10x8 tarp for thru hike?

[laherb]

i'm planning to thru hike the AT in mid march this year and was wondering if i would have enough coverage with a 10x8 tarp. i use a HH ultralite backpacker. any thoughts or recommedations are appreciated.

[warbonnetguy]

i've heard folks like a bigger tarp for the colder (first) part. cannibal used the superfly for that section. they do call it the "smoky mts" for a reason. blowing/rolling mist/fog, you want all the coverage you can get in those conditions.

you can't really get full side coverage from an 8' wide tarp (imo)

[JayS]

My son uses an 8x10' tarp and likes it but... he's just asked for a bigger one, a 12x12' that sets up almost identical to a Speer Winter Tarp. The 8x10 may not be enough coverage in the southern states in March and April. Although you could get by, there wouldn't be a lot of "hanging out" room when it is nasty out because, as WarbonnetGuy says, there isn't an overabundance of side coverage unless the ridgeline is very low. You may also want a tarp that can be closed up on at least one end, which an 8x10 doesn't really allow for.

A good way to test one is to pick up a blue poly 8x10 at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc and play with it in the backyard. Just don't tighten down too much or you'll rip out grommets!

[laherb]

thanks for the input

[Doctari]

My first tarp was an 10 X 8 from Sportsman's guide. I withstood: an ice storm, 50 mph gusts, T-Storms, hail, Below 20 degree temps, etc. And, while I prefer my larger tarp, I stayed dry & warm under the small one.

I hung my hammock as high in the tarp as I could: hammock ridgeline touching the tarp ridge & this allowed me to use the most of my side protection. And with good site selection you should do well. Much along your route in the south will have large groves of Rhododendrons (called "He**s") and a Rho he** will shield you from almost any wind. The temps deep inside these groves can be nearly 10 degrees higher on a cold day.