View Full Version : has anyone tried using a rainfly as a tarp?
I usually camp along florida trails with a hammock covered by a military issue poncho. We are planning a week hike along the AT in N Georgia next month and Id really like to continue to use my hammock (its one of the parachute material lightweight hammocks, not the military version) but my GI issue poncho seems to be one of the heavier things in my pack. I really dont have the extra cash to spend on a silnylon tarp right now but I do have quite a few spare tents laying around. I was wondering about the possibility of grabbing the rainfly from one of them and spraying both sides with waterproofing. I know its not the perfect solution but it would be a cheap one and would lighten me a small amount. Anyone have any experiance with it?
Deb
You'd probably be better off with a flat tarp, even one of the cheap blue poly ones from a home improvement store. I used an 8x10 on a very rainy weekend (ALDHA weekend in NH in 2005) over a Byer hammock and it worked great. I didn't backpack with it, though. It may be a little heavier than a tent fly, but it will be flat and won't have the oddly shaped seams sagging and catching the wind. Check out the weight. They're durable enough for a week for sure.
Doughnut
08-16-2009, 08:07
try using a sheeet of plastic first. Get the painter's drop cloth for very cheap and experiment with different configurations.
I've used a flat 8X10 tarp for a tarp tent. you are limited by your imagination only.
DoughNut
cwayman1
08-16-2009, 17:37
i've used a tent fly for hammocking a few times. what i had to do was bring some extra line to tie off the awkward material that was sagging from the tent's shape. there's usually a loop, or hook, or something right in the middle of all the sag and i would just either tie it off separately to another tree or something, or i would attach it to the main tie-out on the side of the fly. like doughnut said, your imagination's the limit. best of luck!
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=35933&c=577
the orange lines are my tie-outs. one side is down and the other is tied out in an awning set-up. sorry for the poor quality... cell phone :/
Wise Old Owl
08-17-2009, 00:30
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___83075
5x8 and 13 oz.
Hmmm...
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40685