tarp setup?

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
I discovered, that Decathlon offers a green Hammock for 10 € and a Tarp 290x285 cm (560g) for 25 € in olive green.

I think about buying this for the summer in the south of France. Do you thing, that fits Together well?
I have the hammock from decathlon and it’s really good and strong but not very insulated, it packs down pretty small and is light, although I would replace the gathered end cord with something along the lines of whoopies or just longer, wide/flat cord. The tarp has good reviews but I can’t vouch for it. Hope that helps.
Hog
 
  • Like
Reactions: Erbswurst

mousey

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 15, 2010
2,210
254
42
NE Scotland
Personally I find anything smaller than 3m for a tarp is too short for a hammock. My tarp is 2.5m x 3.9m [740g], I find a longer narrower tarp suits hammock camping more, although it does mean you need trees further apart, which may or may not be a problem.

Having said that I don't think there is anything stopping you from hanging the tarp in a diamond - although I feel this leaves the quarters a little too exposed.

9fcn6Fv.jpg

SHMBJig.jpg
 
Last edited:

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
Personally I find anything smaller than 3m for a tarp it too short for a hammock. My tarp is 2.5m x 3.9m [740g], I find a longer narrower tarp suits hammock camping more, although it does mean you need trees further apart, which may or may not be a problem.

Having said that I don't thing there is anything stopping you from hanging the tarp in a diamond - although I feel this leaves the quarters a little too exposed.
Very true
Hog
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
But does it cover as A-Frame this Hammock? And diagonal?

Where I want to use it, I don't have to count with strong wind and usually not with heavy rain.

I want to use it in the Provence, at the Côte d'Azur etc.
 

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
But does it cover as A-Frame this Hammock? And diagonal?

Where I want to use it, I don't have to count with strong wind and usually not with heavy rain.

I want to use it in the Provence, at the Côte d'Azur etc.
If you are just battling light rain and sun, I think that the tarp will be plenty big enough but beware if you are over about 5’9 / 5’10 because the hammock is pretty short. The tarp will be big enough for diagonal I think.
Hog
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Erbswurst

mousey

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 15, 2010
2,210
254
42
NE Scotland
Well the measurement given for the hammock at 260cm x 152cm so I looks like it would cover it [assuming I have the right hammock ...] especially considering you'll be hanging with hammock with a certain amount of sag so the length measurement will be less over a straight line [if that makes sense to you]

Still for me a 2.6m hammock with a 2.9m tarp = 15cm over hang either end is not enough...

In a diamond cover over head will be more [4.00m aprox] but again the quarters are exposed, this may or may not be acceptable to you.

As with so much of this it is down to personal preference and the only way you'll find out is by biting the bullet, buying the stuff and trying it, then figuring out if it works for you or not, then possibly buying kit better suited to you.

edit
/////////

I'm lucky as I've got kids I can palm the stuff off on that I've tried and not got on with!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Erbswurst

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
Well the measurement given for the hammock at 260cm x 152cm so I looks like it would cover it [assuming I have the right hammock ...] especially considering you'll be hanging with hammock with a certain amount of sag so the length measurement will be less over a straight line [if that makes sense to you]

Still for me a 2.6m hammock with a 2.9m tarp = 15cm over hang either end is not enough...

In a diamond cover over head will be more [4.00m aprox] but again the quarters are exposed, this may or may not be acceptable to you.

As with so much of this it is down to personal preference and the only was you'll find out is by biting the bullet, buying the stuff and trying it, then figuring out if it works for you or not, then possibly buying kit better suited to you.
I feel that this is fine but I can see how most people will not. I hope it all goes well, and I agree the best way is to bite the bullet and try it out.
Hog
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
Sorry, I am german and count only in meters. I am 185cm high, do you think, I would fit in this hammock? I mean the green 1 person hammock of course.

I plan to use it in temperatures around 30*C. And no wind. I never had wind there!

Is it necessary to attach the ropes symmetricaly? Or could I just add some rope at one side?

Is it necessary to attach this side a bit higher to the tree perhaps?
 

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
Sorry, I am german and count only in meters. I am 185cm high, do you think, I would fit in this hammock? I mean the green 1 person hammock of course.

I plan to use it in temperatures around 30*C. And no wind. I never had wind there!

Is it necessary to attach the ropes symmetricaly? Or could I just add some rope at one side?

Is it necessary to attach this side a bit higher to the tree perhaps?
I think you might fit with a little extra room but the sides will still go around you. It should be fine in 30*c and I set my ropes up symmetrically and evenly up the tree and I’m fine. Just try the setup in a back garden or forest before.
Hog
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
OK! Thank you!

I will buy it and try it out.

Should I end up in the tarp wrapped around me as a bivvy and the hammock as a pillow, you all are guilty!

;0)
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
So, i got it!

The lines which are attached to the tarp are 3,50 m.

Will that be long enough, if I hang the hammock as high as a sofa and want to look outside the hammock with a high A-frame over me?
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog

mousey

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 15, 2010
2,210
254
42
NE Scotland
My guylines are roughly 3.4m long [twice my arm span is how I measure and cut a length of guy line] I usually have one at each corner and a couple spare if I need extra length or need to add mid-guylines in case of heavy weather. I used marlow throwline as I had a reel of that and it's bright orange so you can see it easily, my ridgeline is bright yellow, although I got some bright pink dyneema cheap a while ago and may start to use that as a ridgeline. Although I have also recently got some builders line which I think is the cheapest thing of all so far.

Anyway I reckon 3.5m should be enough. [Although take some more if you have it just in case :)]
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
For the guy lines I keep attached to my tarp I bought 100 feet of paracord and divided it into 6 lengths of 16.5 feet. That works out as 6 fixing points having 5m of cord. The two I use most, the diagonals are fixed, the others are attached with mini carabiners so they can be easily moved around the tie out points, or doubled back around the peg or branch and fixed to another tie out.

Having learned by tripping over my lines when getting in, or out for a pee, camo is not the best colour cord. I’ve got a mixture of bright orange and reflective cord. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
Thank You!
I will take some additional lines with me.

Yes, for my poncho I use orange lines too. The lines have only 2 mm an so it is the only chance to see them.

For me as a poncho user this 3x3 m Tarp is really looking like a palace.

The Decathlon tarp has a strong attachment point in the middle.
I think, it is possible to construct with it a pyramid tent on a triangle ground that hangs at a branch. But there fore it is necessary to attach one or two tension points more. Somehow they forgot it.

I guess next week I can play with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog

HammockHog

Member
May 1, 2018
13
3
South England
:)
Thank You!
I will take some additional lines with me.

Yes, for my poncho I use orange lines too. The lines have only 2 mm an so it is the only chance to see them.

For me as a poncho user this 3x3 m Tarp is really looking like a palace.

The Decathlon tarp has a strong attachment point in the middle.
I think, it is possible to construct with it a pyramid tent on a triangle ground that hangs at a branch. But there fore it is necessary to attach one or two tension points more. Somehow they forgot it.

I guess next week I can play with it.
Good luck!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Erbswurst

Ascobis

Forager
Nov 3, 2017
141
75
Wisconsin, USA
I have a different approach to guy lines. I don't cut cordage unless I must. I use a couple of hanks of paracord for guys and run the line back and forth from tarp to stake to tarp to tree. It looks like a spiderweb. If one carries x-meter guylines and the nearest tree insisted on growing x + 1 meters farther than it should have done then you're stuck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrEd and HammockHog

mousey

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 15, 2010
2,210
254
42
NE Scotland
I've started using a line with a loop in one end and a toggle tied to the other [I saw it from a chap on here :)] You can easily have your guylines separate from your tarp and attach to the loops on the tarp with the toggle - if you find your guyline is too short just attach another guyline length through the loop with another toggled guyline. Keeps your guyline cordage to a smaller bundle so your not fighting with a mass of line.

So I take say 10 guylines at 3.4m each and use 4, then if required I have a spare 6 guylines for extra length or for more tie downs for heavy weather that can be easily added or removed as necessary.

edit
///////////////
Link to the thread where I found out about the loop and toggle guyline...

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/top-tarp-tips.147764/#post-1839520
 
Last edited:

Ascobis

Forager
Nov 3, 2017
141
75
Wisconsin, USA
I've started using a line with a loop in one end and a toggle tied to the other
This is an old Boy Scout tip. Don't know the ultimate source, but it's probably paleolithic. (This is in any way different from the rest of bushcraft?)

A sheet bend does the same thing in a pinch. The quality of one's loop is the variable that determines whether the loop and toggle is stronger than a sheet bend.

Thanks for mentioning the technique.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HammockHog and MrEd

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE