rain fly every night

[sky10210]

Hey doing to be attempting a thru hike soon and was just wondering do you set up your rain fly every night or only when its calling for rain?

[LoneStranger]

I operate on a sliding scale depending on forecast, sky and paranoia level :)

Nothing but bug net is always preferred, but if there is any chance at all I'll need it, I will string the tarp without unfurling it from its net bag. If I'm a little more concerned I will stake it out and then refurl it, leaving the stakes in place for quick deployment. Either of these allow me to wake up as rain starts and get something over head pretty fast. If there is risk of rain but not a big storm expected I'll pitch the tarp really high and wide so there's plenty of room for air movement. That has gotten me in trouble more than once though when a surprise heavy rain pooled on the tarp ;)

[Time Zone]

A friend of mine once told me that she left off her rain fly overnight (southeastern USA) and her bag was quite damp from condensation/dew in the morning, despite no rain. Might also depends on where you set up (in a meadow, you'll get it worse than under a tree's branches).

Edit: sorry, just noticed this was under hammock camping. Obviously then you wouldn't be in a meadow, and more likely under a tree. Might depend on how much coverage you get from the tree's limbs and how far above your head they are.

[cmoulder]

Hey doing to be attempting a thru hike soon and was just wondering do you set up your rain fly every night or only when its calling for rain?
Yes, because there's other stuff that falls on me during the night, such as flotsam/jetsam from trees and bird poop.

And I sleep better simply knowing that if it does rain I'm all set with nothing to worry about. Just one experience having to leap out of the hammock at 2 a.m. to set up the tarp will probably make this your default configuration. :o

[LoneStranger]

I keep my bug net on my hammock even in Winter. That catches anything falling on me other than rain.

[tiptoe]

Even when the weather looks good at sunset, storms can blow in during the night, especially in the mountains. I'd rather just set up the fly to begin with.

[DuneElliot]

Since I prefer uninterrupted sleep, I always put the tent/fly up. If I decide it's not necessary I'd be cowboy camping

[FreeGoldRush]

I always setup the tarp. Dew falls most nights. It also provides some wind protection and warmth. It has been surprisingly cold. The tarp also provides a little privacy.

Want it pitched down tight or wide open? People do it different ways. Doesn't seem to matter. Do what makes you sleep better.

[ezdoesit]

I'll be Thru-Hiking again with my Hennessey Hammock and always put my tarp up I have gone to sleep many nights on the A.T. with beautiful stars and a wonderful breeze making for a great night then Boom out of nowhere the skies opened up so yes put your tarp up.
ezdoesit

[imscotty]

Often if it looks nice I'll either go without, or leave my tarp strung over me, but still in its 'snakeskin'. I want to see the stars.

[Cheyou]

Someone actually trusts weathermen ! Wow


Thom

[GoldenBear]

> do you set up your rain fly every night or only when its calling for rain?

On my first night of real backpacking I felt so hot and sweaty that I didn't put the rain fly over my netting.

https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/entry.php/583-Based-on-my-choices-from-a-week-ago-I-nominate-myself-for-quot-Bonehead-of-the-Year-quot

Since then I've put it on top, at least partially, every night.

[HooKooDooKu]

Even when the weather doesn't call for rain, I'm using the rainfly to avoid condensation. But then most of my camping is in GSMNP were the humidity can be 110% during a drought.

[1azarus]

Often if it looks nice I'll either go without, or leave my tarp strung over me, but still in its 'snakeskin'. I want to see the stars.

I'm with you... a high tarp pitch or none at all is just such a treat, I am inclined to try it if the forecast is good/ perfect. And there is the lazy factor... how nice to not have to put the darn thing up only to take it down in the morning?

[Venchka]

The Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina rain forests will teach you what you need to know.
Wayne

[T.S.Kobzol]

You are tired...set up your roof and hope you don’t need todo anything in the middle of a downpour


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[tarditi]

Yes, because there's other stuff that falls on me during the night, such as flotsam/jetsam from trees and bird poop.

And I sleep better simply knowing that if it does rain I'm all set with nothing to worry about. Just one experience having to leap out of the hammock at 2 a.m. to set up the tarp will probably make this your default configuration. :o

x2 I do likewise for the same reason

[u.w.]

I very much prefer sleeping in my open hammock with no tarp over me, nothing but some branches and the amazing, and beautiful night sky. Plus, that's one less thing to deal with in the morning (by "one", I'm including the stakes too)
In the fall you will get some leaves in your hammock across a night, lol. I don't mind'em a bit, and they're easy enough to get out in the morning After the leaves are down and before they return, the night sky views are So Nice! Nice enough to keep me up for a while, just looking at it, happy and loving it.

All that said, pretty much every one I've ever been around who also uses a hammock, puts their tarp up every night with their hammock. I don't get it, but then, they don't get why I don't use my tarp unless I have to. I can tell you that we are each happy with the way we do it, so we are each absolutely doing it right.

As is said - to each their own, and hang your own hang

u.w. / willin'

[SouthMark]

I very much prefer sleeping in my open hammock with no tarp over me, nothing but some branches and the amazing, and beautiful night sky. Plus, that's one less thing to deal with in the morning (by "one", I'm including the stakes too)
In the fall you will get some leaves in your hammock across a night, lol. I don't mind'em a bit, and they're easy enough to get out in the morning After the leaves are down and before they return, the night sky views are So Nice! Nice enough to keep me up for a while, just looking at it, happy and loving it.

All that said, pretty much every one I've ever been around who also uses a hammock, puts their tarp up every night with their hammock. I don't get it, but then, they don't get why I don't use my tarp unless I have to. I can tell you that we are each happy with the way we do it, so we are each absolutely doing it right.

As is said - to each their own, and hang your own hang

u.w. / willin'

Same here.

[Traveler]

Having to put up a rain fly at 2:00 am due to unexpected rain that got everything soaked was enough for me to use the fly as standard gear anytime the tent is set up.

[russb]

Always. Not much to see when my eyes are closed.

[Jayne]

Another vote for always. I just don't trust weather forecasts that much. A small chance of getting soaked and freezing out weighs the benefit of star gazing for 2 minutes until I fall asleep but hey, HYOH!

[LittleRock]

If you're in the middle of a high pressure system and the air feels warm and dry, you're probably good without a fly. In those conditions, having the extra ventilation is worth the very slight risk of a stray shower, IMO.

However, those conditions don't happen very often in the Appalachians - occasionally during the spring/fall and almost never during the summer. I've only slept without a fly a handful of times in over a hundred nights camped out in the Southeast. Only gotten burned once, back when I was a novice backpacker.

[flemdawg1]

Yes, in the mountains overnight storms and showers can pop up. And its def harder in the dark while getting dumped on, than just put it up when you hang your hammock initially. If I want extra ventilation I'll do porch mode.

[FromNH]

I put mine up not just for protection from rain but also bird and squirrel poop and other stuff that can rain down on me.
I’m usually too tired to look at stars anyway.