So I got soaked. Slept in the car. What’s wrong?

[makingitoutdoors]

First hang. Two kids pitched low, very low, stayed dry. I couldn’t get my tarp ridgeline to fit across my hammock. When I moved diagonal, my feet apparently stuck out. I had water run from my feet up to my neck. It took me 4 hours to set up because I really don’t get the tarp thing yet. Also my stakes pulled out because this tent pad is like cement.

Why’d I have to go so high up the trees to get my butt off the ground?

Is my ridgeline keeping the tarp too far away?

The green tarp is covering a longer hammock but he had no problem.

Omg. This gets easier right?
I’m the red trimmed tarp with the purple hammock.

[Tiger_993]

What are the dimensions of:

1. your hammock
2. your tarp
3. your continuous ridgeline
4. the distance between the trees you anchored from

In the photo, are you using a web strap to tie your tarp to those trees?
Yes, it does get easier, or at least it should. There is a learning curve but also lots of helpful folks here on HF.

[Cabmanhang]

Looks like your hang distance is pretty long. In order to maintain the right hangle, you have to go higher on the trees.

The smaller tarps will sometimes let rain get closer. The diamond pitch is some of the least amount of coverage. Possibly why the diagonal lay caused problems.

Hang in there. You'll get it. Glad the kids stayed dry.

[makingitoutdoors]

What are the dimensions of:

1. your hammock
2. your tarp
3. your continuous ridgeline
4. the distance between the trees you anchored from

In the photo, are you using a web strap to tie your tarp to those trees?
Yes, it does get easier, or at least it should. There is a learning curve but also lots of helpful folks here on HF.

Hammock is 11ft
Ridgeline is 110”
Bear butt tarp? Don’t know dimensions
I’m guessing 20 ft between trees?
Trying to be close to both kids.


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[makingitoutdoors]

It’s just reflective line on the tarp. Webbing is on the hammock.


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[Shug]

I'll offer my tarp tutorials. May give some insight.....https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...r4JzQgQ_iyB2RU
Shug

[dkurfiss]

I would also suggest Shug's video. A couple of things I noticed right away

1) Distance tree to tree appears to be long. I try to stay about 15' max. That way I don't have to push the straps up so far on the tree and have my hammock so close to the ground.
2) There does not appear to be a drip line on your tree straps. Tie a piece of string or shoe lace just under where the strap goes under the tarp. That way water does not run down the strap and end up soaking your feet and head.
3) Bigger tarp I have a couple of smaller tarps that get hung like yours is but I don't use them when it's raining. I like to have full coverage that I am pull down tight when the weather sucks.

But really go check out Shug's videos along with The Ultimate Hang web site. Derek has book that is about 20.00....worth the read because you can carry it along to help with set up.

[slugbait]

Makingitoutdoors- yes, it does get easier as you gain experience. It's too bad you had rain on your first outing, rain makes everything harder. Get out on a short day hike and practice setting up. How old are the kids- if old enough they can learn right alongside of you. The effort is worth it.

[zukiguy]

It's hard to tell from your photos but it looks like you have the tarp rigged really, really high and somewhat loose. There's no problem for the tarp and hammock suspensions to overlap. Often my tarp is rigged maybe 6' high (convenient standing height) while my hammock suspension I'll end up having to cram over 8' up on a tree. I think you understand that in bad weather you'll want to get the tarp as close to the top of the hammock as is practical. The tarp ridgeline once pulled tight is nearly flat while the hammock suspension ends up in an arch so they'll fit one under the other.

It's kind of backwards that inexpensive tarps tend to fall into a diamond shape. They're lighter, use less material, and are generally cheaper than a larger fly. However, they take a bit more experience to rig successfully for bad weather. I remember starting out with my Hennessy hammock many years ago. Those have a tiny diamond fly that's included. Since it's attached to the hammock suspension it sags in the middle once you climb into place (much like your setup). Staying dry is a challenge.

When in doubt.....rig up your gear at home in the yard and fire up a sprinkler or have someone make some "rain" with the hose. You'll be able to see where the weak spots are.

[Tiger_993]

Hammock is 11ft
Ridgeline is 110”
Bear butt tarp? Don’t know dimensions
I’m guessing 20 ft between trees?
Trying to be close to both kids.


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I looked up the Bear Butt tarp and found one on Amazon. If it is the same model as yours, it is listed as being "12 FT 10 IN down the middle" so I assume that means down the ridgeline. That should be plenty long to keep you dry with an 11' hammock as long as you are hanging entirely beneath the asymmetrical tarp footprint.

In your photo, the tarp must have loosened up a lot during the night, so it may have been providing inadequate coverage. Absence of a dripline could certainly have factored in as well. Like others have said, Shug's videos are excellent and I have watched every hammock how-to video he has ever created - some more than once. When I was learning my way around the whole hammock thing, I first started out in the garage, then moved to the backyard, then moved to short distance backpacking sites, gaining confidence and figuring things out as I went along.