How was the water getting in? Via the tie out you may just need drip lines. I'd go for something a bit bigger or add flaps to square out one side for a porch mode. I have both tarps but vastly prefer the Hex.
How was the water getting in? Via the tie out you may just need drip lines. I'd go for something a bit bigger or add flaps to square out one side for a porch mode. I have both tarps but vastly prefer the Hex.
Weight matters. Especially for a thru hike. Some may disagree with that. Most won't.
Even if I was going to go with a tarp with the same form factor as the stock Hennessey, I'd still replace the Hennessey tarp. HH doesn't use the lightest fabrics available.
If you want to go the route of a small asym tarp look into the ones from Mountain Laurel Designs or Warbonnet.
If you want a tarp with better coverage, there are lots of options out there for under $150. The very top of my list (keep in mind, this is for under $150, so cuben fiber tarps are pretty much out of the question) would be OES MacCat Deluxe.
Ramblinrev is dead on right in what he says about site selection.
kkilgroe is dead on right when it comes to stringing the tarp up independently of the hammock suspension. I never was able to get that to work to my satisfaction.
JustJeff has nearly everything you really need to know regarding hammock tarps on his website: How Do I Stay Dry in a Hammock?
Another thing you may want to consider is talking to some of the gear makers that are using cuben fiber and pricing what it would cost to make a very minimal cuben tarp. Who knows? Maybe they can do it for $150. That would be the absolute lightest tarp out there. That might not be the way to go for you since you've already stated that the HH tarp sucks. I agree with that completely, and when I was thru hiking went with OES tarp.
So, I guess this actually happened to you? What do you use for under insulation? If you happen to plan on a HH Super Shelter, you pick up a huge additional amount of sideways rain protection. I once had mine set up in the back yard with tornadoes very close by, horrendous storm. Though I had spent some time trying to get a perfect setup, but with tarp tied to HH suspension Prussics. Thing is, I was completely exposed to the winds, the only 2 trees were the 2 I was tied to about 21 feet apart. And totally flat land. I made a run for it out of fear of tornadoes and lightning. Then I was regretting my decision to leave the hammock/tarp out in that storm, worrying the winds would destroy everything. But when I checked afterwards, there was about 1 table spoon of water in the lowest point of the SS undercover, everything else was bone dry. I was amazed.
I agree on the beak. But I thought GrizzlyAdam's video showed this being used with an HH diamond tarp for much improved coverage? No?
One other thing you can do, with or without the HHSS and assuming you add use some sort of drip line: put a small hole in a big garbage bag. Thread your suspension through this hole, and drape the bag over the end of the hammock.
Or if you just want a big ol tarp for hanging out under and inviting guests over, a JRB 11x10 rectangular tarp is a really, really good one. But, it does weigh about 19 oz.
Also, keep in mind that the stock diamond Explorer UL tarp is several inches longer than many popular tarps out there. I think it is 140" long. But for example, the above JRB tarp- is only 132" long. Though you get a lot better side coverage with most of them, you actually give up a bit of narrow coverage- at least from straight down rain- on the ends where the narrowest part of the hammock is. OTOH, the sil-nylon HH Hex ( also and excellent tarp) is 144" long.
The stock tarp will keep you dry in any rain. Pitch it low and tight.
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I recently picked up the Warbonnet asym diamond tarp...awesome. I believe it's a bit bigger than the Hennessy model...I got great end coverage w/ it. 7.5 oz, $75.00.
http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/tarps.php
So....how nice are you? I could have easily stayed dry with my stock tarp on my last AT hike. Since we were expecting quite a bit of rain I brought the MacCat Deluxe instead. When it wasn't a downpour I had the tarp rigged in sort of a "porch mode". While I laid comfortably my other hiking partners huddled under the tarp with me chatting and cooking dinner. Some of the less sociable types hopped around a smoldering fire or stayed trapped in their tents. So....you can stay dry with the stock tarp but sometimes it's really nice to have the extra room.
My sentiments exactly. Will the stock tarp keep you dry? Yes. Will you be able to do anything other than lay in your hammock during a storm? No.
Last May it rained on us 2-3 days straight and having my MacCat Deluxe was awesome. I could get out of the hammock and chill under the protection of the tarp. No problems cooking or anything else. Let's see you cook under the stock tarp.
Porch mode is awesome as well. Throw the hiking poles up and stake it down. Rockin' good news!
JaxHiker aka Kudzu - WFA
Florida Trail Association: NE FL Trail Coordinator (Gold Head to Stephen Foster)
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Or if your looking for a small tarp that will work grat with the HH look at the OES Standard.... it's bigger then the stock tarp and it's light for a Sil tarp and it's only $95
but like others have said you can survive big storms with a stock tarp once you learn how to use it ... i used a stock tarp for the better part of a year... the first few times sucked... but after that it was not bad
It puts the Underquilt on it's hammock ... It does this whenever it gets cold
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