I was wondering if anyone has played around with integrating the tarp ridgeline into the suspension system. In theory, the tarp should always be about centered over the hammock, so hammock attachment points should be more or less static compared to the tarp ridgeline attachments. Now, usually a tarp his hung with very little or no ridgeline angle, which is, perhaps, the chief complication. This means that, if you integrate it with the hammock suspension, at first the tarp ridgeline will be pretty slack, at least until you tension the guy lines and tie outs. An additional complication, is that you don't want the tarp ridgeline to be carrying a large load when you're laying in the hammock, but this could be avoided with clever use of an additional zing it ridgeline for the tarp, and clever use of tensioners. The hammock would then use soft shackles and UCRs so that the tarp + suspension could be set up in the rain (with nano-no-see-um tarp skins) and then the hammock attached once the tarp is in place. (I plan on keeping my hammock and quilts in a water-resistant bishop bag stuff sack, and tarp + suspension in no-see-um skins.)
How crazy is this idea? Has anyone tried it? Were you able to save some weight?
BTW, I'm obsessed with UCRs. I use them for everything. No point doubling back your hammock suspension, tarp suspension, etc.
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