HG Standard Cuben Tarp - What options / custom features do you wish you had?

**earthairfire** · 10-28-2014, 15:59

Hi all,

I'm new to the hammock scene, and am waiting for delivery of a Warbonnet Blackbird. I also need a tarp, and after deliberating and reading lots of info on this site have narrowed my choice down to the the HG Standard Cuben Tarp. I live in Melbourne, Australia where it doesn't get much below freezing, so figure this will probably work year round for me.

Before I order, I've seen lots of talk about mods / options / customisation. Does anyone have any tips / suggestions about what I might want to consider, or do I just order the standard tarp? Being new to hanging, I don't have the benefit of experience to know this stuff!

Cheers,

Tim

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-28-2014, 16:14

I'm not aware of any popular mods/options/customization to the tarp itself. It's only in the guylines/ridgeline that folks tend to do their own thing. You could ask for Dutch Ti D Rings!

**craige** · 10-28-2014, 20:26

I've seen a couple of people who have only had doors on one side, that may be an option for you to consider? Ridge line length is the other area you need to make a decision on. You only need 10ft for a bb but an 11ft may be worth considering for extra coverage on the ends, although you'll have to hang it further from the hammock rl to avoid abrasion from the tarp suspension.

**gunner76** · 10-28-2014, 20:42

Go with the 12 ft ridge line and get the extra coverage. Mine only weights 8+ ounces.

**ofuros** · 10-28-2014, 22:01

Not sure if it comes with tieout pockets....but they're handy if you hate untangling line tangles.
Just wrap up your lines & tuck them in.

I'm just about to add some to my diy cuben tarp.

Oh & welcome to the forum, earthairfire.

**Bannerstone** · 10-29-2014, 04:27

The HG 4 Season doesn't really lack in any way other than it's not a Winter Palace in terms of width. I own both and use them both, my Palace, the original owner ordered a center guy tie out at the baseline that I literally have never used. If you're thinking of custom, you might look into a tarp pole mod, a couple of the vendors sell them, I'm looking at the one Dutch offers

http://dutchwaregear.com/tarp-pole-mods.html

Of course the Camo option is very nice for a price and I've seen the pattern they use, if I were ordering now I'd go with that options for sure.

Maybe someone who has the door tie backs can comment on if they are worthwhile, I don't feel like I miss them, just tie to the panel pulls or to the door on the opposite end.

I run an 11' hammock and the standard HG ridgeline is more than sufficient for my longer hammock. If you're buying a standard blackbird, stay with the stock 10' 10" length on your tarp. Any longer and it will interfere with your hammock suspension when you are trying to get a low pitch for heavy weather.

David