Multi-Use Tarp

Erica – I'm curious to see other replies, as I have pondered a similar issue.

My concern about a tarp with beaks: seems like it would be tricky to pull back one corner for easier access.

Currently I use a sil-nylon hexagonal tarp, Warbonnet Edge, for both hammock and ground use. Though the ground use has been just me, not 2-person. It's worked fine, so far.

In the long run I might like to get a CF tarp. If I spend that sort of money, and also for the sake of simplicity, I'd like it to work for both purposes.

I've looked at hammock tarps with storm doors from Zpacks and HammockGear. The models seem rather similar, both allow you to pull back corners. On the HammockGear site a few of the reviewers say it works well for the ground too. I suspect there are sil-nylon version to be found.

But I'd also like to get a simple, flat rectangular tarp, like the MLD super tarp.

The fancy hammock tarps are hexagons with extra flaps on four corners — so close to just being a rectangle! I've wondered how feasible it would be to configure a flat tarp in a similar way. Perhaps some tie-out points would need to be spaced differently.

Regular flat tarp will do just fine IME. I've used 8×10 rectangular, looking to try a square tarp for the increased ground pitching options. If you go shorter than 10' on both sides you'll need either a diamond pitch or a very short hammock.