Tarp ends in rain

**bdonohue** · 04-07-2010, 07:32

I feel stupid asking this because I should know, but is it necessary to have tarp ends or do the majority of tents keep you dry in fairly tough rain? I've always *thought* you would need to seal the ends, but I'm not sure how much coverage I need for the typical hammock to keep them dry if it were to rain nicely for a day.

**Dutch** · 04-07-2010, 07:35

I like to have a minimum of 6" overlap from the end of my hammock. When I am going to be in some serious blowing rain I get my tarp right down on my hammock by tying it lower then hammock. I do have tarps with doors, but that is really for winter.

**bdonohue** · 04-07-2010, 07:49

So what tarp shape and size should I look for in general? It seems like most of the stock tarps are too small except for the Claytor

**Shug** · 04-07-2010, 07:50

Surprisingly ... most do keep you very dry. Maybe in the chance of a very hard blowing rain you can hang your rainjacket or pack cover over an end.

**TinaLouise** · 04-07-2010, 07:54

my clark tarp fits rather close to the ends of my clark hammock so I made end covers for my hammock. They're scrap pieces of DWR nylon cut into an icecream cone shape w/velcro on the edges. These have protected the ends of my hammock from heavy blowing rain. When I know the weather is gonna be super nasty, I stake my tarp really close and on one end I'll criss-cross the guylines to keep it closed. The Clark tarps are configured kind of differently though so it's real easy to close down the foot end completly and point this end into the wind and keep the other end a bit more open. I've stayed dry in some really nasty rain this way.

TinaLouise

**bdonohue** · 04-07-2010, 07:55

You've said that Shug, but I seem to feel a little uncomfortable.. Offtopic question, why is the Claytor hammock so much cheaper? The JH has the size fly to make me feel comfortable and it looks like a solid hammock so... Why is it half the price of a WBBB and tarp set up?

**Harpo63** · 04-07-2010, 07:56

I believe thats one of the reasons they came up with the Grizz Beak- can simply throw it on to one end (or both if you have two) for those few occassions you might wish you had an end closed off due to blowing sideways rain. Check out Z2Q2's site they have them and other similar options

**Shug** · 04-07-2010, 07:58

Well ..... I have 6-8 inches of tarp ridgeline over the ends of my hammock. Seems perfect.
If your worried .... get a tarp with doors or big flaps. I napped out in the rain yesterday in my Speer winter tarp .... no rain in and it was glorious!

**Peg-Leg** · 04-07-2010, 09:19

Backwoods Daydreamer four season tarps would be a great application for what you're looking for. The have ends that can be pulled together to block rain and wind, or the ends can be folded under the tarp for a summer setup.

He also sells a true winter tarp.

Great quality and good price.

**mbiraman** · 04-07-2010, 09:46

Most of the tarps sold work well without ends except for in the worst conditions. You'll be surprised how well they keep you dry. Most folks end up with a couple of tarps, sort of a winter and a three season, winter being big with fold down/in doors. Most of the tarps are competitively priced according to quality and weight. If you can afford it spin is the way to go to save weight and Warbonnet,Backwoods,JRB,Oes make excellent tarps.