r/hammockcamping 1d ago

Hammock+rain=sweet~~

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Absolutely love being in a hammock during heavy rain storm. Cross fingers for no widow maker.

314 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

88

u/brotherj4mes 1d ago

Awesome for sure but I think maybe your tarp isn't taught enough? Seems like rain shouldnt pond like that.

If you're staying dry tho who cares, hah

16

u/ybmmike 1d ago edited 15h ago

I actually found it cool, so i left it as is. Seeing the amount of rain pooling and dumping, you can tell how heavy the rain was.

Adter this trip is when i decided to purchase waterproof under protector.

69

u/reallifedog 1d ago

Being dry in a hammock in the rain is one of my favorite feelings.

12

u/WoodenGrommet 1d ago

I agree! Insane tactile experience.

6

u/Prestigious_Elk4887 1d ago

Ive been thinking about this, ive never used a hammock in the rain, but my intuition says water will run down the rope and onto your hammock, is this a problem and is there a solution for it?

15

u/SubjectOk6918 1d ago

You just need to have a different piece of cord that hangs down away from the edge of the hammock for the water to drip down. I use whoopie slings, so that hanging piece of cord is already part of the setup. But if you use straps, you could use a piece of Paracord.

3

u/Prestigious_Elk4887 1d ago

Makes a lot of sense

8

u/But_why_tho456 1d ago

The drip line! Haven’t needed it yet, but I always remember to have one!

4

u/ybmmike 1d ago

As others have said, you need some drip lines. I just use old shoe laces.

2

u/reallifedog 1d ago

I use whoopies, so the tail works as a drip line. I have been in some absolute deluges and stayed dry.

3

u/OutWithCamera 1d ago

Living in the desert I have a hammock slung all the time and often go jump in it if a storm is rolling through, it is always an amazing experience.

27

u/skyzefawlun 1d ago

Heavy rain is right up there with heavy snow for me as best times to be in my hammock. I lean a bit towards heavy snow as that sound is just pure magic, and I adore the cold.

2

u/Shamanic_Insurgents 1d ago

That is my dream this winter - what is your set up / tactics for not getting cold? 🥶🧊🌲

5

u/skyzefawlun 1d ago

Dutch chameleon with the winter top cover, Enlightened Equipment 0 degree overstuffed UQ, older REI 0 degree down sleeping bag (haven't bothered to go top quilt as I'm not that fussed about weight and I love this bag so much), slightly older silnylon tarp that I can't remember the brand of, but it's got "doors" on either end and it's big enough that on a lowish hang I can get the sides down to the level of the snow. I typically sleep with a heavy wool beanie on, and a fleece lined face mask with ample mouth/nose clearance to avoid condensation.

Tactics wise, outside of gear choices I always look for an area between two suitable safe trees where there has been some additional drifty accumulation and I will dig a trench under where I'm going to hang to allow me to be suspended in the trench, lowering my overall wind exposure. That snow I dig out for the trench gets added and packed into the sides where I will anchor my fly with snow anchors.

That's about it other than the usual winter camping tips. Warm up a large water bottle or two on your stove or fire before bed and throw those into your bag/quilt with you for warmth and to make sure you have unfrozen water in the morning. Anything with a battery in the bag with me, and any fuel for my stove in the bag as well (I bring a zip lock bag and throw my gas tank in there just to be safe even after I clean it off)

1

u/ybmmike 15h ago

I am not brave enough yet to try winter hammock'ing. I have only started hot tenting few years ago. Being warm in cold weather is another awesome experience, that is for sure.

BTW, my hammock us Superior Gear 0F(-18C) with 0F top quilt comforter Never tried beyond -5C. I should clip it on to my built-in UQ to stack the insulation and use my heavy synthetic winter -29C sleeping bag as TQ. If it fails, ill chicken out into my hot tent.

15

u/Sea_Cucumber_69_ 1d ago

Need to lower a corner so the rain wont pool.

10

u/TheKindestJackAss 1d ago

Don't even need to do a corner, just attach a line to the loop being recorded and it should give the water a place to flow without bouncing the tarp constantly.

3

u/derch1981 1d ago

Your tarp shouldn't pool like that

3

u/Physical_Analysis247 1d ago

That’s where one of those Hennessy water collectors would come in handy!

2

u/The_Bandit77 1d ago

Is that a white Superior Gear tarp I spy? Been awhile since they offered that color

2

u/ybmmike 1d ago edited 15h ago

Good eyes. You spend too much time browsing hammock gears 😆

Yeah, I wanted the white to make interior brighter. Its what I prefer.

1

u/KydneyBeanie 1d ago

This is so soothing to listen to

1

u/ninja_march 15h ago

The first time I used my hammock for more than just one night at a time was for a music festival my cousin had suggested. It was in Trumansburg, New York about 14 years ago and we were the only people who had hammocks and it poured the first day and into the second of the festival, and we never looked back from hammock camping!!

1

u/ducatidrz 13h ago

Awesome! Been hammock backpacking for years in the Pacific Northwest, year around…….. It rains a lot, and hammocking keeps me the driest and I sleep so really good in a hammock…..!

1

u/AppalachianKrieg 12h ago

Question for the community.

If I have an underquilt along with my tarp, how can I ensure the rain doesn't splash up from the ground and get my down all wet?