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Thread: Asym tarps

  1. #1
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    Asym tarps

    Interested in knowing if anyone uses an asym tarp in winter and if it provides adequate rain cover.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Rolloff's Avatar
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    No. And No it does not.

    The Asym tarps are for very light weather IMO. Even then you can end up fairly wet learning to dial one in. Either way you will also have minimal area underneath the tarp to cook, store gear, keep things dry.

    One of the great things about hammocks over ground pounding is the weather. Tents you are pretty much either there for the duration or you just have to put the rain gear on to get out and start breaking down camp to move on. In a hammock you aren't as closed in. You can elect to sit outside under the tarp on a stool and enjoy things. Cook make some coffee, take in what the people in their tents can't. Then pack up everything nice and dry under tarp coverage.

    Asym tarps don't offer much of that. I think Dutch makes the giant Asym in Sil to help with some of the drawbacks of the more minimalist asyms.

    You can also compare Asym + UQP configurations, but the cost and weight penalty of the additional 5 ounces, + 50 bucks, puts you right in the weight and price range of the DCF Hex tarp.
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  3. #3
    Senior Member cmoulder's Avatar
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    I agree. Asyms are generally a "just in case" piece of kit for short trips when nice weather or perhaps some brief showers might be expected.

    For a while I did own and use an interesting design called Glasgow K.I.S.S., which is a larger asym that has, in essence, some 6" wide "eaves" on the off sides, and they were quite effective. I used this tarp a couple of times in fairly heavy rain—one time with approx 15mph wind—and it worked very well for an asym. I would consider something like that in DCF as a regular tarp.

    However, that said I still strongly recommend an 11' hex (8.5' wide) in DCF. Lotta coverage per oz... mine is a tad under 8oz for tarp, guy lines, stuff sack and Ti shepherd hook stakes.
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  4. #4
    Senior Member Otter1's Avatar
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    As long as the rain is vertical and winds are weak, asym's are great!!! You will hear of folks who swear by 'em though. I have no plans to ever have another.

  5. #5
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    I had a Hennessy Hammock for quite a while, wich came with an asym-tarp. If i hung it low, it would protect myself surprisingly well, even in quite unpleasant weather - much better than i would have imagined. But i used it only for sleeping, not for hanging around. So if you plan to stay longer at one place, i would not recommend an asym-tarp. If you use it primarily for sleeping i think it is a useful lighter weight /smaller packing alternative.



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  6. #6
    cougarmeat's Avatar
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    Paradoxically, the Asym-tarp is good for good weather - as sunblock. Many times I’ve reached my day hike destination and set up for a noontime rest, only to find the sun glaring down at me. In addition, there are still birds in the trees and flying above. I’ve used the Dutch Wide Asymmetric tarp on a 5 day “mild weather” adventure and it worked fine. As said, you are protected from “normal” rain but maybe not blowing sideways rain - especially if your tarp orientation is sub-optimal.

    If I knew the weather was going to be good for the duration of a multi-day trek, I’d take it. Note that I also use a UQP to mitigate against blowing rain and wind direction changes.
    Last edited by cougarmeat; 10-06-2020 at 17:43.
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  7. #7
    Trail Runner's Avatar
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    I bring mine only when there is no rain in the forecast. Mainly to keep birds from crapping on me. That said, I have had it out during rain showers with no issues so long as it wasn't windy. FYI, I don't camp in winter.
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  8. #8
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    As others have said, not worth it unless you're certain of good weather. In even a light, vertical shower the asym tarp may keep the inside of your hammock dry, but you can't push the hammock aside and cook under the tarp.
    Personally, I like to switch diagonal lays during the night (restless sleeper), so there's another disadvantage of an asym.

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  9. #9
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    I'd just like to point out that "asym tarp" just means that, the tarp is asymmetric. It doesn't say anything about coverage. Most asym tarps happen to be diamond tarps with less coverage, but not all. For example, the Hennessy Hex Tarp is also asymmetric (the sides are shifted towards head/feet in Hennessy's diagonal lay direction). With that, there's definitely more rain protection than in a same-sized non-asymmetric hex fly (and I've always stayed dry under it, but I haven't been in any thunderstorms). But I still wouldn't want to compare it to a tarp with doors, especially if the wind blows at all from the feet/head end of the hammock.

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