HH rainfly questions

[Globetruck]

A couple random questions for HH rainflies:
1. On their website, I noticed 2 options for hanging the rainfly. One was to clip it to the hammock, and the other was to use a separate piece of string and hang it independently of the hammock. What do you guys do?

2. I'm new to the hammock thing... it seems that the hexagon shaped rainflies might be more my style. What tarps do you recommend?

Thanks,
Globetruck

[Cannibal]

1. Most use the later method. In my experience, tying your tarp lines a couple of inches below the suspension on the trees helps combat the weather a bit better. HOWEVER, there is at least one person (BillyBob58, I think) that mastered the Hennessy method of tarp attachment and reported positive results. Must be an art form.

2. Loaded question, not touching it.
Most any of the hex tarps you'll find around here are beyond great quality. You'll be hard pressed to make a bad choice.

[BillyBob58]

1. Most use the later method. In my experience, tying your tarp lines a couple of inches below the suspension on the trees helps combat the weather a bit better. HOWEVER, there is at least one person (BillyBob58, I think) that mastered the Hennessy method of tarp attachment and reported positive results. Must be an art form.
....................

More like a royal PITA than an art form! As I have so oft said, IMO, you can make things much better with a few tricks, but you will never match the tarp tightness of attaching to the trees. But if you are going to use that super light and small HH stock tarp, The rain is blocked better by connecting to the hammock. Even if it will be way more noise in the wind. So just choose your poison I guess.

I mostly just use a larger tarp and tie to the trees.

[Knotty]

When you attach the Hennessy tarp to the hammock suspension line it sags when you get in the hammock. Probably the reason most don't use that approach (including Tom Hennessy).

Personally, I like the concept and would like to find a way to prevent the sag.

[JayS]

When you attach the Hennessy tarp to the hammock suspension line it sags when you get in the hammock. Probably the reason most don't use that approach (including Tom Hennessy).

Personally, I like the concept and would like to find a way to prevent the sag.

Knotty,
I've hung my HH tarps both ways. Just thought of something - could you rig a second pair of prussics outboard of the HH tarp attachment ones and .... wait; wouldn't work. I was going to say use shock cord for the second pair of prussics that would attach to the hammock ridgeline attachments but that would only pull laterally and the problem is that the hammock sags vertically when loaded. Darn!

Maybe buy some fairy dust?

[madizazzo]

I had some shock cord that I had removed from some piece of camping gear, and I made it into prusicks. I replaced the original Hennessey prusicks with these. They were about thicker than the original prusick cord, almost as thick as my whoopie slings.
I stretched them out when hanging the tarp.
When I lay in the hammock, the elastic keeps the tarp from sagging.
I've since given the rig to my son, but will probably make up another pair for myself.
P.S. They don't make a very pretty prusick when there's no tension, they loosen up and look like a tangle of line. Once they have tension, they grip fine and look like "regulation" prusick knot.

[Hudg56]

When you attach the Hennessy tarp to the hammock suspension line it sags when you get in the hammock. Probably the reason most don't use that approach (including Tom Hennessy).

Personally, I like the concept and would like to find a way to prevent the sag.

I ran 550 cord from one end-ring to the other with a tent stake knot(adjustible). Basicly a second ridge line

[trekkingnut]

No one watches my videos after all.....

in my hh 101 (video section or YouTube) I attach a length of paracord between the two o rings on the tarp and use a prussik knot to make that length tight. That means you can hang it in the normal standard method but it gives the effect of hanging with two ridge lines. When I get in the hammock it obviously sinks a little but the tarp stays in place because it isn't resting on the hug net, it's usually about nine inches or so above the hammock itself.

With the prussik knot on the paracord you have abit of freedom with it's height.

During bad weather this helps as well because when you peg the tarp down at more of an angle, there is still a gap along the top for ventilation!

I'll repost my video just in case:

[BillyBob58]

No one watches my videos after all.....

in my hh 101 (video section or YouTube) I attach a length of paracord between the two o rings on the tarp and use a prussik knot to make that length tight. That means you can hang it in the normal standard method but it gives the effect of hanging with two ridge lines. When I get in the hammock it obviously sinks a little but the tarp stays in place because it isn't resting on the hug net, it's usually about nine inches or so above the hammock itself.

With the prussik knot on the paracord you have abit of freedom with it's height.

During bad weather this helps as well because when you peg the tarp down at more of an angle, there is still a gap along the top for ventilation!

I'll repost my video just in case:

I watched your excellent videos, TH. But until I actually have time to try it for myself, I don't see how it will solve the problems so often discussed with the stock HH tarps. Though it may well. And I'm sure it will help with some of the things you mention, like keeping more ventilation by keeping the tarp well off the hammock.

But, whenever I have used the HH stock set up, I am trying to avoid a good sized space between the hammock and tarp. I can get that space no problem when I tie to the trees. Then I have a nice tight tarp, and when I get in and it the hammock sags down, I have plenty of space above the hammock. And now I also feel quite exposed on the sides to wind blown rain. But, the tarp is about as tight and wind resistant as is possible with that tarp.

But when used in normal stock fashion, the tarp stays CLOSE to the hammock providing quite good rain coverage. When used with the SS undercover, nearly bomb proof. But then, of course, the tarp is now loose after hammock sag. Because, just like the hammock, the tarp is now closer to the ground. And no matter how tight you staked it to start with, it is now loose. So I use various tricks to help with that. Like filling empty stuff sacks with weight and hanging on the tarp side hooks ( what HH originally put those hooks there for), tarp tensioners, attaching wide and high(er) to trekking poles or branches etc. Definitely helps, but does not cure. But I have not had time yet to try your extra prussick technique.

[Deadphans]

No one watches my videos after all.....

For the record I have watched your videos a bunch. They were a lot of help. In fact, your suspension system was such a good idea I recently bought two carabiners and rap rings. Thanks man!