Superfly 11' or 13'?

[Flyfishbeck]

Supernoob here. I'm waiting for my 11' kit to arrive from RBTR as I prepare to make my first hammock. Now that I at least have a starter hammock in the works, I need to get a fly. Everyone seems to praise the Warbonnet Superfly, so that's become my #1 choice. With that in mind:

• Should I stick with the 11' or grab the 13'? - I'd be willing to say that 95% of my outings will be car camping, so weight isn't an issue. I'm just looking for an all around tarp to protect from the elements and provide a little privacy.
• Is there a reason to pick up the 13 over the 11? Or vice versa?
• As far as a ridgeline is concerned, should I buy a Dutch continuous ridgeline or something else?

Thanks!

[OutandBack]

The 11' with doors will be plenty bigg enough. 13' tarps are a pain to find trees and get your 11' hammy suspension correct.

[FLTurtle]

13' tarp gonna need more space between the trees. An 11' gathered end hammock with a structural ridgeline is about 9' long, so you'd have 2' coverage over each end. It's got doors, so I'd go with an 11'.

[sabinajiles]

An 11' gathered end hammock with a structural ridgeline is about 9' long, so you'd have 2' coverage over each end.

With a 11' tarp you'll still have about a foot on each end and that is plenty, especially with a hammock with doors. A 13' tarp is huge and IMO, a PITA. All my tarps are 11'.

[OCDave]

I can't imagine why there exists 13' hammock tarps.

[TallPaul]

Another vote for 11’. If you want more dry areas, bring another tarp along for the picnic table or for over your lawn chairs.

[OnTheMove]

I can't imagine why there exists 13' hammock tarps.

Spacious w/lots of room, excellent coverage/privacy, particularly well suited for a WBRR,...but as mentioned around here all the time, HYOH.

[sloanie]

Spacious w/lots of room, excellent coverage/privacy, particularly well suited for a WBRR,...but as mentioned around here all the time, HYOH.

I wasn't aware that there was a 13' version-- just a 11' when I bought mine! And I'll echo this comment-- bridge hammocks often need that extra length for solid coverage. Also, some of us use 12' gathered end hammocks as well, 11' doesn't quite give me the coverage I want. Indeed, HYOH.

[W8lkinUSA]

The 11' tarp is great for 11' hammocks. Unless you have a bridge hammock, the 13' seems to be a luxury winter tarp if you can even find trees that far apart.

[cougarmeat]

The recommended (per Brandon) distance between the apex connection on the WB Ridge Runner bridge hammock is 13 ft. If you have an 11 ft tarp with doors, you will not be able to close the doors all the way with the Ridge Runner. Also the two lines (on each end) coming off the apex point will be outside the tarp.

The RR likes trees about 15 to 17 ft apart - no problem using a 13 ft tarp in that situation.

Hooray for 13 ft tarps

Doors, whether on an 11 ft or 13 ft tarp, will gave you more privacy, warmth, better protection when the wind shifts direction after you've set up.

If you are car camping, you only need one tree where you can anchor the other end to a roof rack on your car (make sure it will hold the stress) or work something out where you make a webbing loop going around the roof.

Of course a 13 ft tarp will give you more dry space around your hammock - space for gear, space to sit in a chair, cook, etc. An 11ft tarp gaves you enough; a 13 ft tarp gives you more. But you do need wider spaced trees or, when car camping, one tree and a worthy roof rack.