Real life experience with rain and hammocks

**jscalia** · 09-24-2007, 21:28

What has your experience been with heavy rain and hammocks? Has anyone gotten wet or uncomfortable during rain and what type of fly/tarp were you using. Also, has anyone been able to stay dry with their stock HH flies during heavy rain conditions? Thanks.

**angrysparrow** · 09-24-2007, 21:32

Originally Posted by jscalia

Also, has anyone been able to stay dry with their stock HH flies during heavy rain conditions? Thanks.

If you search, there is a good story about how that Sgt Rock weathered the after effects of a hurricane with the stock HH tarp.

I've been dry through a number of downpours with my MacCat, but nothing remotely like that.

**wamyteipen** · 09-24-2007, 21:56

My experiences with the stock HH tarp that comes with the Expedition Asym led me to make my own caternary tarp. I got wet on three separate occasions where the rain blew under the sparsely covered right head end of the hammock. I tried replacing the stock tarp with a GoLight Ultralight poncho/tarp and had similar results. It just didn't give adequate coverage. I now use a homemade tarp modeled after the MacCat Standard and so far I am very pleased.

**smartcarpie** · 09-25-2007, 05:59

I spent two nights under a stock HH tarp, got wet on both in a drizzle with light wind. Have since made a set of 3 cat tarps for myself so I can size according to the forecast and my own desire to gamble for a lighter pack. I just did a week in my hammock in the White Mountains and went through 2 severe thunderstorms just below treeline. In the first I got just a tiny bit of spray on my down underquilt blown in by heavy wind. Not an issue with Momentum quilts, but either beaks or just turning 90 deg. to the weather would have solved it, unfortunately I had to take what trees I could get in a hurry with thunder rolling. This was the only site available for a couple miles, and if I had been in a tent there would have been about an inch of groundwater to contend with...The second storm was heavier than the first but was a nice opportunity to have a nap for a couple hours, totally dry in there...I had the only dry setup in the camp that I could see. Of my whole week I only put on my rain jacket once to lean out and snug up a guy line. A 10 by 12 cat tarp or something similar really is a nice way to go to stay dry.

christian

**smartcarpie** · 09-25-2007, 06:35

Thought I'd throw in a pic from that trip, no rain at this site, just a nice riverview...

**headchange4u** · 09-25-2007, 10:34

I have camped in a couple of heavy rains and I have never gotten wet. I have more trouble with the misty rain that seems to creep in and give everything that damp feeling.

I have yet to deal with heavy rains and really strong winds, but by pitching the tarp correctly and finding the right spot I have full confidence in my system.

**Dutch** · 09-25-2007, 10:46

I thru'd with my ubla on and it rained every day for five weeks in VA. My stock tarp kept me dry except 2x and both time were managable and operator error. HC4U is correct about the right pitch. I never stayed dry in a tent. I got wet when someone sneezed outside. I have bigger tarps now, but still carry my stock tarp almost everytime. It is small but it is just enough.

**BillyBob58** · 09-25-2007, 21:29

Originally Posted by Dutch

I thru'd with my ubla on and it rained every day for five weeks in VA. My stock tarp kept me dry except 2x and both time were managable and operator error. HC4U is correct about the right pitch. I never stayed dry in a tent. I got wet when someone sneezed outside. I have bigger tarps now, but still carry my stock tarp almost everytime. It is small but it is just enough.

Dutch,
Do you tie to trees or do you hook up stock Hennessy style, to the suspension? Do you use any kind of bungee/elastic type tarp tensioners?

**T-Dubs** · 09-25-2007, 12:46

[QUOTE=headchange4u;29303]I have camped in a couple of heavy rains and I have never gotten wet. I have more trouble with the misty rain that seems to creep in and give everything that damp feeling.[QUOTE]

Would something like the HH Overcover be of use in these conditions, the mist/fog? I haven't been out enough to know what may work and what won't. Of course, if it's coated to protect you from exterior mist, the interior dampness it would produce may be worse. Hhhmmmm....

Thanks,
TWS

**BillyBob58** · 09-25-2007, 21:37

[QUOTE=T-Dubs;29314][QUOTE=headchange4u;29303]I have camped in a couple of heavy rains and I have never gotten wet. I have more trouble with the misty rain that seems to creep in and give everything that damp feeling.

Would something like the HH Overcover be of use in these conditions, the mist/fog? I haven't been out enough to know what may work and what won't. Of course, if it's coated to protect you from exterior mist, the interior dampness it would produce may be worse. Hhhmmmm....

Thanks,
TWS

FWIW, there was plenty of mist/fog in the Olympics a few weeks ago, and with the undercover, every thing stayed dry except for some minor condensation in the foot of the UC 1st night. I've no experience with the OVER cover, but I suspect it would be of some help.