Two lines from aquaquest.com, from owners who have had the gear a while:
- "Nice to see a company making strong and weather resistant equipment." (Cav W., Defender)
- "I've had my other one for 4 years now and you wouldn't be able to tell it's not new." (Christine B., Survivor)
Other owners' words are quoted where they fit: the Defender in 2 inches of Acadia rain, the Safari's tie-outs, the Guide through three days of rain and over hammocks, the Survivor on a canoe trip. They are on the which-tarp page, the size page, the specs page and the pitching guide, one quote per topic.
Who buys it
Bushcrafters, tarp campers and hunters first, then paddlers and people who use the gear for work: a fire department, a survival school and an ocean clean-up group are among the owners quoted on the AquaQuest homepage. Olive Drab is the best-selling colour and Woodland Camo second, which says the same thing.
Is AquaQuest a good brand?
Judge it by the checkable facts rather than by this page. In business since 1994. A Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship on every product. Taped seams on every tarp. Specifications printed in full on every product page: fabric, coating, rating, seams, tie-out count and weight for every size. Reviews from owners visible on every product page, with the count shown, including the ones that are not five stars. And a plain statement of where the gear is made: Taiwan, for a Canadian company. What the brand does not claim: a ranking against anyone else's tarp, or that any tarp can be left pitched for a season. These are camping tarps, built for years of trips, pitched and packed.
Buying in Canada
AquaQuest is a Canadian company, and aquaquest.com has a Canadian store at aquaquest.com/en-ca where prices are shown in Canadian dollars and customer support comes from Canada. The tarps are made in Taiwan, not in Canada. AquaQuest gear is also sold on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com, and the specifications are the same wherever you buy. For a wet Canadian spring or fall the choice is the same as anywhere wet: the Defender for the most margin at 20,000 mm, the Safari or Guide where the tarp rides on your back.
FAQs
Where is AquaQuest based?
AquaQuest is a Canadian company based in British Columbia, in business since 1994, with customer support from Canada.
Where are AquaQuest tarps made?
AquaQuest tarps and the rest of its gear are manufactured in Taiwan for a Canadian company.
What is the AquaQuest warranty?
Every AquaQuest product carries the Lifetime Warranty to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship.
Are AquaQuest prices in Canadian dollars?
Yes on the Canadian store, aquaquest.com/en-ca; the US store shows US dollars.
Is "Aqua Quest" the same brand as AquaQuest?
Yes. The name is AquaQuest, one word; older reviews and listings that write "Aqua Quest" or link to aquaquestwaterproof.com refer to the same company.
Related: Which AquaQuest tarp should I buy? | What size tarp do I need? | Tarp specs explained | How to pitch a tarp | Waterproof Tarps | Bivies
Fear no forecast.
Waterproven since 1994.
