Continous Ridgeline... Over or Under???

[lesspayne]

I'm going to get my first hammock and tarp soon and I have been studying a lot about them in order to get the best use from one. I have a question regarding the tarp continuous ridgeline. I've seen the Shug video about how to set them up and am confident that I can follow his instructions to setup my tarp (Superfly by the way) with the continuous ridgeline running under or over the tarp. However it is unclear as to whether one way is superior to the other. So my questions are as follows...

1. Is the tarp continuous ridgeline better over the tarp or under the tarp? why?

2. What are the pros and cons of having the continuous ridgeline run under the tarp?

3. What are the pros and cons of having the continuous ridgeline run over the tarp?

[hotrod1016]

I run my ridge line under the tarp so I can hang small items off it like my flashlight, keys, ect. One down fall of under the tarp is rain can run down the line and wet you. Easy fix by making a drip string.

[craige]

The ridgeline seam on a superfly (sf) has a slight cat cut so it is not recommended to run a rl underneath the tarp.

For tarps without a cat cut rl underneath is fine.

For the sf warbonnet guy recommends two separate lines for his tarps, although many use a rl over the tarp with equal success.

Rl under tarp...
Pros: hanging stuff off, if there is snow building up on the tarp the rl can bear a lot of the weight instead of the tie outs.

Cons: water can run underneath, although this can be prevented with drip strings. I find it more fiddly, to take down the tarp if I store the rl cord separately. Over time there can be some abrasion on the tarp.

Over tarp...
Pros: I personally find it more diverse, and easier to adjust, YMMV. Easier to take down separately. Doesn't interfere with the tarp cut at all. A looser line can still be run underneath from the tie outs if you want to hang stuff. No drip string needed.

Cons: can't hang stuff underneath tarp, someone else may have more cons.

Check out this thread and vid by dejoha, this is how many are using their rl now, I think it is the simplest and most diverse rl solution yet. https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=63271

Enjoy your new gear, so many people love the sf, I'm sure you will too!

[Bubba]

An often discussed topic here. Here are some threads

[Fixxr5]

Howdy neighbor.
First, I prefer continuous ridgeline rather than two tie outs. You can center the tarp over the hammock first shot.
Second, I like the ridgeline over the tarp. I tried it under, but I couldn't get the tarp to hang nice and tight without feeling that I was going to damage the tarp somehow. Meaning that the lashit, i use 1.75, was going to cut the tarp, had to get it really tight to hang almost right. Then I tried over the tarp, problem solved, tarp hangs naturally, and you don't need to get it so tight to hang right. Less stress on tarp and me, worrying about damaging such a great piece of gear, not to mention, my shelter.

I don't have dutchware yet. I use a small toggle on one end and a small figure 9 on the other. All of $2 for both. Btw the bishop bag or tarp skins work wonders for deployment of the tarp.

How's the weather. Hot here.

[lesspayne]

How's the weather. Hot here.

Hot as can be and the small storms in the afternoon don't cool things off much. It hasn't really begun yet this summer is going to be a hot one.

Thanks to all the folks for the helpful replies!!