What size MacCat tarp do you suggest?

**Coffee** · 03-17-2007, 11:45

Originally Posted by Oms

Hi Guys,

My first time posting. I was glad to find this site about hammocks. I recently started using a hammock and had a few problems. One was the size of the tarp that came with the HH a-sym ultralite. On the other forums where I posted questions the general concensus was that the rectangular tarp that came with the HH was adequate. I didn't care for it at all. I searched for different tarps and found the MacCat Deluxe. I have yet to spend the night under it, but I did take it out to the forest preserves and set it up. It is wonderfully made and the coverage is by far better. The additional weight is worth every bit if it means staying dry. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in this thought. I was beginning to think I was a whimp. As far as Brian goes, I caught him in between semesters where he had a little time to make tarps. From his profile he sounds like a promising young man who will go places in life. So now I have a lot of threads to read about hammocking, how exciting!

Oms

Welcome to the forum.

You are not alone. From what I see on this forum, more people use bigger tarps than smaller tarps.

**Oms** · 03-17-2007, 16:23

Thanks for the welcome. I'm sure that I will have many more questions in the future. Need to go through the threads so as not to ask the same things over again.

**slowhike** · 03-19-2007, 15:13

Originally Posted by RockStar

.

Slowhike: WOW that looks very interesting...tell me more!

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=582
if this link works, it should take you to the beginning of a thread that talks about the storage end covers.
there's a lot more pictures of them in the "home made gear" gallery too. ...tim

**AngeeO** · 03-19-2007, 17:25

Originally Posted by blackbishop351

No, I don't sell them. I've made a couple for friends, partly to help them out and partly to help hone my sewing skills. I also wanted more experience with them before writing up my directions, but couldn't afford to make a bunch of tarps just to have them sitting around my house

Hi
Could you send me the link to your website. Interested in maybe making my tent and tarps.

**blackbishop351** · 03-19-2007, 17:28

Originally Posted by AngeeO

Hi
Could you send me the link to your website. Interested in maybe making my tent and tarps.

http://www.jhatkhat.com/Khat/camping/

**AngeeO** · 03-19-2007, 17:32

Thank you!!

**DGrav** · 03-19-2007, 21:08

Originally Posted by Hog On Ice

I have a HH Explorer Deluxe (a longer hammock) and decided to get a longer MacCat to go with it - I talked with Brian and ordered a custom MacCat with a 160 inch ridge length - called the "Titan" - basically I wanted something to cover pack and stuff I hang from the support ropes of the hammock.

Hog the Titan sounds awesome. Any idea how much it weighs?

**jlb2012** · 03-20-2007, 06:50

Originally Posted by DGrav

Hog the Titan sounds awesome. Any idea how much it weighs?

can't say as I ever weighed it - if I remember I'll do it tonight

**BillyBob58** · 03-20-2007, 21:51

Rockstar: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What size MacCat tarp do you all suggest and why? As in Pro's cons of either size. I was thinking of ordering a Standard

What size hammock do you have? I have an HH Explorer UL. I would not for a minute consider anything smaller than the deluxe for these hammocks, which are ( I think ) about 8" longer than the Backpacker ULs. I consider the end coverage just barely adequate, as the MC deluxe is actually about 7" shorter on the ridgeline than the HH standard Explorer rain fly. Although side coverage is actually significantly better. Though I must admit that after having left the HH with MacCat set up overnight in very heavy rains, heavy winds and even hail, not one drop got into the hammock. But I was not in it, and that might have made some difference.

However, had I used the standard, it would have been an additional 10" shorter on the ridgeline, and I just don't see how that could have kept the rain out. As it is with the deluxe, the end of the hammock (where you can first see the rope leaving the hammock fabric) is only covered by about an extra 2" on each end. That is apparently just barely enough to get the job done, but I don't think the standard would suffice.
But someday I'm going to make a BlackCat, I think!