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asym tarp hung with ridgeline and sand bags
Goatman:
Since it is pretty windy out there today, I thought I would set up and attempt to upload a couple of pics. In case my words were a bit unintelligible, well a picture is worth a thousand, right?
Anyway, the only thing you can't really see is the added ridgeline, since it is under the tarp. And the hooks on the tarp from which the sand bags are hung. I still get some small amount of tarp sag with this backyard set up when I get in, as my ropes (by which I attach the cross frame to the trees) are long and seem to have some stretch in them. These trees are slim (one is anyway) and pretty far apart for hanging, about 30 feet. So my other "tree" ( 2x4s) to which I have the tarp and hammock attached are moved towards the middle just a bit when I get in, causing a little sag. I don't get even that much tarp sag when tied to real trees either thicker or closer together.
But those sand bags made a noticeable difference in how the tarp reacted to the winds once I am in the hammock. It still moves with the breeze, but in a much slower and gentle/quieter fashion, as compared to the normal violent flapping. The pics are pretty low res to save bandwidth, but I think you can get the idea.
I find this pitch toghtness and wind response to be acceptable. Of course, it can't touch my MacCat deluxe. HOWEVER, in it's favor, it does only require 2 stake out points. And if I'm not expecting heavy storms, I often just attache the tarp to the suspension in normal fashion, and then zip tarp and all ( and SuperShelter undercover in cold weather) up in the #4 snake skins, which makes set up and take down unbelievably fast! But if the weather turns nasty by surprise, I already have my additional guylines attached to the tarp, and I just attach them to the trees for when I need a really tight pitch. Of course, except for the "only 2 stake out points", I can also do all of the above with my MacCat Deluxe. But the Hen tarp seems a little smoother and quicker to roll up in the skins with the hammock.
But if it's a long trip or I know in advance heavy rain/wind are forcast, I probably use separate skins or sacks for the hammock and tarp, and tie tarp to trees first.