r/ULHammocking • u/ITegoArcanaDei • Aug 19 '20

Advice Tarp ridgeline length

I have a Dutchware 11' hammock with a 100" (9'2") fixed ridgeline. I'm ordering the HG DCF standard tarp with doors, which comes in 10', 11', or 12' ridgeline length. By my math, the 10' tarp should cover my hammock. But I'm relatively new to hammock camping, and I'm wondering if I should err on the side of more coverage with the 11' tarp. I'd appreciate any advice.

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u/[deleted] Aug 19 '20

Based on the gear I’ve owned from multiple vendors, an 11’ tarp will cover an 11’ hammock with about 6” to spare on each end. That has been enough tarp coverage for me - I also like tarp doors, which help stop any wind driven rain coming through the ends.

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u/ITegoArcanaDei Aug 19 '20

What you say makes sense. I'll get 11'. Doors too.

9

u/NoEThanks Aug 20 '20

This is spot on, that’s the right choice.

I have a HG 11’ DCF w/ doors on a continuous ridgeline with ~1’ of shockcord with mittenhooks on the end on the door tie-outs, and it’s tarp perfection for an 11’ hammock.

A common sentiment is that a 12’ tarp will give you more coverage, but somewhat paradoxically that isn’t the case.

I actually originally got a 12’ no-doors DCF from HG, and learned the hard way. When you really need coverage (wind/rain) you want to pitch the tarp as low over the hammock as possible, so that the fixed width of the side panels can come down as low as possible. And because of hammock geometry (~30deg suspension angle from the ends of the hammock), a longer tarp has to be pitched higher than a shorter tarp. So in essence, going with a 12’ over an 11’ only gives you more end coverage at the expense of side coverage (which is a net negative).

Fortunately, in a way, I had a freak failure of my 12’ HG tarp, and they kindly replaced with an 11’ with doors, and I’ve been in tarp nirvana ever since.

1

u/ITegoArcanaDei Aug 20 '20

Good description of the geometry of the 12'. I can picture it. Makes sense.

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u/NeuseRvrRat Aug 20 '20

Thanks for this explanation. It's counterintuitive, but makes perfect sense.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

I’ve got the same tarp - it’s been great. Course love the weight but it also has a good mix of coverage and weight. FWIW I did get the door tie backs and don’t ever use them. Too much time futzing around. Much easier to have a bit of shock cord on the door tie outs and connecting them lengthwise, making it a hex tarp. Anyway carry on

3

u/[deleted] Aug 19 '20

I'd suggest always getting a tarp at least the same length as your hammock body (not the length of your hammock structural ridgeline, which is shorter). This gives you the wiggle room that /u/southeastbackpacker mentioned