one tarp or two? hammock sock year round?

**Girotogo** · 10-10-2014, 15:00

What's your preference? Do you have 2 tarps...one for cold/rainy weather (tarp with doors) and one for good weather (lightweight, no doors)? If you had to keep one, which one? I've used a hammock sock almost year round. Night time temps always seems cool. Even during bug season I just use the sock. Anyone else do this or does everyone use a bug net?

**2ply** · 10-10-2014, 15:16

Since I enjoy the views from the hammock I'm not a sock user. I do like to use the two tarp method, winter tarp with doors and a summer tarp without them.

**equilibrium** · 10-10-2014, 16:30

I have only one tarp(Old Man Winter), mainly because of versatility. I would like to have a "summer" tarp for hanging in the backyard during a sunny day to add some shade coverage. If I am camping than the OMW goes every time.

**IRONFISH45** · 10-10-2014, 22:21

I have a variety. I do not care for the door idea, makes me feel too enclosed. It took a lot of experimenting to get were I could hang my tarp without getting soaked in a coastal storm, however I finally figured it out. Now days I can Hang in a major storm with rain coming every which way and still keep dry. I thought it was impossible in the beginning, however, I did learn to stay dry while Hanging in wind blown rain.

If I had to pick one tarp, it would be my Gargoyle Ogee, I just love it, I think I will be able to go through about anything with it.

**SnrMoment** · 10-10-2014, 22:32

I use a slide cover along with a UQP and a Tadpole style DIY tarp that's been modified to cinch down tight over and around the hammock for cold/windy/rainy weather.

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-10-2014, 23:17

When I go hiking, I always take the HG Winter Palace (8.5 oz.) - it's my lightweight tarp and my winter tarp. I pretty much like having doors all the time whether they're needed or not.

Fair-weather car-camping, I'll give the CF tarp a rest and use my DIY silnylon hex tarp, or the HH Hex. I'm gonna make a silnylon winter tarp and then my tarp arsenal will be complete!

**Bubba** · 10-11-2014, 01:01

I have a WB Edge for 3 season and a WB Superfly for winter. If weight is not an issue like on a paddling trip I'll bring the Superfly. I have a WB sock that I bring if there is a chance for some colder weather. I use a WB Blackbird and pretty much always use the bugnet. It does add a little warmth and I like seeing out if I have the tarp in porch mode.

**FLRider** · 10-11-2014, 06:56

Tiny little asym diamond tarp year-round. It weighs ~8 oz.

I bring a poncho/undercover (it's my rain gear) on all of my trips, anyway, so blowing rain isn't that much of a problem except at meal time.

If I was to camp in serious cold (below 0* F), I would probably look into getting a true winter tarp to give me a place to move around in camp that was sheltered from the cold winds. That being said, I'm really a three-season camper (FL "winters" are a joke). YMMV.

**Uphill** · 10-15-2014, 10:52

I'm currently using a WL Tadpole year round. I have 2 door kits, and a pole mod for it, it has worked sufficiently.

I have been getting the urge to go bigger. Something like the bullfrog or oes winter tarp, that can used as a versatile year-rounder more so than the tadpole (now I'm contradicting myself). I like the convertibility of the separate door kits, putting them on/off adds an extra step that can be more of a nuisance in the winter months.

**GW Sears** · 10-15-2014, 18:53

Since my camping is incidental to other activities such as fishing rather than backpacking, I usually carry two Harbor Freight nylon tarps with me -- one to go over the hammock and one for living/cooking under.