What do you want from a tarp?

**NickJ** · 10-13-2010, 14:10

Apart from the obvious

I've been tinkering with a few tarp designs / prototypes and have come up with something which I think is pretty cool. I need to give it a good test which I can't do until my shoulder recovers from recent surgery, but it got me thinking, Apart from to keep off rain, wind, snow etc, what other things do you want from a tarp? For me, I'd like corner pockets maybe at the lower corners at the head end (inside of course). I'd like pull outs for when the weather gets hairy. I want it to easily fit in the stuff sack when I take it down in a hurry and not have to stand there packing for 10 minutes (or maybe I should use snake skins?). I want it to be a structure not just a rain cover, and when I lie there at 2am and the wind is 40 mph gusting to 60, that I can drift off to sleep and not worry that the tie outs are going to tear. Weight isn't really an issue for me but still, I don't want it to weigh an outrageous amount.

So what do you want from a tarp?

**Riverpirate** · 10-13-2010, 14:46

That is about it but I have also decided that keeping sap from the trees off my hammock is about as important as keeping rain out.

**weedeater64** · 10-13-2010, 15:06

A shape that makes sense, either square, or rectangle twice as long as it is wide, this will give the most versatility in configuration options.

Plenty of tie points.

Ample coverage, none of this just enough crap. I can handle the extra half pound or whatever, if I couldn't I'd just stay home.

Durability, if a stray ember ember from the fire can burn holes in it in less than a second, you ain't got much.

**Riverpirate** · 10-13-2010, 15:08

hmmm a tin tarp would be kind of heavy.

**slackmacker** · 10-13-2010, 15:23

I want something with a heater and A/C built in to it!

**Phatskipper** · 10-13-2010, 15:33

I second the "tie outs"... the more the merrier.

**JayS** · 10-13-2010, 15:38

Originally Posted by slackmacker

I want something with a heater and A/C built in to it!

See SmokeHouse's setup.

**Bunk** · 10-13-2010, 15:41

Paddle inserts are handy.

**hutzelbein** · 10-13-2010, 16:22

Versatility is probably the most important thing to me. A hammock tarp that could be converted to a tarptent (with full protection from creepy crawlies) if necessary would be my dream

**dakotaross** · 10-13-2010, 16:37

My OR Awning tarp is larger at one end, almost bell shaped. Its meant as a ground tarp in a setup similar to tarptents, but it works great with my hennessy. In fact, the end that is wider on one end suits a traditional (non-zip) HH user perfectly since we really only use one end of the hammock for entry exit. Makes for a nice large covered area over that end without wasting additional tarp weight on the unused end. Mine is 27oz, so I'd love to have another about 1/2 to 2/3 that weight - although part of that is reflective cord weight included with the tarp.