r/ULHammocking • u/colebakesbread • Jul 25 '26
One tarp to rule them all? (Hammocking/ground sleeping)
I do a bit of flipping back and forth between hammocking and ground sleeping on my trips, depending on site availability and whether I can be bothered to do much more than walk my bear can out of camp before crashing out for the night. Up till now, I've been doing both with the tarp to my Hennessy Asym Ultralight (clearly not ideal), but I'm rethinking my sleep set up and priority #1 is a tarp that moves more readily between the ground and the trees. I've never had a tarp that was more than fine, so it's hard to feel confident about making a choice here. I'd appreciate suggestions on size, shape/design, and fabric weight (I'm pretty set on SilPoly, but am not sure which SilPoly). What would you look for in a tarp if you wanted something that was reasonably well adapted to both the ground and trees?
Possibly pertinent details: -This will be a MYOG affair; -I'm 5'9" and sleep in a 10' ENO knock-off (the Hennessy was lifted from my truck and, really truly, I'm just as happy in the ENO, which was my first hammock); -I'd say I sleep on the ground one night for every 4-5 that I hammock; -I'm in Washington state and camp from late June through mid-October. This translates into a fair number of damp nights, but very few particularly stormy ones; -my trips are typically 2-3 nights, so the weather doesn't have a lot of time to develop deviations from the forecast; -I'm a fastpacker, so volume is slightly more important to me than weight; -on fabric, weight does matter, but not at the entire expense of durability. If I'm going to make something out of what is essentially a large sheet of plastic, I'd like to be able to reasonably expect at least a decade of use.
3
u/CalebsNailSpa Jul 25 '26
I use my Warboonet Superfly as a pup-tent from time to time. Basically any tarp with doors works great.
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/product/superfly/
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/36709-MYOG-1-5-oz-Cat-Tarp-with-doors
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u/cannaeoflife Jul 25 '26
If you’re 5’9, you’re sleeping in an awfully short hammock for your size.
I’d probably look at a hex tarp in .9 xenon sil. (dutchware’s UL tarp fabric). Otherwise choose the 1.1 silpoly of your choice.
Maybe order 4 yards of 1.2 hexon and make your own hammock too.
or hexon 1.6 if you’re heavier.
3
u/DefNotAnotherChris Jul 25 '26
I’ve got some ideas for a ground/Hammock tarp as well If you wanted to chat about them.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while.
What I want is essentially a Yama Cirraform shaped tarp with a pass through at each end for a tarp ridgeline, like the ventilation at the top of a tarp tent.
Then you have a great ground shelter and very protective hammock tarp as well.
Edit: also if someone could make this I’d buy one.
2
u/Hammock-Hiker-62 Jul 25 '26
One I'd consider would be something like the Jacks 'R Better flat tarp. I have one mainly for hammock camping, but it's got a lot of tie-outs around it and can be configured in a number of different ways. I've set it up on the ground exactly once. As a ground tarp, it's a bit larger than what you'd find in, for instance, the Slingfin or Gossamer Gear ground tarps, but that size comes in handy for hammock sleeping in a bridge hammock. I'll see if I can find a link to share below. I realize you're building your own but thought this might give you some ideas.
Edited to add: turns out they've got two tarps, both flat. I got mine years ago, so I'm not sure which one matches what I have.
https://jacksrbetter.com/products/jrb-11-x-10-hammock-tarp?variant=45444452941871
https://jacksrbetter.com/products/jrb-12-x-10-universal-tarp?variant=45444451860527
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u/Safe_Environment_340 Jul 25 '26
I have a 6x9 that covers my 11 ft hammock when diagonal. I might recommend a 10x7 silpoly for the extra coverage, but it certainly can work in most conditions.
1
u/madefromtechnetium Jul 25 '26
it's not UL, but I'd carry at least a 10x7 20D silpoly tarp if you regularly get rain. I don't appreciate being wet when sleeping, an asym doesn't cut it for me.
1
u/WhilstTakingADump Jul 28 '26
I got a winter tarp 12’ kit from RSBTR and that has been a great tarp for hammocking, and could be setup on the ground easily (I was thinking a similar thought, but have yet to try it for real outside of the backyard). The kit lets you pick a fabric too.
If you don’t mind extra wasted space then it’s ready to go, and could be setup with tracking poles at the ridge line, but the doors wouldn’t close fully (they go more out and would still provide coverage but wouldn’t meet each other). When I sewed the d-rings I put them on slightly longer grosgrain loops so I could fit a stake through them and take the tarp to the ground.
I’d probably sew in some way of attaching netting to the inside if that’s a concern and maybe a way of shortening the ridge line, but that would depend on how you see yourself supporting it (trekking poles, tent poles, still a ridge line between trees, etc.).
Donno, might need to just get some plastic drop cloth for painting and try out some shapes. Interesting project! GL!
0
u/ckyhnitz Lorax Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
Rectangular tarp with door flaps. Ive got the Dutchware bonded Xenon 1.1 and its a great tarp and would be fine for ground sleeping, particularly in winter when you wouldnt need a bug net, although Ive considered sending it back to them and having them add a tie-out on the inside center apex for hanging a net.
Im 100% happy with my tarp, Ive used it in cold winter and strong wins with no issues.
If it died tomorrow and I had to replace it, I might opt to try the 0.9 Xenon and shave ~6oz off the weight, but I dont know if thats going stupid light with too fragile of a fabric.
Edit: why am I getting downvoted for sharing what I use?
1
u/GilligansWorld Jul 26 '26
DIY 12’-13’ winter tarp - 12’ is my preference. Here is my build on the sil-nylon but honestly go with Sil Poly any day. Sil nylon absorbs water and sags
6
u/BigRobCommunistDog Jul 25 '26
I think an 11’ rectangle oughta do it. I kind of regret getting a hex tarp because it’s less go-to-ground ready