I am new to hammocks. I have seen the continuous ridge line be on top of and underneath the tarp. Many of the people I talk to say it is personal preference...
What do other hangers prefer and why?
I am new to hammocks. I have seen the continuous ridge line be on top of and underneath the tarp. Many of the people I talk to say it is personal preference...
What do other hangers prefer and why?
Depends on the make of the tarp. Personally I run my CRL above my tarp so the tarp doesn't rub on the line and damage the seam sealing, but I may be paranoid about that and not a legitimate concern.
If you put the CRL under the tarp, there is chance of wear. I remember when I first got my HG CF standard tarp; I hung the tarp over the ridgeline. Then I noticed that the ridgeline was catching on the adhesive where the two pieces of cuben fiber were bonded. That's the last time I ever I had the tarp over the CRL.
If the CRL is over the tarp, there is zero chance of wear from the ridgeline.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
I put the ridgeline under my CF tarp when I expect a calm night, over when I expect wind, for the reasons above. With my OES tarp, I just pull from the center pulls, no continuous ridgeline. Its a free country!
CMFSAT
That is an awesome question. I actually started with mine under the tarp and hung a small light on the line which gave me the perfect lighting. But in my first rain storm, water soaked the line and ran to the low point where the light was hanging and dripped on me during the night. Later I got the Warbonnet Superfly that has a reinforced ridge seam and started running the continuous ridgeline on the outside and hung drip lines on my hammock suspension. I'm also fond of the split ridgeline. Less cordage needed
Last edited by KdawgCrazy; 04-14-2016 at 22:43.
I guess, I don't understand the benefits of an over the tarp ridge line. Geez I must be totally green. How? What? OVer?? I never knew or thought about over. What does it do for you guys? I see how it wouldn't rub, but does it still provide structure. I can't visualize it I guess.
Check out Shug's tarp tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKW4SqJWgto
Some tarps like the WB Superfly have an upwards catenary cut to the ridgeline. An over the top CRL as well as simply tying off each end allows the tarp's RL to take it's shape. It's not necessary but it helps create nice even tension.
I started out with an over the top CRL but now just tie off each end. I use prusiks so set up is the same as if I used a CRL.
Don't let life get in the way of living.
I run mine under. I'm on the short side of the stick, so under allows me to hang a few inches higher. In heavy weather it seems to provide a bit more structure and support to the tarp RL.
As far as wear goes, haven't noticed any yet, but I've not made the jump to CF. At those price points, I'd probably be more concerned than at present.
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