Packing for a trip to the woodlands is a complicated task. The longer you will be out there, the more gear you need. But, the more gear you carry, the worse for wear you will be when you finally make camp. One of the easiest ways to lighten your load is to forgo the tent. The extra pack space will be welcome, and the decreased weight will help you sleep easier under the stars.
No one wants to sleep on the cold, hard ground, though. And that’s where hammocks come in. Hammock camping is gaining in popularity these days, and for good reason. Hammocks are lightweight, require little work to pitch, and are quite comfortable. They put you out under the stars and up off the ground, away from crawling insects and rain runoff.
When the weather turns dicey, though, the hammock camper can be left exposed. While tents may sit in water if not on high ground, they at least keep the rain off your head. Not so for the hammock. But, there is a solution. The hammock tarp solves the issues of falling rain and cold morning dew. It provides at least some of the protection of a tent, but the hammock/tarp combination typically weighs less.
It is difficult to find a tent for the same cost of a hammock/tarp combination, especially one that adds so little weight to a camper’s pack. Let’s examine some of the most popular hammock tarps available.
Hennessy Hammock Hex Rainfly
The Hennessy Hammock Hex Rainfly is 108 inches wide and has a 138-inch ridgeline. The asymmetrical shape provides better top cover while allowing more air flow from the side. The material is 70D polyurethane-coated ripstop polyester. It is waterproof and windproof.
Hennessy’s Hex Rainfly is light, at 22 ounces, and it packs down to a space-saving 3.5-inch by 11-inch package. The kit comes with strong poly diamond braid nylon guy lines for its six attachment points. It has stitched seams and includes convenient sewn pockets for guy line stowing.
Eastern Ridge Hammock Tarp
The Eastern Ridge hammock tarp is 10 feet by 8 feet, waterproof and windproof. It is made from 190T polyester, and it comes with four stakes and plenty of guy line for most situations. It also comes with a 100 percent, no-questions-asked guarantee.
The entire kit will only add 20 ounces to your pack, so consider it a lightweight weatherproofing option for your hammock. The color choices are rather limited, but it retails for much less than most other hammock tarps. You can’t have everything.
Eagles Nest Outfitters – ProFly Rain Tarp
Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) produces some of the finest hammock tarps in the business. The ProFly rain tarp is one of their more affordable options. It is 10 feet 6 inches wide and the ridgeline is 6 feet 4 inches. It weighs in at 22 ounces. ENO makes the ProFly out of taffeta 210D ripstop nylon, which is coated in polyurethane for weatherproofing. The seams are stitched and taped.
There are six attachment points on the perimeter of the ProFly. It comes with a stuff sack and a small amount of thin rope for attachment, but customers must purchase stakes separately. This is a solidly made and supremely waterproof hammock tarp, but it could stand to be a tad longer. At 6 foot 4 inches, a fair amount of hammock will stick out in the elements.
Eagles Nest Outfitters – HouseFly Rain Tarp
Okay, I know, is this really a hammock tarp? What we have here is hammock tarp that doubles as a floating tent. At 10 feet by 10 feet 6 inches, the HouseFly is considerably larger than its little brother (ProFly). It is made from tough and lightweight silnylon ripstop, which is impregnated with durable silicone and coated in polyurethane for waterproofing Its seams are stitched and taped.
The HouseFly has 10 attachment points to make pitching a simpler chore and open up camp location options. At 26 ounces, it is not the lightest hammock tarps on this list, but by no means is it heavy. It has doors on its ends to keep out the elements, which is a nice touch of added comfort. The doors can be tucked away to allow a cross breeze, or they can be closed when the weather gets colder. Like the ProFly, it includes a small amount of guy line but no stakes.
Paria Outdoor Products – Sanctuary SilTarp
The Paria Sanctuary SilTarp is a 10-foot by 8-foot ripstop silnylon tarp. A dual coating of silicon and polyurethane provides redundant waterproofing, and its seams are fully taped. The tarp itself is just 15.5 ounces, but as a kit the weight goes up to 20.5 ounces.
To pitch this tarp properly, though, you will need to pack the whole kit. It comes with 60 feet of 1.5mm Dyneema reflective guy line and six micro adjusters to cinch it up. Included in the kit are six Y-stakes, which are aluminum. There are 12 attachment points (loops) around the perimeter and one in the center, giving you many ways to pitch your shelter.
The kit fits neatly in a small storage bag, which takes up little space in a pack. Kudos to Paria for including the entire kit and storage bag. Many other hammock tarps are open-ended purchases, requiring the purchase of stakes and other essentials separately.
Kelty Noah’s Tarp Shelter
The Kelty Noah’s Tarp Shelter is one of the most popular rainfly options on the market. While it is not sold as a hammock tarp, it is certainly useful as one. It comes in three sizes, 9 foot, 12 foot and 16 foot. For most hammock campers, the 12-foot version would likely be the most useful. The material is 68D polyester, which is waterproof and windproof.
The seams on the Kelty Noah’s Tarp are fully taped. The corner guy lines are permanently attached, and a convenient pocket is provided for guy-line storage. There are attachment points along the perimeter, as well as in strategic places around the surface. At slightly more than 2 pounds packed, this tarp is a bit heavier than some others, but it is high quality, strong and built to last.