Frontline

[ed_cik]

Hi

I'm just about to order a frontline hammock but I am to sure if I should get the 3x3 tarp or the next size up the 4x3 I think? I am actually buying the hammock for a survival hunt we are doing in winter. The bush veld gets down to about 0 Celcuis in winter which is almost freezing. What can I use to insult the bottom of my hammock?

Thanx

Eddie

[Moondoggy]

Are you saying meters ? In feet I prefer a tarp no smaller than 10ft by 10ft it allows me to close in the ends as doors and plenty of headroom when I stake the tarp directly to the ground so there is no drafts! Get your self an Underquilt if you can afford it ! If not you could use a blue foam pad and try some Reflectives they work miracles when you have cold spots ! You can buy the Reflectives cheap from Lowes or Home Depot ! It's a bubble wrap double sided with shiny stuff ! It's used to cover and insulate ductwork around $15 a roll .

[Moondoggy]

Try you tube and watch some of the Shug's videos ! They will help!

[ed_cik]

Are you saying meters ? In feet I prefer a tarp no smaller than 10ft by 10ft it allows me to close in the ends as doors and plenty of headroom when I stake the tarp directly to the ground so there is no drafts! Get your self an Underquilt if you can afford it ! If not you could use a blue foam pad and try some Reflectives they work miracles when you have cold spots ! You can buy the Reflectives cheap from Lowes or Home Depot ! It's a bubble wrap double sided with shiny stuff ! It's used to cover and insulate ductwork around $15 a roll .

It is in meters so its 10 ft square next size up is 4,5mx3m or is that to big will the 3x3 be fine? I will try find something like that here in South Africa. Hammocks arent very popular here cos they so expensive. I have had to import mine direct from DD in the UK! Is an underquilt specially had for the under protection?

[Moondoggy]

Sounds like the 3/3 is perfect and yes the UQ is just for under protection ! DD makes an insulated UQ you can try theirs or Look at Arrowhead Equiptment or the manny other Vendors on this site !

[ed_cik]

Cool! Thanx I will check it out! I have a first accent comfy light sleeping mattress that i can put in between the the two bottom layers in the DD which should work as well! I have read that is could work!

[Passinthru]

In my opinion, the smaller tarp will give good coverage - easier to pitch and lighter also.
For underside insulation in my Frontline I have used and extra sleeping bag, a windsheild reflector, or a foam pad. All worked very well.

[craige]

The 3x3 tarp should be fine, I got the 4x4m and it's huge, I mean, really too big! And it weighs A LOT! Go with the 3x3, I wish I had :(

[BackPackHiker]

I have a video of the tarp in use, I am doing some final edits and am planning to post it tonight, I will include a link after it is done so you can see what the 3x3 tarp is like, I also have a video of the tarp being used with the hammock as a bivy which can be seen at this link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9aQpv8AmvY

I like the 3x3 tarp but for the winter I think I would prefer the 4x4 because you can really close yourself in and prevent a lot of draft. I would recommend after setting up your tarp to pack in snow around it where there is holes that air can blow through, this will help with keeping you warm. I found the DD hammocks to be much more comfortable when using a sleeping pad and that will also help with keeping you warm at night but you might want to consider getting a warm under quilt for that extra added comfort. In addition to that I always keep a hot water bottle in my bag with me which reallly makes a huge difference for me.

[FLRider]

If, during this survival hunt, you intend on packing everything in over long distances on your back, go with the smaller (lighter) 3m x 3m. If, however, you aren't going to be going long distances with everything on your back, then go with the larger (more coverage) 4m x 3m.

The reasoning being, the smaller one will do just fine for precipitation but may block less wind. The larger one will give you more space under the tarp and offer better wind blockage, but will be more of a pain to pack long distances.

Anyway, my two cents...

[K0m4]

I have both. I like the bigger one, there's something about having excess coverage! But it is certainly heavy...

http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab168/svepte/Camping/DSC_0035_komp.jpg

[BackPackHiker]

Ok, I finished the video with the tarp set up. you can just skip the hammock review and there is a set up of the 3x3 tarp that I use during the winter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4S22G7jAps&feature=plcp