Tarp Questions for Blackbird?

**Cannibal** · 08-15-2009, 20:00

Originally Posted by Peter_pan

Cannibal mis-states the coverage of the "Diamond tarp" which is really a square as not having side protection actually it has quite a bit more than the standard Mac Cat you cited in the original post.... Scroll down this page for a pictorial comparision of the two referenced tarps. http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingDry.html... If you are seeking light weight and great protection top and side and not a winter tarp at $89 the JRB 8x8 is hard to beat.

Pan

I would disagree with that, obviously.

My experience with a larger diamond tarp (9x9) says quite a bit different. I was speaking more of wind coverage than rain, but I do agree they provide good rain coverage. Against the wind, hardly even a competition.

**Chocolatier** · 08-15-2009, 20:23

Originally Posted by Cannibal

I do agree they provide good rain coverage. Against the wind, hardly even a competition.

Were I a betting man, I'd wager that the catenary cut and extra stakes on the MacCat provide more stability in the wind and that they both do about the same in the rain. The diamond cut will go up faster, though.

Passionate folks on both sides, obviously. I appreciate all the opinions.

Rich

**te-wa** · 08-15-2009, 20:34

Originally Posted by richtl

Were I a betting man, I'd wager that the catenary cut and extra stakes on the MacCat provide more stability in the wind and that they both do about the same in the rain. The diamond cut will go up faster, though.

Passionate folks on both sides, obviously. I appreciate all the opinions.

Rich

guess you'll have to have both.
cannibal: "my name is cannibal and im a gearoholic"
HF: "we know"

**Beast 71** · 08-15-2009, 20:50

I bought a diamond fly (here;http://www.mosquitohammock.com/ ) for my Warbonnet Blackbird(WBBB). I love it but, I think that it is about the bare minimum that could be used coverage wise. I use it as a summer tarp but,I will need to buy another tarp to use in the other seasons. I really took a hard look at the speer winter tarp, it is lighter and gives more coverage, but, for $50 including shipping I had to go with the diamond fly. What can I say I'm a sucker for camo.

**Chocolatier** · 08-18-2009, 14:53

Thanks for the feedback and opinions, everybody. HF is a pretty amazing place for information.

I think I'll go with the MacCat (unless a JRB turns up somewhere at a can't-pass-it-up price.) I like the idea of staking up the corners on trekking poles.

Rich

**Quoddy** · 08-19-2009, 09:36

Last week, while hiking near the top of a ridgeline (Doll Mountain in northern Vermont) I managed to get my Warbonnet and MacCat (Deluxe) up seconds before a severe thunderstorm/squall line hit. I was getting blasted by at least 40 mph winds and very heavy rain for well over an hour until the system passed completely through. The tarp flexed considerably in those gusty conditions, but kept me completely dry since I'd put it broadside to the expected wind direction. The TheraBand tensioners did an excellent job, too, and kept the silnylon just far enough away from the hammock.

I have a Spinntex version coming from Brian this week. Deluxe length (130") and Standard width (84"). Should be a good 3 season fit for the WBBB.

**Mustardman** · 08-19-2009, 10:26

Warbonnetguy offers a nice 3-season tarp that is, IMHO, pretty competitively priced. It's a cat-cut hex design, and is my primary tarp.

From Brandon's site:

Big mambajamba $110 (superfly without doors or panel pulls/ cat-cut elongated hex tarp) ~ 96 sq/ft

Blue mj 16.2 oz (incl. stuffsac)
Black mj 17.2 oz (incl. stuffsac)

The BMJ is 11' x 10'6" while the MC STD is 10'4" x 7'

I personally wouldn't want to go much smaller than the BMJ for a hex tarp on my blackbird. It's got a lot of coverage, which means I can handle some serious wind blown rain.

**warbonnetguy** · 08-19-2009, 10:35

Originally Posted by Mustardman

Warbonnetguy offers a nice 3-season tarp that is, IMHO, pretty competitively priced. It's a cat-cut hex design, and is my primary tarp.

From Brandon's site:

Big mambajamba $110 (superfly without doors or panel pulls/ cat-cut elongated hex tarp) ~ 96 sq/ft

Blue mj 16.2 oz (incl. stuffsac)
Black mj 17.2 oz (incl. stuffsac)

now also have an 11x9 elongated hex and a 10.5 x 8 hex as well

**Chocolatier** · 08-19-2009, 10:42

Welcome back, Warbonnetguy. I trust you're feeling refreshed and relaxed?

How much does the 10.5x8 hex weigh and how would it work with my upcoming Blackbird? And how much does it cost? (I couldn't find it on your site).

Rich

**RootCause** · 08-19-2009, 10:50

Originally Posted by richtl

DIY
Per the "Blackcat" instructions
Pros: Light, customized, inexpensive
Cons: My DIY skills are pretty much limited to cooking and making chocolate.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Other suggestions?
What size tarp should I be looking at for a WBBB?

I'm going to add in a wrinkle to the DIY route for you: I got behind the 8-ball when making my tarp, ran out of time to sew due to other projects. I took the half-finished materials (all cut correctly) to a local tailoring shope and asked the very kind Korean lady to finish the sewing for me. Although she'd never been asked to do anything of the sort previously, she had no problem finishing up my work, although it's very easy to tell what parts she did. (Embarrassingly, they're the sections that look good!)

She charged me a whopping $15, so I still ended up with a great tarp that was easier on my wallet.