Tarp for Hammock

Pete – I also had a Hennessy which I sold to buy a WBBB Dbl 1.1. I started with the MacCat Deluxe, which is an awesome tarp, although the service leaves a little room for improvement (see the many posts on hammockforums.net about trying to get in touch with the owner of OES – in fact, there are people selling used MacCat's for MORE than a brand new one, simply because the buyer won't have to go through the trouble of contacting Bryan from OES tarps).

Just for kicks, I bought the Warbonnet small hex tarp (now called the "Edge") and I like it as much, if not more than the MacCat. The Edge covers the Warbonnet perfectly, but doesn't waste fabric (and weight) where it's not needed. Both are super tarps, but I really like the fact that I can contact Brandon from Warbonnet and get a response in a reasonable amount of time. As a testament to Brandon and his company, I have just bought my second Warbonnet tarp (to go with my second Blackbird hammock).

Good luck!

can't go wrong with a Maccat deluxe….i have one and love it…also if your not a gram weenie the JRB 11×10 is a great tarp…just too heavy for m taste at 19oz

other then that you could look into a tarp that brandon makes and get it all in one shot…i'm sure he would hook you up for getting both with him….

he has some really nice tarps and i think he does custom work…

but if you can spare the extra cash….get the spinn Maccat Deluxe…at 10oz it's sweet…

you can also make a tarp if you sew…thats my next DIY project …

hope this helps

also i will add that yes sometimes brian is hard to get ahold of…but i just ordered a tarp off him…took a day to get back to me…and a week later i have the tarp…
he is in school….so sometimes there is a wait…

no matter what one you get…i think you will like it

Does the Edge cover the hammock well enough to protect yourself from a heavy rain?

I guess the other question is there a tarp that could suffice as a stand alone shelter and also a tarp for the hammock?

Thanks for your help!

i think any of the tarps we talked about could work as a stand alone tarp…

from what i'v seen of WB tarps i dont think you have any worry….like i said…whatever one you pick…i don't think you could go wrong…there all good tarps…all comes down to weight and name if you ask me

Brandon offers rebates if you buy multiple pieces of gear from him…there's a link at the top of his page on how to do it. You also get to combine shipping that way so you'd save a bit more. I own 2 WB El Dorados and 1 WB Blackbird…excellent work on all. I don't have his tarp but I've inspected them and they look great…heard only good things about them.

Same with the MacCats (I have two)…excellent products. The service can be frustrating b/c he's prioritizing his college above his tarp business. The right choice, but still impacts his customer service. He has some new gear coming out this year, though…Gen 4 MacCats and doors sewn onto the tarps.

If you're worried about end coverage for your tarp, there are several door kits…most popular right now seem to be Warbonnet's removable door kits and 2Q/ZQ's mod kits that they sew onto the tarps. 2Q and ZQ also sell Grizz Beaks that will fit most tarps.

Bottom Line – as several posts said, you can't go wrong with either. And if you're not happy, either one will sell quickly and for about what you paid for it.

"Does the Edge cover the hammock well enough to protect yourself from a heavy rain?"

Yes (tested), however, if the rain is driving from the side, you will need to take that into account when selecting the direction of the hang. I found that if rain is forecasted, I pitch the sides of the tarp closer to the hammock – any size hammock tarp will cover if you pitch it that way. The issue becomes: do you want to hang out under the tarp and do things like cook during the rain. If so, you should probably get a larger tarp (like the Big Mambajamba) that can cover when pitched more like a porch.

"I guess the other question is there a tarp that could suffice as a stand alone shelter and also a tarp for the hammock?"

+1 on the comment above – any hammock tarp makes a great stand alone shelter.

Peter I have three different tarps for my hammock setups (me and the kids). I have the JRB 11×10 tarp, the JRB 8×8, and a Speer Hammocks 10×8 tarp. I can tell you that the Jacks customer service is absolutely incredible. If you call they pick up the phone and will talk as long as you have questions. They also typically ship the same day and I've always had my gear either the next day or the day after.

I would say that out of the three tarps the JRB 8×8 is fantastically light but IMHO only provides sufficient coverage for smaller hammocks, i.e. up to 9 feet in length. The ridge line does not provide enough coverage for my Eagle Nest Single/Double hammocks. It's perfect for my Speer Hammock though and is my go to option for that hammock setup. I think it would be too small for the Warbonnet hammock though.

The Speer 10×8 tarp provides great coverage and is a good compromise between size and weight. It's very well made and I think a good overall choice. It's a cat-cut tarp and pitches very taught with no effort. My only issue with the Speer Tarp is that the seam is not along the ridge line of the hammock but instead runs the midpoint of the tarp. I have my suspicions as to whether this is as strong as running the seam along the ridge line.

The absolutely bomber of the bunch though is the JRB 11×10 tarp. I had this tarp in 30-40 mph winds over the weekend and it held up extremely well. Stakes were pulling free but the seams held up with no damage. The coverage is fantastic and I have a ton of pitch options. If you had to go to the ground you'd have lots of setup options as well and enough room for 2-3 people under the tarp. I've used this in double hammock setups as well which is fun and can save weight.

Of the three, my recommendation would be the JRB 11×10. Note, there's a good review of this tarp on BackpackGearTest as well.

This guy is new on the scene but is getting rave reviews for his hammock tarps, and the service is top notch. He sells a range of tarps for both winter and summer use. His Winter Dream is a really nice full coverage solution with doors on each end to offer full wind protection.

http://backwoodsdaydreamer.webs.com/

You can also get a very nice high end hammock tarp from Ron Bell at Mountain Laurel Designs. It is available in Silnylon, Spinn or cuben. Some very nice features like integrated Linelocs on the tieouts and hanging hooks along the ridgeline. He's usually busy and may give you a several week lead time, but communication is excellent.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=59

Ditto the comments about Maccat service. Brian makes a good product but I've been frustrated with him a number of times. Fortunately there are a lot of very nice alternatives out there now who offer excellent customer service.

This guy looks great, but everything on his site is sold out. I was thinking about purchasing one from Warbonnet and opting for the doors perhaps later on, but what I'm really wondering is if I really even need them. Too many options!

I have the Maccat Deluxe on my HH and it has endured amazing rain storms that left tent campers swamped. Great coverage even in blowing rain.

My experience with the service was excellent.

It looks like he's moving his home and will be up and shipping again shortly. Sorry, I did not realize that. My transaction with him went very smoothly.

Concerning tarp doors, if you are considering serious winter hanging they are very nice to have. If for nothing else, to provide a more complete protection from the wind that otherwise tends to rob you of warmth. That is more of a concern with hammock style camping. But with that said, I have used a 3-season hex style tarp in a lot of very rough rain and wind conditions and fared fine. Good site selection is equally as important.

Last year I decided I was too old to be sleeping on the ground, no matter what thickness of air mattress I used. Bought the Blackbird Double-layer 1.1 from Brandon at WarbonnetOutdoors.com and have never had a regret. Awesome product!

I bought my MacCat Ultra (Spinnaker) from Brian MacMillin at OutdoorEquipmentSupplier.com (OES) and was extremely happy with both the product and the fantastic service.

I waivered back and forth between a tarp from Warbonnet and MacCat and I am sure I would be completely happy with either.

However, what made me select the MacCat Ultra was the fact that I endure sideways rains in Florida and need some extra protection in New England as I push into winter.

I personally felt that the complete "door" closure offered by Warbonnet, while looking like the ultimate in protection, was too much weight to sacrifice.

The MacCat Ultra with the three tie-outs per side allow one to kind of wrap the tarp around the hammock for some extra protection; and at 11.5 ounces for the Spinnaker version, including stuff sack, I'm a happy camper :-)

Some of the guys I thrued with this year were using Maccat's, but alot of people have complained about service, which makes me gunshy of ordering from him.

Use an early gen OES Spinntex Deluxe. Bit smaller than the current MC Deluxe. Similar in size to the WB Edge Spinn tarp.
Properly pitched the WB Blackbird & I have stayed dry in heavy driving rainstorms. The door option on the WB tarps gives them a bit more versatility. Tough choice between the Edge or DeLuxe.

Regarding customer service. I have had excellent service from OES. Brian is a full time grad student and sewing out of his "dorm" room may limit his production volume. Product is of excellent quality. Same quality customer service from Brandon at WB. Both these people are basically one man shops. They do spend time out on the trail resulting in sometimes a delay responding to emails.

If you want a tarp NOW, you have two choices. Warbonnet and Jacks R Better. Speer and Backwoods Daydreamer aren't making tarps. MLD takes a few months to make anything. You could get an ENO, but they look ugly because the logo. You could get a Hennessy hex tarp, but they are Hennessy. You could get a camo tarp from Claytor. You could get a MSR or Snow Peak tarp, but they are ridiculously high. You could get a Guide Gear, Kelty, of Funky Forest, but they are either white or heavy. You could just get a a rectangular tarp and use it. I think I'd get a Warbonnet and get a discount along with combined shipping…very convenient.

To throw a bit more info at you — Lots of great tarps as all have mentioned. You can also get a custom tarp made by a few folks — I'm getting one made in cuben that's modeled after the Winter Dream. Should weigh a few ounces less than a pound for significant coverage.

For colder weather hammocking, Arrowhead Equipment makes a "Bear Burrito Oven" or BBO. It's a nylon 'coverlet' for the Blackbird that lets air out (it's not waterproof, but will repel light spray and snow) but helps keep warmth in. I used it down to 3 degrees this past winter, worked great.

And when I get my custom cuben hammock tarp, I'll probably be selling my MLD cuben hex hammock tarp…..

I use and like the MacCat Deluxe in SpinnUL fabric from Brian at OES. Brian is a full-time student in Engineering (about to graduate) so his turnaround times are somewhat variable, though his products are first-rate.

SC Littlefield is another good cottage industry producer of tarps (http://backwoodsdaydreamer.webs.com/).

JRB and Warbonnet have already been mentioned…good products.

Mountain Laurel Designs also makes a hammock tarp (even will make one in Cuben!!) but MLD is also a bit slow between order and delivery.

All are top-notch in quality and design.

"And when I get my custom cuben hammock tarp, I'll probably be selling my MLD cuben hex hammock tarp….."

You get that thing yet Doug?

Not yet. Had to wait for the cuben. Hopefully by week after next!

I'm a big fan of the warbonnet superfly tarp. Great coverage. Has side tie outs that make it roomier if needed. Have hung two hammocks under this tarp.

I feel bad that Brian (OES) gets so much bad press. His tarps are awesome. The guy's in grad school so there has to be some big time demands being put on him.

Doug, I was just dreaming about a BWDD winter tarp in cuben last night. May I ask who your custom maker is?

And did anyone find the MLD hex hammock tarp a bit short? It's a little shorter in RL length than a MacCat Deluxe.

"Doug, I was just dreaming about a BWDD winter tarp in cuben last night. May I ask who your custom maker is?

And did anyone find the MLD hex hammock tarp a bit short? It's a little shorter in RL length than a MacCat Deluxe."

Lawson Kline, who posts on BPL often. The MLD tarp is a bit shorter than I'd like, but I used it last night/this morning under constant rain and both my hammock and myself stayed perfectly dry.

I'm still new to camping on the East Coast (Catskills, Hudson River Valley) after only camping out West.

After just a couple trips, I'm seeing the benefits of hammocking for this terrain.

Having just bought a BPL Nano, funds are a bit tight, but I'd go with the crowd and get a Warbonnet blackbird for my hammock.

This thread indicates there seems to be a greater diversity of opinion on tarps though.

Nobody has mentioned the JRB 8'x8' yet. It has the advantage of cost over a spinnaker or cuben tarp and weight over a silnylon hex tarp. 9.4oz vs 8oz for a Warbonnet Edge spintarp at 60% of the price.

Obviously, I'm giving up some coverage for the savings. But would the coverage it provides be enough for East Coast summer rain storms? For the price, I could likely afford a bigger tarp for winter if I fall in love with tarp camping over the summer. (could sell my NeoAir and Duomid to fund it)

Opinions or experiences? I just registered for hammockforums this morning, but since this thread is recent and I know y'all, I figured I'd ask here first. (Point me to a relevant thread on HF if you know of one)

Thanks.

Hammock Forums is an excellent website. Of course, you're going to get a lot of different opinions on HF about which tarp is the best. I have a Warbonnet Blackbird dl layer 1.1 with a MacCat Deluxe sil tarp. My experience with Brian at OES was very good. Placed my order and it was delivered seam sealed in around 2 weeks. If I had it to do over I would have purchased the Deluxe with the spinntex material instead of silnylon. Good luck!

I'm also thinking of having a 9 x 9 tarp made for a hammock. Anybody have any experience with this size?