I recently received the A.B.C. tarp prototype from Napsack Hammocks to look over which is exciting in itself, but the fact this is an ongoing collaboration between us is kid in a sweet shop moment.
When I was initially researching tarps I came to the conclusion that the 3m x 3m was a popular size and got it. As I used it I quickly came to the conclusion that whilst it sounds a fair size that there wasn't much coverage at either end of a hammock. Later I saw a rectangular one advertised which I got because it was longer and gave adequate hammock coverage , especially if the ends were folded into 'doors' but it didn't have the multi setup opportunities of a square one and made for a narrower 'roof' as a compromise.
I occasionally tried different setups with the square one but I usually stuck with the standard 'roof' as I liked the five loops across the ridgeline that, say, an assymetrical/ diamond set up etc didn't offer (I also didn't like the coverage of the latter). This is when I came to the conclusion that a bigger than 3m x 3m tarp with four extra loops on the actual fabric occured. For the extra loops to be viable it would then neccesitate being a sqaure tarp, and one that pretty much matched the longer, thinner one I had. It also occured that I employed 'doors' on most occasions so having a double loop (at 90 and 45 degrees on fixing point in) to the tarp made sense too.
With this tarp spec in mind I did tentatively try several avenues to see about a bespoke tarp but all withered on the vine for one reason or another. I then noticed Craig Fordham (Black Wolf Survival) with a Napsack Hammocks zipped tarp not too disimmilar to what I had envisaged in a Facebook post. Chin duly rubbed I asked him if this mob do bespoke stuff, he wasn't sure but put me in contact with Stevie Burns who said they didn't usually but bung an email over, well the mood music was good and that's pretty much how we've ended up here. Stevie has pitched in ('Scuse the pun) with some ideas and getting out to record the video was frankly a brilliant moment and at one stage I just stood looking at it almost open mouthed.
It has a lot of fixing points but has it got too many? Change the words 'fixing points' for 'knives'
It's also part of it's U.S.P. in that it's All Bases Covered. Having got it up I've fed back to Stevie and if anyone else has anything to say please do post.
When I was initially researching tarps I came to the conclusion that the 3m x 3m was a popular size and got it. As I used it I quickly came to the conclusion that whilst it sounds a fair size that there wasn't much coverage at either end of a hammock. Later I saw a rectangular one advertised which I got because it was longer and gave adequate hammock coverage , especially if the ends were folded into 'doors' but it didn't have the multi setup opportunities of a square one and made for a narrower 'roof' as a compromise.
I occasionally tried different setups with the square one but I usually stuck with the standard 'roof' as I liked the five loops across the ridgeline that, say, an assymetrical/ diamond set up etc didn't offer (I also didn't like the coverage of the latter). This is when I came to the conclusion that a bigger than 3m x 3m tarp with four extra loops on the actual fabric occured. For the extra loops to be viable it would then neccesitate being a sqaure tarp, and one that pretty much matched the longer, thinner one I had. It also occured that I employed 'doors' on most occasions so having a double loop (at 90 and 45 degrees on fixing point in) to the tarp made sense too.
With this tarp spec in mind I did tentatively try several avenues to see about a bespoke tarp but all withered on the vine for one reason or another. I then noticed Craig Fordham (Black Wolf Survival) with a Napsack Hammocks zipped tarp not too disimmilar to what I had envisaged in a Facebook post. Chin duly rubbed I asked him if this mob do bespoke stuff, he wasn't sure but put me in contact with Stevie Burns who said they didn't usually but bung an email over, well the mood music was good and that's pretty much how we've ended up here. Stevie has pitched in ('Scuse the pun) with some ideas and getting out to record the video was frankly a brilliant moment and at one stage I just stood looking at it almost open mouthed.
It has a lot of fixing points but has it got too many? Change the words 'fixing points' for 'knives'
It's also part of it's U.S.P. in that it's All Bases Covered. Having got it up I've fed back to Stevie and if anyone else has anything to say please do post. 
