cmines, you have a valid point about laivoia and I being from Oregon and perhaps having a “belt and suspenders” mentality. My point is, the tarp is not just for rain. Once, at Patos Island (San Juans, north of NW of Orcas, WA) a golden eagle landed on a branch about 15 ft (vertical) from my hammock/tarp. We were all “Look, an eagle!” and taking pictures. Apparently the eagle was not pleased with the attention and before flying away, the eagle “let fly” out the bottom end. The “detritus” just barely missed my tarp. Maybe it didn’t look enough like the jeep’s hood/roof. If I were just using the Envoy-S - sort of like a trail lair with netting and wind shield - it would have been a mess to clean up. Same with any tree sap.
There are lots of things I carry that I don’t need; And I’m glad I don’t need to use them. But should the need appear, I’d be happy that they are there.
I can completely appreciate the freedom of not carrying a tarp or other heavy-ish gear that time after time has proved unnecessary. When I did the Oregon PCT, I just had a Gore-Tex bivi bag. I didn’t know about tarps. I figured the waterproof bivi bag was lighter, smaller footprint, than a tent. And it was. Except the only time I was “sheltered” was when I was in the bivi bag. All other activity meant I was out in the elements (AND I LIKED IT!). So understand you will be in the “shelter” of your hammock for sleeping but out in the elements for everything else. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just say’n.
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