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Well like so many others I have gotten bit by the Blackbird bug and have placed my order with Brandon. If you could go from scratch - what tarp would you get to partner with the Blackbird? Now think of this as if you could only have one tarp and the majority of your use is from late spring to early fall. I sure would appresciate your answers! ;)
To choose one tarp only for 3 season use (non-winter), I would go with the MacCat Ultra.
I concur. A Speer winter tarp would also do well for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by angrysparrow
I was very impressed with the warbonnet superfly when I saw it... but I have never used one or hung under it.
the superfly is more of a winter shelter, the 3 season version would be the superfly without doors and panel pulls, (big mamajamba),similar in shape to, but slightly larger than the maccat delux
The big mamajamba has served me well so far. I'd still like to pick up a bigger winter tarp for super cold temps, but I like the simple cat cut hex design for most weather.
Just this weekend, I had two blackbirds hung under a single big mamajamba, with hiking poles at all four corners, and it worked well. Didn't give much protection from the wind, though, and it dropped down below freezing at night so got a bit nippy :rolleyes:
The Funky Forest is my tarp of choice for my Blackbird...at least until I see what's up Brandon's sleeve! ;)
You could use the Claytor Diamond Rain Fly if you are on a budget. $45 shipped.
Hmmmm I'd say a MacCat Ultra or the Superfly. Hear me out. Superfly is more coverage then you need 70% of the time during those seasons, but when the other 30% strikes you'll be glad you have it. I have a whole selection of OES Speer and WB taprs. OES micro and standard would be too small in most cases. Deluxe would be ok but Ultra would be better. Speer Winter Tarp would work as well a OES Ultra. WB superfly would work perfectly, and brandons Cat cut also works great.
I use a MacCat Ultra with my BB and it does work very well...in the winter it would be perfect to have about 1' more per side but...;)
I can and do close off one end of the ultra in windy winter conditions.
It is a very nice tarp
After setting up my Superfly and my MacCat Deluxe this morning, I'm going to have to say the Superfly would be a superior tarp if your only going to have 1. It covers all needs and possibilities without sacrificing much weight gain. Your looking at about a total of 7 extra ounces over an Ultra. Unless you get a Spinntex Ultra, and then well you'd be my hero.
I'd love to be your hero but money is always an issue at my house so . . . I guess you'll have to stick with your current heros!:laugh:
I really want to say "thanks" to everyone that shared comments and suggestions. I am trying to calculate getting the greatest bang for the buck alongside of my projected needs tarp-wise. I am at this point leaning toward the McCat Ultra or the Big Mammajama. I don't think I can justify the additional cost of the Superfly vs the few times it would prove beneficial for my hammocking treks.
I don't think you would be unhappy with either the Big Mammajama (BM,:lol::lol::lol:) or the MacCat Ultra; can't ask for better quality in either. If you're a gram weenie, well I guess you wouldn't be carrying either but the MacCat is gonna be a bit lighter and smaller. But, if you're hangin a BB and you can only have one tarp (for now;)) then my vote is to get the matched set and really hang in style.:cool:
Thanks everyone for your input. I went with The MacCat Ultra. I had contacted Brian at OES with a question regarding shipping costs and lead time for delivery. He offered me a cosmetically blemished Ultra for $25 off. I ran with it. Thanks again!:D
a 2nds Ultra?? That is a great deal! You'll be very pleasedQuote:
Originally Posted by robbitybob
Good choice.
I'm also trying to decide on a first tarp for a BB.
I'd like to get an OES b/c it seems Brian has the best prices on spinntex tarps. I'm having a hard time deciding between Deluxe and Ultra for 3 season use. Brian told me approx weight of Deluxe in spinntex is 9.8oz and 11.5oz for the ultra. Weights include stuff sack and seam sealing.
I guess the benefit of the Ultra's extra tie out is you can close the doors somewhat if you needed too. Downside is that the Ultra is 16 inches shorter in width than the deluxe. Also I wonder how well creating a porch with hiking poles would work with the ultra.
Finally i'm interested in catching water with the tarp and i bet i could attach one of those Hennessy water collectors (or something similar) to the middle tie out of the ultra.
Use the OES Deluxe Spinntex version with the BB. Enough coverage even in a driving rain storm if pitched properly. Light, no need for tarp tensioners(more weight savings), no mist through.
These thoughts relate to the Ultra and MacCat in general, not just with the BlackBird:
The biggest benefit of the Ultra over the Deluxe is the ridgeline length. In a hard blowing precipitation, the ends are the most vulnerable spot to moisture (far more than the low-pitched sides IME). Having extra coverage over the ends of the hammock makes a big difference in staying dry. I have both an Ultra, but also a BlackCat (both with 12 foot ridgelines) and several times I've been in wind-driven rain where I would have regretted having less ridgeline coverage. YMMV
The extra side tie-outs on the Ultra are nice to have, but I think they are more a design function of creating several shorter and more effective edge cat-cuts rather than being needed for the wind conditions that most hammockers encounter. In fair conditions, it's easy to simply ignore the middle tie-outs and use the Ultra with only the corner guy points.
Works great. Here's a pic of an Ultra in porch mode in the snow from the recent Sipsey hangout:Quote:
Originally Posted by piotr01
Wow good photo, looks like a nice setup.
angrysparrow are you able to do a taught full porch (one pole on each corner) with the MC Ultra in lighter weather?
Also I wonder though why Brian made the sides shorter on the Ultra.
Yes, poles on the corners only works fine if you pull those guys nicely taught. The center guyout point itself dangles, but harmlessly so.Quote:
Originally Posted by piotr01
I assume for weight savings. I don't find the reduced side length to be problematic.Quote:
Originally Posted by piotr01
not being a avid hanger yet. Let me explain my thinking when I picked one out. My thoughts were 3 season yes but with that in mind when I'm out and the occasional storm brews up I have the option to close off the ends of the tarp or at least one end if that's all that's needed. With that said I also thought what if I get some fortitude and be so inclined to give a winter hike a go. Listening to some of these guys and gals stories about winter hikes sound like they could be fun. Either way I planned for the possibility of foul weather. But that's just my opinion. Good luck with the choice but I think you'll be fine you already bought the right hammock.
TY
Just a correction, the MacCat Deluxe and Ultra both have the same width - 52" per side for a total of 104". That was a typo on my website (now fixed). The extra length on the Ultra is the key benefit of that tarp over the Deluxe, especially for the longer hammocks now on the market.Quote:
Originally Posted by piotr01
If that is the case then the Ultra's length would be of little benefit for someone in a standard length hammock, as the Macat Deluxe is generously sized for a standard Hennessy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian
Exactly. I originally designed the MacCat Ultra arond the new 10' ridgeline hammocks. For the HH ULBP and Explorer, the Deluxe works fantastically. Some people also want even more room under the hammock for rainy weather groups, and order the Ultra for that reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by Take-a-knee
The HH Explorer Deluxe works fine with the Deluxe, although it's length can still benefit from the extended reach of the MacCat Ultra.
I'm not sure if thats true because from what i've been reading i think the ultra is more effective with its extra length and tie out to "close the door", than on the deluxe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Take-a-knee
Regarding the width i'm suprised no one caught that earlier...
Especially in the thread below ;)
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...hlight=piotr01
I was having a hard time deciding between ultra and deluxe b/c i though the widths were different but now i'm pretty confident the ultra will work best for me.
I use the Deluxe version. From the photos the Ultra looks to be the same shape as the Deluxe. Just longer at the ridgeline. Based on the shape of the tarp pulling in the corners may not result in an effective combination of space and protection from rain driving in from around the tree ends. Hopefully some Ultra users can provide some feedback regarding closing the ends of in door like fashion.Quote:
Originally Posted by piotr01
For heavy windy rain using the Deluxe I just hang everything lower and stake down the tarp to the ground. Also try to select the safest fattest trees with minimal distance between them. Orientation of your set up really makes a difference, but winds seem to always shift up here when a storm blows through.
The ultra has 2 cat cuts on the sides with 3 tieouts a side....slightly different than the deluxe and offers more pitching options.
I have a 10x12 in black - for summer I am considering (because I must continue to justify MORE GEAR :rolleyes: ) a MacCat for my Blackbird, because they are a) not black and dark inside and b) not big enough to put around my car.
I am going back and forth between the standard and the deluxe. Would the few inches difference really give me that much more coverage if it rained?
Yes. The standard size works just fine, but does not leave a big margin for error. I have both, but tend to take the standard more often because it's my Spinn version and I don't mind being anal during set-up if there is a storm coming.
I still haven't got a tarp for my at hike, but i decided to focus on getting something geared for 3 season use. I think i'm going to get a OES speer winter tarp copy in the fall for cold weather/winter use.
Anyways i'm going to be using a BB and am only interested in getting something in Spinn or similar. So far i'm considering the deluxe and ultra. Is there anything else worth considering that i can get in Spinn or similar fabric, mabye some other custom design Brian could make me? -Thx!
Right now, I use an 8 x 10 cat tarp from Ed Speer. very happy with it, but I've only spent one night in slight drizzle and low wind.