Water splashing thru tarp, height?

[KC8QVO]

Just out of curiosity - has anyone else had much of an issue with water coming through their tarp in a heavy rain? Not much, just a "mist".

How high do you hang the tarp from the ridge line of the hammock? I've been in the habit of tieing my tarp off to the hammock suspension (specifically the biners I use to clip my web straps together). The tarp ends up right on the ridge line of the hammock. I am thinking of tieing off the tarp separately - and higher - next time. This would even let me hang my clothes over the ridge line of the hammock and not be pressed against the tarp in the rain getting the clothes soaked.

[Roadtorque]

In the winter I usually hang my tarp like you do...right on or just above the hammock ridge line and I take the tarp ends right down to the ground to help trap in some warmth. Almost all other times the tarp is probably two feet above the hammock ridge line to help with ventilation and so I can see out (porch mode). I wouldn't be surprised if the "mist" you are feeling is built up condensation on the underside of the tarp. Usually if a tarp leaks the water runs down the ridge line seam and drips off. That's my experience

[Catavarie]

Misting is a somewhat common occurance with silnylon tarps in heavy rain. Guess you'll just have to pull the trigger on that new Cuban Fiber tarp you've been eyeing.

Don't try to be like that, we all know you've been wanting a tarp upgrade.

[nothermark]

Or the old urethane over Nylon. ;-)

[KC8QVO]

Is cuben fiber that much better than silny? I didn't go for it for 2 reasons when I got my hammock - 1. it is "loud" (crunchy, reminds me of a bag of potato chips) and 2. it is expensive. I never considered the waterproof'ness.

[Dutch]

I don't have much trouble with sil but I think cuben is 100% waterproof.

[AaronAlso]

My understanding is that some silny is better than others. There are variations between manufacturers and between batches. So it can be a shooting match. I'm really leaning towards PU coated 1.1oz nylon or better yet polyester for the rainy seasons. At an average 1.5oz/sqyd the extra weight is worth it to me. For long distance hiking I do see the advantages of something like cuben or spinn. However, for car camping or day/section hiking I don't think it's cost efficient.

[Chop]

Using a DIY cuben out on the AT right now and have been through some heavy rains the past couple weeks in CT, NY, and NJ.

Noise has not been an issue at all. Not with the .51 weight that we use (or most of the makers use). Not even close to a bag of chips in my experience.

It is waterproof. You can get out of your hammock, have your back up against the tarp and not get wet. Just like a plastic sheet.

Condensation can happen, but pretty infrequently.

At the original question, I hang mine on a ridgeline above my hammock, usually about 6-12" above the hammocks ridgeline. I hang it high as I am 6'5".

[Cannibal]

Agree with the others, look for a cuben or Spinn tarp and your problems are solved. Both share the trait of being waterproof and both are bone dry on the inside, even with direct pressure.

However, sil can be made to work. There is a trade-off when winds are involved though. Hang a sil tarp loosely. By that I mean, don't pitch it drum tight. If you allow some give in the fabric, the rain drops don't hit with the same PSI. Without that pressure, the weave of the fabric doesn't open and the water stays outside; where it belongs.

[hammockNQ]

If you want to keep the sil, make a mix of about 1 part bathroom silicon and 4 part low odour turps (hard to mix - i put mine in a old soda bottle and shook for ages). Stretch your tarp out reasonably tight and paint on with a brush or roller. You can coat more than once if you like. Once it is dry dust lightly with talc to stop the material being sticky.

Improves poorer quality silnylon and doesn't add much weight. I am sure it is still not as waterproof as PU or some other options though.