Slack guy lines

[hikerkelly]

After my first backpacking trip with the Hennessy I was overall pretty happy about the set up. The only issue I had is that once I got into the hammock I found the guy lines at either ends of my monsoon fly became slack. With wind they became loose from the tent stakes and the fly would flap around. Not ideal!

How can I avoid this and keep the guy lines taught both when in the hammock and out?

I have attached a photo of my recent setup. I was using the cord, not the shock cord guy lines.

[pgibson]

Attach your tarp to its own ridgeline rather than the hammocks suspension. The stock Hennessy system is flawed in this manor. My fist posts here where basically the same question with my HH backpacker.

Switching to a separate ridgeline will let you put proper tension on the tarp that won't change when you are in the hammock or roll over or get out. It will be a constant tight pitch...what you want.

There are a number of pre-made options for ridgeline from us in the cottage shop world as well as line by the foot available to make your own if your inclined.

[SwinginIt]

Put your tarp on a separate ridgeline instead of your hammock ridgeline.

[hikerkelly]

Oh, of course!! How did I not think of that!? Haha

Thank you!

[Gravity]

Tie-Outs

Once you have the tarp on its own ridgeline, guylines may still loosen up, as silnylon stretches during the night, specially in wet weather. To cope with this issue, you can either use taut-line hitches on your stake tie-outs, or use line locks like these:

http://dutchwaregear.com/line-locks.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnAaykA3yg

Ridgeline

For the tarp, you will have to decide between a continuous (long line from tree to tree) or split (line from end of tarp to tree) ridgeline. I use a split setup, with dutch flyz to tie the line to the trees.

[Shug]

I have also noted that although my tarp is separate from my hammock and is pitched tightly is will sag a bit when I get into the hammock as my weight makes the trees bow slightly if I am hanging on thinner trees.
Using Self-Tensioning guy lines really helps…..https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ead.php?t=3731
Carry forth,
Shug

[hikerkelly]

Fantastic, thank you for the suggestions! I'll have a look into it

What would I do without HF?!

[nothermark]

Be aware that the downside of the separate ridge line is that your hammock can sag below the bottom of the tarp. The reason they attach the small tarp to the hammock is to allow for the sag. This only matters in windy conditions in general and wind driven rain in particular.