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    Senior Member kitsapcowboy's Avatar
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    Cool The Cowboy Badlander All-Weather Hex Tarp with Half Doors

    Even during periods of "good" weather, here in the Pacific Northwest most of the year presents one with an opportunity to test and compare weather protection options. This week has been no exception, and have been exploring and experimenting with new tarp concepts.

    One of the weather protection features I have become interested in is a single "all-weather" tarp option that balances weight and packed volume with efficient protection from the elements and ease of deployment and use. Many hammockers use a hex tarp year-round, while others opt for a full winter tarp with doors in all but the fairest conditions. Some like the idea of detachable beaks or doors that provide more full enclosure when necessary.

    I think Brandon at Warbonnet Outdoors, a proven innovator with his wonderful hammocks, has done a real service to the hammock camping community by advancing the concept of using integrated half-length doors on an otherwise conventional hex tarp with his popular Thunderfly and Minifly offerings. These Warbonnet tarps eliminate the majority of door management hassles while presenting versatile, functional options for configuration, and with their light weight and excellent coverage on the vulnerable areas near the gathered ends of the hammock, such tarps may be the best of both worlds.

    In truth, there may be no perfect middle ground. I see very few one-size-fits-all solutions to hammock camping, because each camper is different with an individual set of priorities and preferences for gear. This truth is at the crux of the "hang your own hang" (HYOH) ethos. With hammocks, as in life, there are always trade-offs to be considered. I believe the best one can do is understand one's own needs and biases and then make intelligent gear decisions respecting them, maximizing the positive aspects while minimizing the problems and inconveniences.

    After a couple of years of hammocking in all kinds of nasty weather, I know my own preferences in hammock tarps. One of them is the option for full or nearly full enclosure of my tarps in bad weather, ideally by staking them directly to the ground in "storm mode" to minimize the effects of gusts and backsplash from precipitation hitting the ground. My other strong preference is trailworthiness -- for tarps and outdoor gear in general; I like things to last, especially if I go to the trouble of building them myself. Therefore, if I plan to DIY myself a relatively lightweight all-weather hex tarp, I still want it to have the benefits of strategic reinforcements in critical areas to weather the worst of that Mother Nature may throw at it.

    My concept was a half-door hex tarp using the full width of standard waterproof fabric for the panels with a compact 11-foot ridge line, pairing the convenient and effective end coverage of the Thundefly and Minifly with the ample coverage of the Superfly. I added in some typical "Cowboy-approved" elements for extra reinforcement and versatility, and I christened my new tarp the Badlander.

    In cowboy slang, a badlander is an inhabitant of a wide-open area that is prone to extreme weather, especially places that suffer the ravages of wind and water; he is self-sufficient and practiced at survival in rough conditions with only a minimum of carefully chosen practical essentials. In essence, this description was my mission statement for this experimental DIY hammock tarp project. Here was my result...




    Type: All-weather hexagonal hammock tarp with abbreviated doors (compatible with optional double internal pole modification)
    Materials: Ripstop by the Roll 1.1 oz Silpoly, 300D pack cloth, 1" and 1/2" poly grosgrain ribbon, Mara 70 thread, misc. hardware
    Ridge Line Length: 132" (11 feet)
    Width: 114"
    Footprint (with half doors shut): 36 sq ft (6' x 6')
    Weight: 14.1 oz (400 grams)

    I missed my intended weight goal my just 4 grams, as I wanted this tough little tarp to tip the scales at 14 ounces; it almost did.

    It packs down very well into a small stuff sack that I made from silpoly scraps, compressing to the approximate size of a large grapefruit.

    I used my time-tested folded grosgrain standing seam ridge line for the two-panel construction of this hex, but I went with 1" ribbon instead of 1.5", which requires a bit more precision and care when assembling the tarp halves.

    There are three different tie-out techniques used on the Badlander. Each ridge line tie-out integrates 1/2" Beastee Dee rings into the ends of the folded grosgrain, supported by a large 300D rectagular patch and a saddle of reinforcing grosgrain to provide support against strain in all vectors at these critical points. The main side tie-outs use downsized 300D pack cloth patches in conjunction with conventional sewn-through grosgrain and a leaner, meaner version of my favorite two-way hardware combination with LineLoc 3s and Beastee Dee rings at all four corners, providing both convenient adjustment and compatibility with 0.344" internal poles for severe conditions. The half door corners were inspired by Warbonnet; they use my clumsy inerpretation of grosgrain edging to mount 1/2" Beastee Dees.

    I love the half doors! So far my favorite way to use them is tied out to the tree or ground in "fire and forget" mode; they are easy to duck under when entering or exiting the tarp and provide superior end coverage. They can also be clipped up out of the way or folded under; I found a simple double mitten hook provides a nearly weightless, very convenient means of securing them, and the same hook can clip the doors closed in a loose fashion without the need for an extra guy line, which also allows them to wrap gently around the suspension triangle of a bridge hammock without undue fluttering in the breeze.




    With the half doors staked out beak-style the Badlander winds up being about a full foot wider than the Thunderfly, and with the half doors pulled coplanar on a slightly wider pitch the tarp casts as rain shadow well over 7 feet across for plenty of protected real estate.

    More testing is warranted, but so far, so good with the Badlander! Construction details, additional photos, and field reports to come. Thanks for reading...
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by kitsapcowboy; 03-24-2018 at 21:40.
    Smart graphic design for all your needs by BGD

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