11 vs 12 foot tarp ridgeline

**Dlrocm** · 03-02-2016, 19:46

I was looking through the pros and cons of 11 and 12 foot ridgeline tarps, and it seems as if the common consensus favors the 11 foot tarp.

To me , it seems like I'd rather have it and not need it than need and not have it.

Can anyone talk me out of a 12 foot tarp?

FYI I don't ever plan to use an 11 foot hammock. I'm 5'8" , and I fit in a hennessy expedition pretty nicely.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

**Donk_67** · 03-02-2016, 19:58

Coverage is nice to have... Having recently moved from 10 to a 12' tarp, I like the extra space. But there have been a couple of times I've had to pass a sweet hang spot because spacing wasn't quite enough between trees.

**ylnfrt** · 03-02-2016, 23:43

The better half and I each have 11' DIY cat cut tarps with doors (11' hammocks) but I'm going to make the next one a 12' RL, 3 panel silpoly, so we can hang together under the same tarp with a spreader bar at the head end.

**goobie** · 03-02-2016, 23:55

First off, 11' hammocks fit just fine under 11' tarps. Since you say you don't need an 11' hammock, why would you need a 12' tarp??

**Randerson** · 03-03-2016, 00:07

An 11 foot tarp should be plenty for you. I use an 11 foot hammock with 11 ft tarp w/doors and have 6-8 inches to spare. That said, if whatever addtl weigbt/bulk you gain with a 12 foot tarp isn't an issue for you, and you don't mind slightly more difficult ultimate site selection because of length, go for it, if you think you'd feel better with the extra room. If you decide you don't like it, you can always re-sell here and go shorter.

**Wanderlost** · 03-03-2016, 07:20

First, congrats on your first post! Welcome to HF! My latest tarp is a 12 footer. I use a 11' hammock. I will say that the tarp is very generous and a bit more forgiving in bad weather, but, truth be told, it tends to be much more tarp than I really need. Setting up a tarp correctly for the conditions negates any need for extra length.

**Dlrocm** · 03-03-2016, 08:58

It seems like it would be wise to go for an 11 foot tarp with removable doors for my setup then. I don't think I'd like doors on all the time.

I'm currently using a rectangle tarp that's 9'8" by 8'2" and it just barely covers the end with about an inch or 2 extra coverage on each end in a frame mode. I dont really like the diamond configuration witb my current tarp. It's way too floopy in the slightest of wind.

Upgrading to an 11 foot tarp would probably feel very roomy in comparison.

Does anyone have suggestions for a tarp? So far, I like the look of the tadpole from wilderness logics and the simply light designs trail haven.

thank you all for your advice!

**Monkeyboy42** · 03-03-2016, 09:22

you can also snug an 11' hammock tighter to the ridgeline of an 11' tarp. This actually gives you better coverage in a bad blow. it seems counter intuitive, but it's true. I think they're is a stickied thread under weather protection comparing coverage.

**Dlrocm** · 03-03-2016, 09:40

Originally Posted by Monkeyboy42

you can also snug an 11' hammock tighter to the ridgeline of an 11' tarp. This actually gives you better coverage in a bad blow. it seems counter intuitive, but it's true. I think they're is a stickied thread under weather protection comparing coverage.

I'll be sure to check that out. Thanks for the info.

**Drybones** · 03-03-2016, 09:50

Originally Posted by Monkeyboy42

you can also snug an 11' hammock tighter to the ridgeline of an 11' tarp. This actually gives you better coverage in a bad blow. it seems counter intuitive, but it's true. I think they're is a stickied thread under weather protection comparing coverage.

Tis true, I made a 12' silpoly tarp with doors thinking it would give better coverage, that might be the case if the trees you hung in were so close together you could barely hang but that don't happen much. What happens is hammock suspension hinders closing the doors properly, I've thought about making the next tarp even less than 11', 10.5' or so, with the doors closed you wouldn't need the extra length to keep rain out, and the smaller the tarp the less wind force on it.