Setting up when it's really cold outside...

I just did an overnight (no snow, thankfully, but it was cold!). I hung the hammock lower than usual so I could hang the tarp lower than usual. And I staked the tarp closer in than I usually do so there wasn't a lot of space between the bottom of the tarp and the ground.

I was comfy.

I didn't mind that my inside space was smaller than usual - though I was less pleased with being so close to the ground (next time, I'll try everything just a little bit higher).

But I keep seeing pics of other hangers out there in the cold - and snow - and they have their tarps staked out real wide. And up pretty high, too.

What am I missing here? What are the advantages of that wide-open approach when it's very cold?

TIA for tips.

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Originally Posted by lkmir

What are the advantages of that wide-open approach when it's very cold?

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Its easier to look out and see how cold it is ;-)

Really though, the main purpose of the tarp is to block the wind from blowing your heat out. Your bottom side is going to be exposed no matter how close to the ground it is, so it doesnt matter much. If it isn't very windy or snowing, stake out the tarp however you like.

One point you might be overlooking is that most of the "pictures of people in the cold and snow" are taken in the day time when they are not in the hammock. At night, when visibility is zero, many people will button their tarps down a bit tighter to deflect the breeze, shed snow, and prevent blown-in precip.

I want it as open as possible when there is little wind or mild rain. Nothing like sitting in the hammock with a nice cup of coffee and taking in nature all around you. Once it's dark, however, I don't care.

I get you on hanging low. I woke up in a panic one night when a group of raccoons passed though and one slammed into the side of my hammock! :).

It certainly helps when the wind is blowing however. I usually only have the tarp doors at ground level on the wind side when the wind is up and moving in one general direction.

I always hang my tarp high and in porch mode, unless its windy or stormy
Then its doors closed and batten down the hatches
If there is no snow on the trees and light wind I always go tarpless
Its freeing
I dont believe a tarp holds in the heat as others believe



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Unless bad weather or really windy I may be in porch mode of partial pitch to enjoy the woods.
Tarps are effective to keep the wind off which robs stored heat in UQs and TQs. Other-wise I think it is just a mental thing that tarps store heat in winter.
Shug

https://youtu.be/DAYLi_mDzPI

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Originally Posted by Shug

Other-wise I think it is just a mental thing that tarps store heat in winter.

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Absolutely. A few years ago I bought an extra wide, 12' tarp to "block all the wind". I certainly achieved that....along with containing every single breath I exhaled in the moist winter night. It was a rainforest in there after an hour. A 5° rain forest. I will never make that mistake again.

Cold and dry is always warmer than slightly warmer and damp to me.

At home, in the morning, we raise the blinds and let in what sun the day affords. At night we close everything up. I think letavoia nailed it with the photos are taken during the day comments. You will very seldom see my tarp “down to the ground” during picture iime. And I like to “look at the cold” too - if my gear can handle it. I’m a UQP advocate. So I’m either with a bottom UQP in the summer or full sock in the winter. As such, I have more latitude in tarp setup.

Thanks, y'all. Great advice.
And I even got a response from Shug! :cool:

Another thing I want to mention is that snow is actually awesome because you can have the tarp quite high (headroom) while still only leaving little room for wind to come in. Basically having the snow a foot or two high, like a little wall and your tarp only has to go down to that height but you leave some room between the snow wall and the tarp so that if it snows the snow can slide down and onto the ground instead of accumulating on the tarp bottoms.