Menards 10oz Canvas Tarp

[Plainsman]

I see Menards has 10oz Canvas Tarps (8x10 for less than $50) and am considering adding one to my gear for a shelter option. I want to try hammock camping and have picked up a hammock. Now Im looking at some cover options. Im not worried about the weight or bulk of the canvas currently and it can be used for other things if I decide hanging isnt for me. So my questions are: Has anybody else tried one? What are your experiences/thoughts? Or should I look at a better quality tarp options/silnylon/etc?

Thanks!

[lubbockhammockguy]

There are a few people who have done this. Please search for smokehouse and/or hot tent

[Hickery]

Go big young man (9X12). They're heavy.

[Floridahanger]

Go for it since you're looking to use it for other options anyways.

That said, for a hammock camping tarp, go with silnylon, cuben or any of the other synthetic options.

[xrayit]

If you are looking to go with old school cotton type tarps consider a DIY queen or king size bed sheet tarp. Use Boiled linseed oil – 3 to 4 cups
Mineral spirits – 3 to 4 cups for waterproof. Takes a couple weeks for the mixture to dry and a month or so for the smell to go away. I built a couple last year and my 8 ft x 9 ft with 14 strap tie out points weighs in at just under three pounds and seems to be waterproof. As for cost I picked up the sheets on clearance for 15.00 the mineral spirits and boiled linseed oil around 20.00.

[Shug]

They are heavy and smell a bit loud for quite a while. I use them out on my woodpile. Would never hike with one though.
Shug

[sidvicious]

it won't enhance your hammock experience.

[dkurfiss]

If you are not hiking and weight/bulk is a non issue, they will work just fine. You will need to treat them to make them waterproof. Xrayit gave you a good mixture to use but heed his warning about smell. You will probably want to air it out for at least a month or longer.

[hutzelbein]

There's no reason why a canvas tarp shouldn't work for hammock camping - provided it's the right size for your hammock and you don't have to carry it a lot. I use one for hanging at home, and it has it's advantages: it's cheaper so I don't need to worry about UV-radiation; I actually think that canvas is not as sensitive to UV-radiation as polyester, nylon and Cuben (but that's just a guess); it doesn't melt as easily as synthetics (not sure about how well it would burn ); it's more robust than a lightweight synthetic tarp; and in the sun it's cooler underneath.

[sidvicious]

if you're going to treat it,

i used to use mineral oil mixed with silicon. heat it to blend it. it works really well and doesn't smell so bad. a light coat will do pretty good.

in the south mice, rats, and squirrels love canvas. i don't know about their ND cousins