I have watched several of these episodes and in 3 of them the guys wimped out, leaving the woman alone and these women all made it.  I don't consider myself a survivalist, nor do I have any formal survivalist training, but I do think I have a good amount of common sense.  In the programs I watched, the producers provided either a machete or fire starter, but not both and each contestant could then choose one item.  I have seen people bring duct tape, fishing line, magnifying glass, parachute cord and a cooking pot.  Basically you and your partner are going to end up with three items.  I have never seen anyone choose a waterproof tarp, which would be my choice after a machete.  It will provide instant shelter and warmth.  Seems to me like the biggest problem they have is being cold.   Making a fire is a poor way to try and keep warm outdoors.  Even my fireplace doesn't work that well unless you are sitting near it, and this is indoors. 

My three choices would be: 1. Machete. 2. Waterproof tarp. 3. Windproof butane lighter instead of a fire starter.

For you survivalist types, would I be making a big mistake taking a tarp instead of some other item?

I think they only allow 1 choice per contestant.

Yes, 1 per, but as I stated you and your partner will end up with 3 because the producers will give you a machete or fire starter, then you and your partner pick one item each.

A tarp is probably a good second choice if it is going to save you from hypothermia or extreme heat.

The choice would greatly depend on where you are and what is available in your environment.

shoes....or i quit on day 1.

I don't watch the show regularly, but I caught a few (and another like it) when I was keeping my dad company.  Anyways, I recall one where the guy was some macho former super former military dude and was critical of the chick.  Her fitness, her this, her that.  Well, he ended up getting severely dehydrated or something and had to get pulled.  The chick made it through on her own.  He wasn't critical of her when she made it through to the end. 

The girls seem tougher than the guys. 

The girls seem tougher than the guys.

Seems so.  They seem mentally tougher.  Not sure if it's them trying to prove a point, or something else, but they have often outlasted their male counterpart.

I can't find the show now, but it wasn't naked and afraid.  I just recall the show pairing a guy and a gal and they had to reach a pick up location.  They weren't nekkid, but they had pretty much nothing on.  I recall them having survival ratings to start the show based on what they said their skills were and then the shows rate them again at the end of the show. 

The problem I have with this show is that most of them are not surviving.  They're slowly dying.  To me surviving is that you can go on for months.  Not just barely make it to 21 days.

With that being said, I would bring a flame thrower.

You can kill the flying bugs, because it seems that smoke from a fire doesn't help at all at night. 
Make water clean
Hunt with it
Clear an area to sleep in
If all else fails, have fun

The problem I have with this show is that most of them are not surviving.  They're slowly dying.  To me surviving is that you can go on for months.  Not just barely make it to 21 days.

With that being said, I would bring a flame thrower.

You can kill the flying bugs, because it seems that smoke from a fire doesn't help at all at night. 
Make water clean
Hunt with it
Clear an area to sleep in
If all else fails, have fun

Fuel.......

I'd say from reading your farm post - quails 

Fuel.......

Comes with 12 seconds so gotta make them count.  Trigger control and short burst.

I would take a 12 gauge or a 22LR rifle as a second item. lol cheating.

I always wondered why the contestants won't forage and make some kind of clothing from leaves or vine.  A makeshift hat, cape/robe, clothing and shoes would go a ways to protecting them from the elements and making some sort of shelter. 

But then again, they won't be naked nor afraid.

I would take a 12 gauge or a 22LR rifle as a second item. lol cheating.

I always wondered why the contestants won't forage and make some kind of clothing from leaves or vine.  A makeshift hat, cape/robe, clothing and shoes would go a ways to protecting them from the elements and making some sort of shelter. 

But then again, they won't be naked nor afraid.

I know for the show Alone, they aren't allowed firearms.  They can bring a bow and arrow, which some have, but they only have so many arrows.  But yeah, I thought a .22 lr would be awesome in many of those situations.  Well, everything except bears. 

One item, so even if they allowed firearms, you would have no ammo.  Same as a bow AND arrow.  So, getting back to my question, would you say a tarp would be a better choice than a cooking pot, duct tape, paracord and all the other things people choose?  I keep a new 12x16 tarp with my SHTF supplies.

I agree with JI808 that "
"The choice would greatly depend on where you are and what is available in your environment."
Standard Protocol of Basic Needs is "Food,shelter, clothing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_needs

   Fire is pretty necessary to cleanse water and a machete is pretty handy for shelter.
I've only seen one couple who fashioned foot wear, something I would consider a priority.  (MMM   ).
What  I have noticed is many disregard food until several days in even though it's first on the list of "Basic Needs".

   Would I pick a tarp if I was dropped off nekid in Hawaii ?

  So, to better align us with your question  if whether a tarp was a good idea or not, or what item we would choose, why don't you give us a location (in regards to terrain and weather)

Even in Hawaii it can get cold.  Rainy night in the Koolaus?  I figure a tarp would protect you from cold, even temps in the high 60s can get cold if you are naked, and protect you from mosquitos and other biting insects as well.  I was reading one survival blog that said many people think water and food is most important, but it said keeping warm was more so, because you can go 3 days without water, but can die in one day from hypothermia and the shivering will burn your calories in no time.  Just was wondering what others thought about that.  I see on N & A that they burn a huge amount of energy building a shelter and lose huge amount of liquid (sweat) doing so.  All of that energy and time could be saved and used to hunt for water and food if they had a tarp they could roll themselves up into.  Am I mistaken?

A bear skin coat would also work for protecting against the elements.  It's pretty primitive.



But no longer bare skin... just bear skin.

I would take a roll of heavy duty trash bags.

I would take a roll of heavy duty trash bags.

+1 for the trash bags. i take them when i go on long hikes........just in case i get lost. can be used for a lot of things.