No Tarp...Help!

[flight_chick]

My HH hex fly accidently got left in my sister car today. She lives 3 hours away in Alpharetta, GA and I have a camping trip planned and we are leaving Friday morning. I could drive down to my sisters tomorrow and pick it up, but first can anyone suggest a tarp I can purchase at Wal-mart that will work in an emergency. Can you even attach one of the cheap blue tarps to a HH expedition? We have a 20% chance of rain in the forcast and I don't want to go without one. I don't want to cancel the trip, but can't go without a tarp. Thanks!!

[spamburglar]

Does it have to be attached? I had a HH Explorer and just ran a continuous ridgeline above the hammock for my tarp. Works out just fine and will definitely serve you in a pinch

[Bubba]

Get a blue tarp, some cordage and stakes at Walmart. Just set up the tarp separate from the hammock. Make sure the tarp at least 10 feet long.

[flight_chick]

Does it have to be attached? I had a HH Explorer and just ran a continuous ridgeline above the hammock for my tarp. Works out just fine and will definitely serve you in a pinch

I don't guess it has to be attached..lol I am just spolied since this is my first hammock and the hex attaches.

What kind of line do I use for the ridge line?

[DivaB]

I don't guess it has to be attached..lol I am just spolied since this is my first hammock and the hex attaches.

What kind of line do I use for the ridge line?

For emergency use for just a weekend, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just find something inexpensive to use temporarily that will hold the weight of the tarp you pick out with some extra to give...and then go with it, relax, and enjoy your hang.

[JohnSawyer]

Any thin rope will work. Just remember that an 8x8 tarp is NOT the finished size. 8x8 blue tarps are more like 7'-9" square or so... Might be a bit small...

Even Mason's line works in a pinch, though it would sag over time...

8x10 would give you plenty of coverage. if you're not car camping, get the lightest one you can find... WM has 50' braided coleman utility cord for $7. It's polyester, and should work great. Get 2....

[DemostiX]

Harbor Freight has blue tarps especially cheap right now.

A building supply store might sell you a length of 9' Tyvek; and Harbor Freight sells tarp-grabbers for the corners of a tarp you can make of Tyvek or of heavy builder's plastic.

Paint supply places also sell heavy duty plastic in pre-cut sheets, heavy enough for a few days use. Not the 1-mil drop cloths--useless, but much more durable stuff, tough enough to be underfoot.

Your story makes me think I want to have some tarp-grabbers or a set of grip-clips on hand with which to make a tarp easily.

[flight_chick]

<---------Did not want to miss out on seeing this waterfall again because of the lack of a tarp. Thanks for all the suggestions. Ya'll really come thru in a pinch. Hopefully I can make a purchase tomorrow, try it out in the yard, and be good to go for the trip.

[BigJake]

+1 This is what I'd do in your situation.

Get a blue tarp, some cordage and stakes at Walmart. Just set up the tarp separate from the hammock. Make sure the tarp at least 10 feet long.

[Jason in Tn]

Harbor freight has lots of tarps and cord cheap if there is one near head there.

Jason