Tarp Selection

I'm well on my way to getting started with hammock camping and I thank everyone for the help. I picked up a BIAS WWM with suspension and can't wait for it to warm up out this way so I can give it a try. I had originally planned on going with the warbonnet edge tarp but i'm now leaning toward an asym tarp and could use some help. I'm looking to buy an ultralight tarp, but I cant afford cuben right now. I've looked at the MLD UL Hammock Tarp but i'm a little worried about coverage. I've also thought about the Hennessy Hyperlite Rainfly but still, i'm worried about coverage... should I be concerned? Right now my best bet looks like the Simply Light Asym hammock tarp. Anyone have any experience with this tarp? It's quite a bit bigger than the other options i'm looking at and even cheaper (not sure if that's a good thing). Are there any other asym tarps I should be looking at? I'd like to spend under $100 and be as light as possible.

What about DIY asym tarps? I'd love to give some DIY gear a try and I think a tarp would be a good place for me to start. I'm open to any and all suggestions you DIY masters have for me.

How many of you have experience with spinnaker fabric? From what i've researched its waterproofing isn't necessarily reliable??? Is that the consensus? Is the next lightest fabric silnylon?

Im all ears! Thanks again for all the help guys

Is there anyone that will make a custom spinn tarp to my requested dimensions?

Unfortunately, as far as I know, there were several quality-control issues with Spinnaker batches a year or two back. I don't know of anywhere that sells it anymore, nor anyone who makes tarps out of it off of the top of my head.

If you're wanting to make an asymmetric tarp to save weight, I recommend DIY Gear Supply's 30d sil 2nds (found in the "Coated Fabrics" category) as a material. I used their tarp plans for the asym tarp, along with their 30d sil 1sts (I wanted a particular color), and I couldn't be happier with it.

However, that tarp is small. You'll probably want an undercover to help protect you from sideways rain. If you use a poncho as your rain gear, you can dual-use that as an undercover, again saving weight. I show off how I do that in this thread, at about 8:15 in the video embedded in post #3. Note that you can use loops sewn to the four corners of the poncho, along with some shock cord, to achieve the same thing as my modular hammock attachment point.

Hope it helps!

It sounds like spinnaker wasn't is out of the question. Not sure I wan't to risk a wet night though so maybe its for the best. The weight savings sure did have me intrigued though. If only cuben didn't cost an arm and a leg!

I hadn't thought about the poncho idea. That's good to keep in mind. Thanks for the reply FLRider!

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Originally Posted by ARCHER11

It sounds like spinnaker wasn't is out of the question. Not sure I wan't to risk a wet night though so maybe its for the best. The weight savings sure did have me intrigued though. If only cuben didn't cost an arm and a leg!

I hadn't thought about the poncho idea. That's good to keep in mind. Thanks for the reply FLRider!

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Not a problem. Feel free to PM me if you've got any questions about the tarp or how I go about using an undercover!

The canoe ends of your long, long hammock are effective water gatherers. It takes less fabric and less weight to cover them directly than it does to hang a longer tarp,

Otherwise: Less tarp, including asym and deep hexagonal designs, is all about paying attention to set-up with respect to wind, the direction of rainfall, and the way you use your hammock.

Why does the tarp have to be concentric to the hammock below it? Well, it doesn't have to be, especially with trees that are larger.

demostix, what do you use to cover the ends of the hammock? Sounds like something I need to consider...

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Originally Posted by ARCHER11

demostix, what do you use to cover the ends of the hammock? Sounds like something I need to consider...

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I am not aware that anyone does it in a serious way except Clark, which includes it on all their hammocks. Clark, uses an un-tapered layer of breathable nylon fabric, likely 1.1oz. (I think that sil-nylon at the foot or both ends would be even better.) Clark's cover is sewn at the end channel and and to the two sides. (It also carries the zipper-base tape across the hammock.)

Someone else correct me: Methinks the hoods are about 16" long at the head end and 20" at the foot end. Randy includes a small cover at the end or ends of his Dream Hammock, I think, to cover a stuff sack for the netting and weather shield.

My advocacy of these hoods is appropriate here, because questions were raised about the required coverage of a tarp. As I've posted elsewhere on other occasions, I get by very well with a so-short-it-is-no-longer-made 98" long Clark tarp over their 9 ft hammock. No problem because the tarp drops low at the foot end AND because the hoods on the Clark keep wind and end-spray out. With my Clarks, I see sky and trees directly above my eyes when I hang without a tarp; and my feet don't have an obstructed view because I've got no eyes down there. But, the hood hides some gear I stash in the canoe end. A foot-longer hammock otherwise calls for a foot-longer tarp.

Go to junglehammock.com to see what Clark hoods look like. You could try out your own in your back yard attaching the hoods to the seams with quality diaper / safety pins, before committing to sewing them on. They do not seem to be part of any patent.

*I say "untapered" calling attention to the fact that even if your legs extend one or the other side of a gathered end hammock, and your head does the other, at the channeled gathered end, there is extra fabric bunched up a weight weenie could discard.

Honestly, you're only saving about two ounces with the Hennessy over the edge and for about the same price. The edge is a great tarp with enough coverage to keep you dry without too much weight. One thing you could do, pick up the edge tarp, and take it on trips where you think rain is a strong possibility. On trips when you're expecting no rain, you could carry a poncho like golite's poncho tarp and use it as an asym tarp in the event of rain. Just my $.02.

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Originally Posted by Jrprince

Honestly, you're only saving about two ounces with the Hennessy over the edge and for about the same price. The edge is a great tarp with enough coverage to keep you dry without too much weight. One thing you could do, pick up the edge tarp, and take it on trips where you think rain is a strong possibility. On trips when you're expecting no rain, you could carry a poncho like golite's poncho tarp and use it as an asym tarp in the event of rain. Just my $.02.

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I have been in the same boat as the OP. I'm leaning toward the Edge as well. I love my Superfly, but the Edge is about half the weight.

Weather can ruin a good hang, so I go for coverage every time, weight be damned. The tarp is my most important piece of gear. If I didn't have an HG Winter Palace, I'd be looking at a Superfly or something with 11' x 11' coverage, with doors, 'cause I don't wanna get wet in blowing precipitation.

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Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

Weather can ruin a good hang, so I go for coverage every time, weight be damned. The tarp is my most important piece of gear. If I didn't have an HG Winter Palace, I'd be looking at a Superfly or something with 11' x 11' coverage, with doors, 'cause I don't wanna get wet in blowing precipitation.

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I agree with SilvrSurfr,,there are other ways to lighten up than considering the tarp. In inclimate weather, its just nice to have a place to cook under a tarp that gives you the opportunity to get in, out of the bad weather. I consider a tarp as maybe a more important piece of gear for comfort. Even getting in out of the hot sun is important sometimes.

I agree with slvrsrfr and Acer. Especially in areas with more possibilities of rain. On stormy nasty days nothing is better than chilling under a nice and roomy tarp.

Thanks for all the replies and advice guys. You bring up some good points! Part of me wants to go super UL and abandon any luxuries but the other part wants to splurge a little bit. Every time I go to check out the edge tarp on the warbonnet website, I see the picture comparing the edge and the mamajamba and I get to thinking about the comfort side of things for only a few ounces more. IM TORN!!

Who knew picking a tarp would be so difficult!? I think picking my wife was easier than this... in the tarp world she'd be a 150"x150" that weighs 2 oz and costs $5 so I guess it was a no brainer... I'm not sure whether that was a compliment or not...

Any tarps similar to the mamajamba that I should check out?

Thanks again guys

Take a look at the AHE Shangri La :)

If you will consider used there is a very nice deal here:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=67930

I think his price dropped because he is between seasons. It's late for winter and early for summer. Those are good tarps.

Thanks for the link. Thats a bit heavier than id like. Looks like a great deal though!

Well, warbonnet had a blem mamajamba for a good deal so I went with it. Its probably a little more than i need but it should provide a little extra comfort for just a few ounces more. Now I just need it to warm up so I can get out there!

I use a nylon asym it does not block wind verry well. But it can take care in the rain you just have to pitch it right.

As I am considering gear I am thinking along the lines of a few others with the bigger tarps. I'll hump the extra weight to stay dry. Being cold and wet is second only to unhappy feet.

If you are in the Demascus VA area during trail days (I think in may) Hennessy always has deep discounts I've seen 1/2 price.

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Originally Posted by ARCHER11

Well, warbonnet had a blem mamajamba for a good deal so I went with it. Its probably a little more than i need but it should provide a little extra comfort for just a few ounces more. Now I just need it to warm up so I can get out there!

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Can you elaborate on this deal? I'm literally in the same predicament as you are(were). I'm really leaning towards the MJ as well. A PM would suffice if you prefer to keep private the details of your deal.

Another great option for a light tarp that covers the WWM is a WL Tadpole.
I have had one and know a couple other plp that use the tadpole with the WWM and it provides plenty of coverage..

The AHE Toxaway is another great tarp with a lot of coverage for the WWM.

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Originally Posted by pacecar

Can you elaborate on this deal? I'm literally in the same predicament as you are(were). I'm really leaning towards the MJ as well. A PM would suffice if you prefer to keep private the details of your deal.

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No problem, it's no secret. If you go to the WB website and click on the promotions tab, they explain that you can inquire about blemish products. I contacted Warbonnet via email and just asked if they had any blemish tarps. Originally I was looking for the edge tarp but they didn't have any. They did have a Mamajamba though. There were a few small needle holes just below the ridgeline but they've been fixed with silicone and the tarp works just as it's supposed to. Shoot them an email and they'd be able to let you know what belm products are available.

Thanks for all the replies guys! Originally I had written off the tadpole but I think it's a lightweight option that should be looked at for the longer hammocks. When I first compared the edge with the tadpole, I thought the extra length the tadpole provided was in its width. I later realized that the extra length was in the ridgeline. I may pick up a tadpole in the future but for now Ill enjoy my Mamajamba. Bring on the rain!