Can you use a tent rainfly for hammock camping? New Bee from New Jersey

[SilvrSurfr]

I got the Byer Moskito Hammock ($34.95 at EMS; didn't want to wait for shipping) and hung it right away. I took some 1-inch straps I had laying around, made a Marlin Spike Hitch, and found some strange aluminum tubes in the garage for the toggles (I knew I was saving those things for something. I think the tubes came from some IKEA furniture that, of course, fell apart long ago).

I tied the Coleman tent tarp onto the straps with something like a Prusik knot that can slide up and down the strap. I'm going to have to read up more on a ridgeline and its function since I'm not sure I really understand what all it does, and whether I want or need one.

It seems like rain would run down the straps onto my head a lot easier than it would run down cord. I'm hoping the Marlin Spike Hitch and toggle acts kind of like a drip string to divert the water before it can drip down to the hammock.

I had to hang the Byer Moskito Hammock a lot higher than my Hennessy Hammock because it stretches quite a bit (or maybe the straps stretch). I don't like the way the mosquito net drapes into your face. I might add a tie-out on each side like the HH has, with some shock cord to spread the hammock out width-wise and keep the net off the face.

The strings that suspend the Byer are annoying. I can't even figure out how to untangle them. There's a channel you could run cord through to make a bunched-end hammock, but from what I've read on the forum, that makes the Byer hang wrong. I'll just have to live with these stupid strings, I guess.

I have three weeks before my trip to Lake Lila, so that gives me plenty of time to maybe make a lighter, less bulky suspension using Amsteel. I might even try making my own whoopie slings; usframe's youtube video makes it look fairly simple.

Anyway, I have my DIY tarp, hammock and suspension and I've only spent $34.95 so far. I might spend a little more on the Amsteel suspension and maybe a ridgeline. Sleeps great, and I should be able to keep total cost per hammock under $50!

[rj138]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum, just browsing through some posts here. This tent rainfly looks great, I have a similar one I'm gonna test out tonight in the backyard. We have a pretty good storm moving through tonight so fingers crossed. Good tips, look forward to seeing more cool stuff on here.

[SilvrSurfr]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum, just browsing through some posts here. This tent rainfly looks great, I have a similar one I'm gonna test out tonight in the backyard. We have a pretty good storm moving through tonight so fingers crossed. Good tips, look forward to seeing more cool stuff on here.

I never got the rainfly to work - leaked like a sieve.