So.....How do you rig your tarp???

I'm interested.....how do people rig their tarps? I'm always trying to find that balance between quick/ ease of deployment and de-rigging and compact storage.

When I started I used two separate lines, one on each end of the tarp and tied them around the trees, easy to deploy, simple to do but had to make sure excess line was attached to allow for various girth of trees and often ended up with the tarp on the floor when packing away.

Then moved onto a single tarp ridgeline with a dutchware tarp hook at one end and tied the other around the tree, with the line threaded through the loops on the tarp, and TATO tarp connectors on prussic loops at each end of the tarp. Quickly this evolved into a continuous ridgeline using Dutchware Stingerz. - Great for adjustments, good for packing the tarp away without getting it on the ground but I found the TATO tarp connectors were fiddly to take off as the tautness of the ridegline made them really difficult to remove, ikewise the Dutchware Stingerz.

Then moved onto a single ridgeline with loop aliens from Henge hammocks. Carabiners added to the tarp loops with prussic loops on the end ones which clipped onto the ridgeline once it has been put up. Easy to deploy the ridgeline whilst the tarp isn't attached, easy to clip on and then adjust the tarp and easy to slide the tarp into the middle of the ridgeline into the stuffsack without it touching the ground, unclip the tarp and take down the ridgeline and store without it getting tangled. - Like it!

So what do you do??????

Cheers

Steve

I use a continuous ridgeline with a soft shackle at one end and a ucr and soft shakle for the other. Made with Stein 2.2mm dyneema.

Has anyone tried the method shown by Spiguyver in this YT video?

I'm sceptical that the tarp would move about too much when you shift in the hammock, however, being a Gearaholic (I expect we all are here :-) ) I have ordered a set of the suspension to try it out and will report back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xro1l4e9-hU&t=498s

Cheers
Steve

I've tried something similar but with shock cord on the ridge tie outs to atop the sag. I like the extra loop on the prussic to make it easy to adjust.

Meadows,

Do you still use that method? Did you have any issues when moving about in the hammock? Any pics?

Cheers
Steve

Don't recall any problems with the tarp moving but I don't swing too much. A small prussic on the suspension with a shock cord loop that clipped to the tarp rl tieout. I sometimes like to put the tarp over the rl if it's blustery so don't really use it anymore.
I might revisit it though as I'm putting together a really small and light day hang setup.

This is me,

Stuck with it for 3 years now, very happy with it.

Yes that's what I use at the moment, but the appeal of not having to faff around with a separate line for the tarp appeals (if the idea works).

Apparently my gear arrived at Heathrow this morning, so hopefully it'll arrive before this weekend's outing (not likely if HMRC take a hand in it) :-)

Cheers
Steve

I've never tried a separate line at each end of the rl. I might have a play with using a small crab on the tarp tie out along with a single line and using an Italian hitch to secure it. That way is still get the 'V' as close as possible to the tarp.

Italian hitch ain't a great choice for securing things!

SteveB6 wrote:

not having to faff around with a separate line for the tarp appeals

The necessity of having to hang your hammock before pitching your tarp does not appeal to me (especially if it's persisting down with rain).
It also limits how high you can pitch your tarp, I like to set it higher than my hammock suspension if there's no wind.
I also like to have my tarp low at the head end (to block wind), and high at the foot end (for good views and good headroom when entering and exiting).

My musings over the spiguyver method were about setting up in the rain, there may be a work around but seems faffy which is not what you want in the rain.
Italian hitch (locked off) should be bomber but need to try it with slippery dyneema.

[/quote] The necessity of having to hang your hammock before pitching your tarp does not appeal to me (especially if it's persisting down [/quote]

Paul, not quite sure why you would think that is a necessity? You can put the tarp up onto the tree straps first and then tie the hammock on afterwards. The order of setting up/ take down is not dictated by the system. The tarp will always be pitched on the tree strap closer to the tree than the loop of the hammock, this system does not dictate which way round you do it?

Cheers
Steve

I use the dutchware continuous ridgeline with a dutch hook one end and a Wasp the other. I use prussiks to hold in place and so it can go over or hang below the RL. I use a single snakeskin to hold it all.

I also use Dutch Stingerz either end on some of my lighter tarp, this I store in a double ended stuff sack.

Both work really well but the stingerz do allow you to attach your tarp straight to your hammock suspension which is excellent for me. I like my tarp low and close and I don't get the straps and ridgeline rubbing together.
You can either set up your hammock first or the tarp. The straps I use are lightweight daisy chains from dutch. You can then just carabiner the tarp ends onto the strap loops. Easy. You do have to be careful not to pull it too tight as when you sit in it, it could cause it to pull a little and I have had a little cheap carabiner break on me doing this.

Most of my friends use the continuous RL as they prefer snakeskins and like to have their tarps above head height sometimes so they can stand.