Tent footprint as a winter tarp.

Hello everyone,

I just picked up a 10x8 tent footprint from REI on clearance hoping to use it as a winter tarp for my Hennessy Scout. Do you guys think this will work, or am I better off looking for something better? I live in south central PA and would really like to do some winter camping with my hammock this year. An underquilt isn't quite in my budget yet, I was planning on using a ground pad and my 0 degree bag to keep me warm.

Thanks,
Will

10x8 is frankly small for a "winter tarp". You can "sort of" close up the ends if you place the tieouts right, but it won't protect the bottom of the hammock from wind very much at all.

That said, it's not like a dedicated winter tarp is absolutely required for winter camping. Good site selection and a tight tarp pitch can help a lot, and if you're still worried about wind, a simple DIY ripstop hammock sock can add a lot of warmth and wind blocking under a smaller tarp.

Also, welcome to the forums from a PA native who is hoping to move back to the home front in the next year or so!

Thanks for the advice! I'll keep looking for something a little bigger. I live in south central PA, so if you happen to move in the area, you'll have to let me know!

Thanks again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mustardman

10x8 is frankly small for a "winter tarp". You can "sort of" close up the ends if you place the tieouts right, but it won't protect the bottom of the hammock from wind very much at all.

That said, it's not like a dedicated winter tarp is absolutely required for winter camping. Good site selection and a tight tarp pitch can help a lot, and if you're still worried about wind, a simple DIY ripstop hammock sock can add a lot of warmth and wind blocking under a smaller tarp.

Also, welcome to the forums from a PA native who is hoping to move back to the home front in the next year or so!

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I disagree... if you hang low and keep your tarp low, you can do a reasonable job with an 8x10 tarp. It isn't ideal, but tie outs at 30" or so from each corner does allow for reasonable closure... you could also add beaks... just don't expect to stand up under the tarp...

Of course, I don't hang in anything resembling winter....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnSawyer

I disagree... if you hang low and keep your tarp low, you can do a reasonable job with an 8x10 tarp.

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I never said you couldn't do a reasonable job - I said it's not really a "winter tarp".

I own a Speer 8x10 and have used it in some quite cold winter. It is in no way comparable to a SWT or Superfly.

Understood... apologies if I sounded argumentative...