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  1. #1
    New Member
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    Question Using a tarp at night...

    Hi All,

    In watching a lot of the videos (Shug's videos, mostly), I've noticed that the tarp is always used at night. I was wondering if this is necessary on really clear nights, or does the tarp serve other purposes besides keeping the rain out?

    I have a solid tarp from Hennessy, and it would block my view of the moon. :-)

  2. #2
    Senior Member Postal's Avatar
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    I leave mine up regardless due to the local bird life having their morning constitution. But if it is clear and you know there are no local nests you all good.
    Where ever you go,
    There you are.

  3. #3
    Member
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    My humble newbie suggestion would be to at least hang the tarp, but roll it up/snake skin it. That way it´s easily accesible if you suddenly need it.

  4. #4
    Senior Member bodhran4me's Avatar
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    I have hung sans tarp for unhindered view, and have got up in a hurry to deploy the tarp as well. Postal makes a good point about ABMs (Aerial Bowel Manouevers). The best compromise is probably pitching your tarp in porch mode. One of these days I plan to use some super six (vapour barrier) as a see through tarp for maximum view and protection from birds and rain.
    Hangin' High and Dry

  5. #5
    Senior Member DemostiX's Avatar
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    My nightly hang makes porch mode easy to achieve, and glad I have otherwise too-long guy lines -- they're long enough to reach branches on other trees.

    Real tarp skins would be nice, But, truth is, one surplus tube sock cut into several bands that are spaced across the tarp achieves much of that to hold the tarp out of the way.

    Another truth is that if you'll let symmetry be violated and will hang the tarp off-center of mid-lines to the trees, both sides of the tarp can hang to one side of the hammock until you wish to deploy the loose half fully.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Resqsarge03's Avatar
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    The first few nights I spent outdoors in a hammock was in my backyard. I did not have a hammocking tarp and rain was not expected. The skeeters were out so I used a bug net. I was comfortable and everything was going well until after midnight. That is when the dew started to form. By the time the sun rose, my bugnet was saturated and dripping, as was my suspension. I never thought much about it before then but my neighborhood here in SC often has dew or frost depending on the season. So I adapted and started using a tarp full time whenever "testing" in the backyard. I suppose there will be times where there is enough breeze or low humidity where I can do without but a properly rigged tarp not only removes those issues from the list of possible problems, it rules out other problems and can make things quite cozy.
    =Sarge
    "Live your life so that your children can tell their children that you not only stood for something wonderful- you acted on it"
    -Dan Zadra

  7. #7
    Senior Member AaronAlso's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheSaxMan View Post
    I was wondering if this is necessary on really clear nights, or does the tarp serve other purposes besides keeping the rain out?
    The long and short of it is, no its not necessary, but yes the tarp serves other purposes. Between wind, falling leaves/twigs/small limbs, ABMs (lol), or like this last fall in my area SAP, the tarp just generally serves as a protective barrier.

    I always pitch my tarp, usually high and wide if rain isn't expexted, I find it faster/easier to move a stake in a hurry/in the dark than to stake everything out.

    As for watching the moon, I'm grateful for my cuben fiber.
    "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." -Plato

  8. #8
    Senior Member old4hats's Avatar
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    The times I have hung without a tarp I woke up with dew on everything, not good. For me the views at night are a non issue, I go to sleep pretty quick.

  9. #9
    Nighthauk's Avatar
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    Using a tarp at night...

    Huh. There have been a many nights I have slept with the tarp rolled up above me so that I can look at the stars. Everything from 18*-50* and have never had a problem with ABM's or dew. I have had leaves fall in but that was about it. It is on of my favorite ways to sleep when I can.
    Husband, Father, and Friend.
    Scout Master and Cub Master for Troop/Pack 705 of
    Chesterfield


  10. #10
    Senior Member Bic's Avatar
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    Its nice without a tarp, but it seams like whenever I don't hang it I always get rained or snowed on and wake up in the middle of the night to my face getting wet. I Tri now to hang it most nights at least in porch mode. The tarp also helps keep warmth in by preventing wind from blowing around you.
    The camper formerly known as HikingDad...

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