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New to site (and hammock camping.. a few nights out with ENO doublenest, homemade bugnet and tarp), looking to buy a more suitable tarp for a good deal. Interested in any size and style, or suggestions of where to find a good tarp for not too much $$. Thanks!
Will
First off, welcome to HF. I'm a fellow Charlottean, hope we can hang some time. The Speer Cat Cut tarp is reasonable priced and well made as is the JRB Tarp, the Speer Winter Tarp and any of the MacCat tarps from OES. There are plenty of threads here to read on all of them. Good luck in your search, keep us posted and let me know if I can help with anything.
try the Kelty noah 9(http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22048) or the funky forest tarp from travel hammock(http://www.thetravelhammock.com/prod...nky_forest.htm). I have both and they work wonderfully
Hooch, great to see Charlotte's got a hammock camping following. I have two friends who will hopefully join the site soon as well. A big group hang would be quite fun as well as informative, I'm sure. A couple novice questions.. what is the benefit of a cat cut tarp as opposed to a straight edge?
And rigid, hows the coverage from the kelty 9? For now I'm just looking at summer trips, so the main concern is rain/wind. Buying new, I'd probably opt for a smaller tarp due to price, but if anyone has a used tarp they're selling, I'm open to any size.
Thanks for all your guys' help. I'm quite enjoying the resources and information on this site.
Here's a tremendous resource as far as hammocks go. Kind of like hammock boot camp 101.:D Jeff is a member here and his site has helped many of us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Will P
www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingDry.html
I used it back in April and it rain off and on all weekend backpack and everything was completely dry under tarp. Here's a picture of it at that hang http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...hp?i=3148&c=18. Here's the Funky Forest tarp on a test hang in my backyard http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...php?i=3572&c=2Quote:
Originally Posted by Will P
The biggest advantage to a cat-cut tarp is that it flaps less inthe wind, and therefore, makes less noise. In really windy weather, that can be a big plus. Personally, I use a Speer Winter Tarp, which has cat cuts. I like to call mine the Speer Weather Adjustable Tarp (SWAT), since Winter Tarp sounds season-limiting. It's definitely a great year-round piece of gear, is well made and produced right here in the Carolinas.Quote:
Originally Posted by Will P
The BlackCat DYI instructions on that page give a message that the account has been suspended?
The instructions have been re-created here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie
Welcome to hammock forums fellow Charlottean.
Let me get back and Houch, you and myself will put something together like South Mount. or Grandfather.
I have used standard Wally World tarps (Cheap) to making my own.
I do like my larger (10x12) when I go.
I am "small challenged" and like to stay dry.
Yea, Jeffs site was actually the first one I explored when I started searching for hammock camping stuff. It led me to this site and a few others I'm now checking out quite frequently. That link was extremely helpful in clarifying some of my tarp questions, muchos gracias.
Now it's just the decision of do I get a light tarp for less cash and eventually have to buy a larger one for better coverage, or do I just go ahead and get the SWT (or SWAT) or MacCat... I'm hoping someone will eventually wish to upgrade so I can pick up their old tarp. I shall keep my eyes open.
How much sewing experience is typically needed for the DIY projects?
IMO, if you're going to get a tarp, go ahead and bite the bullet and get a good tarp up front. I had an ENO DryFly and liked it at first, but that was before I knew any other good tarps existed. My advice unto thee if you're not able to sew is to save your pennies. I know it may sound corny, but I saved change for about a year and in the end, had enough money to not only buy a SWAT, but a SnugFit as well. I was only planning on a SnugFit, but finally got fed up with my old tarp and wanted better coverage. In the end, I wound up with a great underquilt and a tarp that I really like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Will P
If you don't mind white, try this one.
It says they are out of stock, but I think that changes from day to day.
I kept checking the site and got one a couple of weeks ago.
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=254694
I really like the look of the Kelty 9 and that white Guide Gear (thanks). But it definitely seems more practical to have something like the SWT (which may be an upcoming birthday present :D).
Another question, which, if this is all debated somewhere already, please point me in the right direction. Basically, it seems like it'd be nice to have a tarp for any weather conditions (SWT) as well as a lighter, more open one (e.g. 9x9 diamond) for nice, uneventful days in terms of precipitation. So here's my question.. for summer hiking in the NC mountains, is a smaller diamond going to be enough coverage in a storm? or will the SWT provide the coverage and also allow me to easily open up, look out, and enjoy my surroundings as much as a diamond?
You guys are awesome. Thanks for sharing your experience and hammock camping wisdom. I'm really looking forward to my next trip.
Ok I'm seeing a lot of the stuff related to that last question I had in the square vs. diamond thread.
What's the price point on the Gear Guide?
I just picked up this tarp from Campmor for $40
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22220
http://www.campmor.com/images/tents/22220.jpg
They arrived yesterday and first impressions are good. The 21 tie-outs are narrow, white nylon strips stitched through the tarp and reinforced with web tabs on the under side.
Hope to get a few pics of it in action this weekend. 40% chance of rain, I should be able to verify the waterproof qualities of the tarp.
Guide Gear tarp was $29.97 on 6-10-08
Hard to beat that!
Hey Cavscout,
How did the Campmor 10 x 10's work this past weekend? It looks like they might of gotten a little bit of a test.
Baerman
Dawsonville GA
Yeah, they got a good test :) We set them up on the square for optimum coverage and used the 4 side tie-outs to pull the sides out a bit more. They worked well except that on the second day I raised the ridge line to try and get more head room under the tarp. In doing this I inadvertently created a trough in the ridge where water found it's way through the center tie out in the ridge. Water was dripping right down into the middle of the hammock.I pulled the pad and blanket to the side and just let the water drip on through. Once the rain stopped, I pulled the seam sealer out of the back-up tent we brought and sealed up the tie-out. Of course it didn't rain again after that. All other water and wind were repelled. Considering I really wanted a green tarp, relatively light with lots of tie-outs at a low cost this was a good deal.
I'll have a more detailed write up of the trip in another thread in a day or so, but I'd call it a successful first hang. My Son and I are sold on hammock camping.
Campmor has a very light tarp, and reasonably priced. http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___20069 (if the link dies, search the Campmor site for Ultralight Backpacking Tarp)