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Thread: Tarp Theories

  1. #1
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    Tarp Theories

    I've been reading through Water Monkey's blog and some other sites and the general theme seems to be the newb's using very large tarps and as you gain experience/comfort the tarp size seems to decrease. I wanted to throw this out to the group as more of a "discussion".

    My thoughts with a tarp are that #1 it is the main shield from the elements and #2 it should provide sufficient protection.

    There are a lot of hangers that use the smallest tarps they can get away with, seeing as they are lighter. For fair weather this would be OK, but what about the occasions when you are set up through storms? In a straight rain you will probably be OK, but any wind blown rain is bound to get in somewhere - not to mention the ground below the tarp.

    How are you supposed to get any sort of cover over yourself and your gear in the rain, say to dry off and put fresh clothes on, when the only thing that fits under the tarp is the hammock?

    My big mamajamba tarp is probably the biggest, or one of, and for space its great. We've even camped under it cooking dinner waiting out thunderstorms. I know weight is a viable concern, but when you need the protection I don't think you can beat having a nice big tarp.

  2. #2
    gunner76's Avatar
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    Its all a matter of personal preference.
    I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !

  3. #3
    Senior Member Raul Perez's Avatar
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    The notion that you NEED a large tarp is a matter of preference in my opinion. But the necessity to have a large tarp to provide the same amount of protection is also up for debate.

    I started with a superfly and then moved to a smaller tarp... the OES Deluxe. To me this tarp size is perfect for me. It's much lighter (cuben version now) and it protects in various types of rain.

    I've dealt with drizzle, heavy straight rain, and the nasty blowing rain (see 9:20 of the following video)



    I've been thoroughly surprised at how well this particular sized tarp maintains your ability to stay dry.

    With the blowing rain it is important to set up with the wind blowing at the tarp so the rain doesnt blow in from the head or foot area. In the above video it had rained a few times during the day and the wind was blowing a certain direction before it came down. I noticed this and changed the position of my hammock and tarp before it came down. I was in the shelter cooking when it actually came in and when it passed I went to my tarp expecting a soaked hammock and came to everything bone dry... even underneath.

    You can probably go smaller with the WB Edge but for me I'm happy with the OES Deluxe size.

    To be noted I feel the Zpacks 11' x 8.5' cuben tarp to provide much more coverage than the OES Deluxe but for some reason I keep my faith with the Deluxe. Thats me... personal preference.
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  4. #4
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    I have two tarps. One for trips when the weather forecast says "no rain." The other for all other times. The fair weather tarp barely covers my hammock but I can keep rain out by setting it up like a coffin lid on the hammock. As for dressing, I do that in the hammock anyway. The larger tarp is more comfortable and is my tarp of choice for questionable to down right wet weather.

    This way I don't carry anymore weight in my pack than necessary.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member SGT Rock's Avatar
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    9'x7' is fine for me. I've done bigger and smaller, and have found this works in all four seasons for me. I think it is just preference. I like a smaller tarp so I can have a tighter camp in cubbyholes. I could only speculate that when people first start hammock camping they figure they want all the protection they can get. I also notice a trend towards extra "bells and whistles" on the hammock too. I've trended down to the simplest hammock I can get by with.

    I recently made a 11'x8'10" for a friend, it felt like I could park a car under it, I wouldn't know what to do with all that room.
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  6. #6
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MAD777 View Post
    I have two tarps. One for trips when the weather forecast says "no rain." The other for all other times. The fair weather tarp barely covers my hammock but I can keep rain out by setting it up like a coffin lid on the hammock. As for dressing, I do that in the hammock anyway. The larger tarp is more comfortable and is my tarp of choice for questionable to down right wet weather.

    This way I don't carry anymore weight in my pack than necessary.
    I think this is the reason for the move from the large to small. When your getting started, atleast for me, I could only afford one tarp. So I went with a larger tarp, more coverage. As time goes on and more hanging experience is gained (and money) you can get the smaller tarp for good weather, and still have the large for the bad.

    And when you do get caught out in the rain with the smaller tarp, and find that you still have the protection needed, the switch full time is made.

    My "go to" tarp is a Kelty 9, hung in a diamond. When I first used it in the rain, (and it poured at times) I was worried that I would end up wet. I pulled the sides down and could still see my hammock, I just knew that I would end up wet. Woke up the next morning high and dry. Many scouts on that campout (in tents) could not say the same.
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  7. #7
    Senior Member pb&j's Avatar
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    I have to say that this thread gives me hope. I have a smaller tarp, and have been seriously considering adding to it. I think that I still will, but not to the extent that I would have if I had not seen this. Thank you! for the perspective.

  8. #8
    What role can a massive (think superfly) tarp play in regards to shielding the sides and bottom of your hammock from wind? Would that provide a measurable improvement in warmth for a pad user like myself?

  9. #9
    Senior Member ringtail-THFKAfood's Avatar
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    small v large

    You can stay dry with a fairly small tarp. However, I use a Spinn Big Mamajamba when hiking with a group and a Mountain Laurel Designs UL tarp (now discontinued) when solo.

    The small tarp used correctly will keep you dry, but you have no room to cook and move around.

    On the Colorado summer hang it rained everyday. I stayed dry, but the folks with the big tarps were making tea and visiting.
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  10. #10
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Where I hike, cooking in your hammock means getting eaten by a bear.
    So, I guess different people use their tarp differently depending on their different environments. Therefore, there is not one tarp that is "best."
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

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