I love a good thunderstorm in my hammock. I sleep with earplugs(can still hear thunder if its close-which i enjoy hearing and helps me sleep, as does the sounds of rain on a tarp), and the swaying trees usually give me a lil sway in my hammock. A few considerations you may or may not have considered:
Storm considerations:
Widow makers:
Your number one concern should be widowmakers, limbs that look dead and may even be hanging. Storms can shake these branches loose as they are often hanging by a thread. If a whole tree appears dead, move on. These limbs can fall and pierce the soil several feet deep, they would impale you instantly whether you were in a tent or a hammock. So do not sleep under them. SITE SELECTION
Drip lines:
If you whoppie slings/suspension does not already trail water off to the side into a water container(for drinking), or onto the ground, add some half inch to inch thick fabric to do so.
Tarp tearing:
It is best to tie your tarp to a continuous ridgeline with prussics. At the guylines make your prussics no more than 3 wraps. why? if a strong gust of wind uses your tarp as a sail and it has no give(cannot slide on the ridgeline or let our more slack for a stake), you will rip your tarp to shreds. Especially with these lightweight fabrics like cuben and spinn, although from what i hear, cuben has a very high ripping strength. Anyway, 3 wraps, no more and use a continuous ridgeline. Also caryring an extra stake or two, or making one from a stick or two before you goto sleep if you know a storm is coming is a good idea. Imagine trying to resecure a guyline without a stake, in your hiking boots/shoes/crocs getting rained on with no socks on, while lightning cracks and creatures roam. Being in a place with natural buffering is ideal, in a small valley or depression with short stocky trees/vegitation surrounding can act as a wind buffer prorecting your tarp. SITE SELECTION
Lightning strikes:
Don't be the tallest thing around. Find the tallest trees, keep 150 yards distance from them. Opt for lower to mid-elevation trees if possible. SITE SELECTION
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