I put my gear in the pack today and did a check on the bathroom scale. It looks like my 3 season gear from the skin out (no food or water) is 16.5lbs. Say 17lbs because my bug net is not done yet and in case I forgot something today. I'm looking at my selection of gear to slim it down a bit.

One piece of gear that seems heavy to me is the tarp. I have a Campmor 8x10 tarp and I am thinking about sewing a lightweight tarp. I am also thinking about the rope, it could be lighter. I think it is 1/8" nylon rope.

I would use the tarp over a hammock and maybe for tarp camping.

I am thinking about getting 6 yards of 1.1oz silnylon, and sewing it together to make a 9x10 tarp (more or less). Instead of metal grommets, get some 1/2" webbing and sew loops on with backing in the right places. After I test my hammock out I might decide to make the tarp smaller.

Does anyone have any advice for making a tarp? Is 1.1oz too light? How small can the tarp be and still protect a hammock? Are there other shapes than rectangular that work well and would be lighter? Is seam sealing difficult? What kind of rope or webbing do you use on the tarp?

PS: I got an old foot powered sewing machine and cleaned it up for a few hours today. Worked some oil into it and actually started sewing with it. I made my first stuff sack! I am no longer dependent on SWMBO! The sewing machine is from 1951 and it came over from Germany. The instructions are all in German. It is not a zigzag machine but makes a really nice straight stitch. We are amazed that we got it running and that I could actually sew something, since today is the first time I tried to sew. Watching SWMBO sew my hammock and pod taught me a lot, I'm ready for more.

I take it your current tarp is made out of coated nylon or something heavier? Sure a silnylon tarp would save some weight, but so would ditching the hammock, only using a tarp.

Check ebay for postal scales. I got one for around $20. There is probibly a good amount of error in your bathroom scale.

Check here for some ideas on staying dry in a hammock:
http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingDry.html

I like the JRB 8x8 and the MacCat styles. The 8x8 can easily be used on the ground. The MacCat Standard that I have would take some more room and a bit more effort to use on the ground, but could still be done. MacCat (OES) also makes ground tarps and custom tarps if you're interested.

If you want a rectangle, you might check out Youngblood's design. It has catenary sides with 4 tie-out points on each side, but only two stakes are needed for those 4 points. Coupled with his tarp tensioners, this design keeps flapping to a minimum and his tarp stays nice and tight all night long.

you should be able to get a 8x10 1.1oz sil nylon tarp down to around 10 or 11oz with seam seal. seam sealin is not difficult, just kind of time consuming. i like using 100% silicone from GE insead of silnet. dilute it with denatured alcohol if you feel the need. i usually use the stuff straight out of the caulk gun though. use your finger to work the silicone into the threads. you should also seal under the fold of the seam. i usually seal both sides on personal stuff, just for peace of mind. i use 1/2 inch nylon webbing for guyouts and spectra for guylines.

Jeff,

How come the Mac is more work for going to ground?

Well, “more effort” might have been the wrong way to phrase it. It’s just designed specifically for a hammock, where the decreased coverage of the catenary sides won’t have an impact. If you set it up with the tie-outs directly on the ground, the middle of the cat curve will still be off the ground. Just need to be more careful with it.


Also, the 8x8 is a diagonal on the hammock, but on the ground it can be pitched square, like an A-frame. Not only does this mean the sides will touch the ground, but the ridgeline is now only 8’ instead of the MacCat’s ~10.5’. Gotta be more careful on the ends, I guess, but that also makes finding a site easier in heavily wooded areas.


Certainly not insurmountable...it’ll work on the ground. But Brian designs these tarps specifically for the hammock, and has other designs for use on the ground.

Ok, a little clarification from the manufacturer.

Jeff hit the nail on the head; the MacCat series was originally designed soley for "in the air" use, and it is, in my opinion, too small for ground usage. Keep in mind that the original MacCat is now currently the MacCat Standard, while the Deluxe is longer and wider, and it is a bit more appropriate for ground usage than the Standard.

The fact that there are curves cut in the edges is not the real problem, it's the fact that it is hexagonal rather than rectangular. The fabric missing from the ends is not missed when in the hammock, but when on the ground, wind driven rain on the ends is more of a problem.

Don't forget that I'm from the East coast, and for 99.99% of campsites, trees shouldnt be a problem, which means that I'm sleeping in the air, so I carry a MacCat Standard with no doubts about staying dry at night.

Brian
OES

I saved over a pound when I went from a coated nylon taffeta to a silnylon tarp.
I made my silnylon tarp rectangular, but I wish I had made it square, ten by ten. I don't use a hammock anymore, though. Seam sealing is easy. I used webbing I cut off an abandoned car bike rack for the tie outs, I wouldn't trust grommets. I backed the tie outs with silnylon patches. six inch triangles on the corners, and six inch squares in the middle of the flat sides. Wish I'd put two tie outs on each flat side.
I like my modern sewing machine, but I envy your treadle machine.