Rainy Day Practice

**Btdkd** · 07-31-2018, 19:09

So, I’m completely new to this hammock thing... but, my brother in law wants to do an 80 mile section hike on the AT in October.... so, I decided to go with a hammock. Just set it up in the back yard during a full on rain.... set up the tarp first, managed to get the hammock setup without it getting wet. Probably gonna sleep out there tonight, in the back yard, to both enjoy the sound of the rain... and get used to sleeping in a hammock.

Without having ever slept in a hammock, I gotta say, that thing seems mighty comfortable in a rain. Wish me luck!

**Btdkd** · 07-31-2018, 19:11

Forgot to mention... thanks to all you folks... especially, SHUG... who posted videos that helped me sort a good bit of this out. YouTube is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

**Levi Tate** · 07-31-2018, 19:14

Remember to add some drip lines to your suspension.

**Btdkd** · 07-31-2018, 19:16

Originally Posted by Levi Tate

Remember to add some drip lines to your suspension.

I haven’t done that but, I do remember seeing it. Thought I’d check it out to see if it’ll drip in without it. So far, all is dry.

Thanks for the tip though!

**Towerdog** · 07-31-2018, 20:04

Originally Posted by Btdkd

I haven’t done that but, I do remember seeing it. Thought I’d check it out to see if it’ll drip in without it. So far, all is dry.

Thanks for the tip though!

It's such a pain once it does start dripping in though... If you've got some old cotton shoelaces they'll work just fine just to get it done. Good luck and have fun!

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**Heavyhiker** · 07-31-2018, 20:19

That's what I use (cotton shoelaces) and I have never had an issue with rain running from my suspension to my hammock

**RunNHang** · 07-31-2018, 21:54

Originally Posted by Btdkd

So, I’m completely new to this hammock thing... but, my brother in law wants to do an 80 mile section hike on the AT in October.... so, I decided to go with a hammock. Just set it up in the back yard during a full on rain.... set up the tarp first, managed to get the hammock setup without it getting wet. Probably gonna sleep out there tonight, in the back yard, to both enjoy the sound of the rain... and get used to sleeping in a hammock.

Without having ever slept in a hammock, I gotta say, that thing seems mighty comfortable in a rain. Wish me luck!

Excellent! Practice, practice, and then practice somewhere new. I found it was a bit challenging setting up in a new place even though I felt completely confident between the same two trees at home.

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**Shug** · 07-31-2018, 21:58

Nothing like it....if you stay good and dry.
Whoooooo Buddy))))
Shug

**TallPaul** · 07-31-2018, 22:20

Some more tips...
If you are in porch mode in the rain, don’t forget to have one hiking pole a bit shorter than the other to keep water from pooling on the tarp.

If your tarp has pullouts, you may need to seam seal them if you haven’t already. This generally wasn’t a problem until I set the pack or myself under the pull outs in porch mode.

And finally... if your ridgeline goes under the tarp (not the best method imo but some like it), make sure water doesn’t pool between the risgeline of the tarp and your cordage. That can cause leaking in some tarps (the Warbonnet ones, for example).

And just enjoy the heck out of it. A rainstorm under a tarp and in a hammock is sooo much better than being stuck in a tent.

**Btdkd** · 08-01-2018, 09:24

Well, we got an inch of rain overnight and I slept like a baby. Stayed totally dry and was totally, absolutely, completely comfortable. The sound of that rain hitting on the tarp was mesmerizing; I fear I’m hooked!