Using a Kelty Noah's Tarp 12

[shrkbit143]

I have a Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 that I was thinking of using over my Hennessy ULTRALITE BACKPACKER A-SYM. Has anyone tryed using this tarp or size (12x12) of tarp? What kind of problems did you run into?

[eflat7]

When I first started the whole hammock thing, I bought a SG 12X12 and my buddy bought the Kelty 12X12. IMO they are both wayyy to big and heavy. I bought a SG 9x9 and never looked back. Im sure some people have them here and love them, just too big for me. It was too hard to find two trees wide enough to put it up and still have enough rope for the hammock.

It will definitely keep you dry though!

[JayS]

I have a Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 that I have used over several different hammocks. It works well over a Hennessy. I have used it in a diamond configuration but it was very long along the "ridgeline". I almost always use it with the "straight" edges parallel to the ground so I have a little less than a 12' ridgeline. Since you then have about 6' on each side of the ridgeline, you have a lot to play with. In the winter, I stake out the first attachment point in from the end (so the tarp is basically an A-frame), then use the part from there to the end as a door (stake it towards the opposite side like a Speer Winter Tarp). With a Hennessy, you sometimes have a little issue getting the hammock's side tie outs far enough out with a tight winter style hang like this. I usually tinker with it until I get close enough, often I shorten the Hennessy's tie out lines and hang the hammock a little closer to the ground.

In the summer I use a smaller tarp except in two instances:
1) I want to hang multiple hammocks under the same tarp or
2) my daughter wants privacy around her hammock.

If I remember right, the Kelty is polyester and doesn't stretch when wet.
Let us know how you make out.

Jay

[UncleMJM]

I use the Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 with poles when my wife and I hang together and are car camping. That way weight is not an issue.

I tie off the 2 hammocks to three trees, (one shared) then use the poles to center the tarp. I hang it on the diagonal and leave the sides up for some breeze when nice.

I refer to the set up as "the honeymoon suite"