Tarp Level?

[MountainFeist]

So, is it best to hang the tarp ridgeline level, or match it to the hammock's ridgeline angle?
Thanks

[poor_jalopy]

I always hang mine at a small angle, but they may just be a leftover habit from when I wasn't as good at making sure that my cheap tarp was taut enough to not pool water during a downpour.

[Shug]

I usually do with the tarp at an angle..lower at head end. Yes, to sorta match my ridgeline.
Shug

[ylnfrt]

If the weather is nice I tend to haveit more level as I want it hi and open in PM but when the weather is iffy or ??? then I will set up with an angle/ head end lower, more following my SRL on the hammock. Now I should say that all my tarps have doors and in rainy times I like to direct the runoff as much as possible.

[cougarmeat]

It’s all about the wind direction and water runoff. I used to set up broadside to the wind, now I setup parallel to the wind. Perhaps experience on the next adventure will change my mind. I’d imagine I’d have to low end towards the wind but it’s all how it fits with the terrain and my porch mode pole. The main question I ask is, “If it rains, where will the water flow off the tarp?"

[MountainFeist]

I appreciate you all weighing in on this. I have been hanging it at an angle, and it is doing it's job so far, but wanted to know if I was doing it "right." Thanks, ya'll!

[Skytow]

If you are staying dry, and the tarp in place in the wind, you are doing it “right”!

[cmoulder]

I appreciate you all weighing in on this. I have been hanging it at an angle, and it is doing it's job so far, but wanted to know if I was doing it "right." Thanks, ya'll!

If expecting bad weather, pitching the tarp right down to the hammock SRL is the way to go for maximum coverage. With a semi-minimalist tarp such as 11' hex without doors, site selection and tarp orientation become much more important. With a postage-stamp asym, if it's anything more than a gentle rain falling straight down you're probably going to get wet.

[MountainFeist]

So far I've stayed dry, but I've not been out in any torrential downpours or blowing rain. I used to hang the tarp (a "postage-stamp asym") to my hammock straps, but now I've changed to a Warbonnet Minifly, and I'm hanging it to the trees just above the hammock straps.

[Rolloff]

Always tilted. Especially in porch mode. Keeps water from pooling in the middle of the roof, if a little storm puffs up in the night. I'll also make sure I lower my hiking pole a little on the low side as well. Just gives the water a little more encouragement to where you want it to run off.

My kit now hangs from the tarp suspension so the foot end of my tarp and hammock are about 10" higher than the head anyway on any given hang.