Wind vs Tarp/Hammock. Wind wins.

**StumpJumper** · 04-10-2014, 18:03

I'm sad to say that after 5+ years of hanging, I'm just about ready to go back to the ground.

The issue isn't the comfort, it's the WIND.

I live in an area that where there's a limited number of hangin trees so I don't always have a lot of options in terms of wind protection and site selection. My last trip was about the last straw. I had my HG Winter Palace absolutely battened down - doors closed, side pulls tied out, and two trekking poles propped against the walls - and I still felt like the wind was going to shred it to pieces all night long. The sound of tarp edges flapping and my hammock tossing back and forth yet again destroyed what should have been an incredible nights sleep. Unfortunately, this happens way too often in my hiking areas.....so..... it pains me to say that I'm just about ready to give it up.

Bummed hanger.

Stumpjumper

**MAD777** · 04-10-2014, 18:32

Sorry to hear of your plight.
I have always said that rain and cold can be dealt with much more easily than wind. Especially when setting up or taking down. Being in the East, I'm always somewhat protected by forest. Although, I won't hang among pines on a windy day for fear of widowmakers.
On the other hand, your experience is quite a testament to HG Cuben Winter Palace!

**Bushwhacker** · 04-10-2014, 18:38

I wonder if it would be possible to make a streamlined tarp or tarpsock.

**CamoDeafie82** · 04-10-2014, 18:47

Originally Posted by StumpJumper

I'm sad to say that after 5+ years of hanging, I'm just about ready to go back to the ground.

The issue isn't the comfort, it's the WIND.

I live in an area that where there's a limited number of hangin trees so I don't always have a lot of options in terms of wind protection and site selection. My last trip was about the last straw. I had my HG Winter Palace absolutely battened down - doors closed, side pulls tied out, and two trekking poles propped against the walls - and I still felt like the wind was going to shred it to pieces all night long. The sound of tarp edges flapping and my hammock tossing back and forth yet again destroyed what should have been an incredible nights sleep. Unfortunately, this happens way too often in my hiking areas.....so..... it pains me to say that I'm just about ready to give it up.

Bummed hanger.

Stumpjumper

that sucks. are you by any chance a "gram weenie"? if not, and if you can stand the weight....may I suggest a tarp made of more durable materials? say...sailcloth or canvas...maybe even cordura nylon type of material? I've camped in some windy areas...and I'll say this, a canvas tent or tarp shelter will not feel like it's going to be ripped apart from high winds......but yes they are bloody heavy. Scotty Von Porkchop made a tarp out of something similar to canvas cloth, I think it was synthetic canvas but I'm not 100% sure...you could start with a canvas tarp or a boat tarp made out of heavier duty synthetics.....somewhere in between.....?

**psyculman** · 04-11-2014, 03:34

Even if you did have some sort of an 'aerodynamic' cover, trying to sleep with a buffeting wind all night is not comfortable.

**Oms** · 04-11-2014, 07:09

Sometimes a large tarp is not the answer. It catches more wind and requires additional stakes. Silnylon stretches better and combined with a cat cut can reduce noise. The swaying of trees however will always swing or bounce the hammock. That can't be helped. If it is truly windy it is still loud in a tent. I would still keep your hammock gear and use it on trips where it isn't an issue. Sort of the reason I still have my tent. Never know when I will end up hiking in a treeless area. Good luck.

**scoffman** · 04-11-2014, 09:10

I'm of the mind set. . .If it ain't raining, and it ain't cold. . .forget the tarp and let the wind sway me to sleep.

**Old Spice** · 04-11-2014, 09:21

Sorry to hear about the bad experience. As spring rolls in here in Wisconsin, the last several trips have had lots of wind. I've had zero flapping and noise on my JRB cat tarp - likely due to the fact that it's sil and can be pulled soooooo taught. However, the wind does come through and gently rock my hammock sometimes. I haven't gotten rid of my tent just yet - not because of the wind, but because of the bugs. Having a nice big area that's bug free is awesome.

I'm thinking you've definitely used a sil tarp before if you've been hanging for 5 years, so you know how taught it can get, so I'm preaching to the choir here.

**Bushwhacker** · 04-11-2014, 09:30

Originally Posted by brogrammer

Sorry to hear about the bad experience. As spring rolls in here in Wisconsin, the last several trips have had lots of wind. I've had zero flapping and noise on my JRB cat tarp - likely due to the fact that it's sil and can be pulled soooooo taught. However, the wind does come through and gently rock my hammock sometimes. I haven't gotten rid of my tent just yet - not because of the wind, but because of the bugs. Having a nice big area that's bug free is awesome.

I'm thinking you've definitely used a sil tarp before if you've been hanging for 5 years, so you know how taught it can get, so I'm preaching to the choir here.

Heh. I'm picturing using a tent [i]as[\i] your bug net. You can just make an oversized bug net that falls to the ground and then you can get rid of all that extraneous weight!