If the ground is just super loose or sandy, you can fill an old pop can or water bottle with dirt and rocks. Tie your line to that and bury it below the surface. We used to do that out at the beach.
Subscribed, this guy knows what he is talking about. So many other RU-vidrs pitch their tarps high for winter or rainy condition. Finally someone saying something that aligns with common sense.
He totally sold me on hammock camping and I love it. I went to Algonquin Park for 4 days of portaging and canoeing and was the envy of my friends, young and old. I sleep better in my hammock, thanks to his tips, than I do in my own bed. And the view is always better.
You watch, next year. All of your friends will have one. If not. When it rains. You need to charge them a entrance fee to stay dry under your tarp, while cooking their food or shooting the breeze. Thank you for watching Bruce. I always appreciate it.
Some thoughts. I don't use a ridgeline for my tarps but I've seen recommendations for rigging a ridgeline above the tarp, connected at each end with prussik loop. The reasons being less wear on the tarp from being rubbed - abraded by the line, and adjustability. Also, on a GE hammock using a continuous loop with a rappel ring - drip ring connecting to the tree guy line I've seen where water will run down a hammock guy line and past the ring that was covered by a tarp so I always use a small drip line on the hammock side of the drip ring, underneath the tarp Also, rather than using loops on the end of a guy line to tie to trees, etc, I just tie the body of the guy line around a tree root, brush, or whatever and use 3 half hitches to form a prussik-type friction knot for adjustability finished with a pull loop like a shoe lace to make untying easy. Never have a problem with slippage. Finally, SilNylon, and to a much lesser extent SilPoly tarps stretch, especially when wet so I use in-line shock cord self-tensioners on my tarps' side guy lines to keep a taut pitch that stops water from pooling. The taut pitch also reduces flapping in wind with the resulting sudden stresses on stakes.
I camped on top of Turkey mountain on the Pinhoti with 60-70 mph winds and hail storm praying that my tarp wouldn't come unglued. Luckily I had put the wind side of the tarp down low for the first time and also used logs and rocks to hold my stakes in. It worked like a champ! If you want to see the video of the storm that day I would be happy to share it with you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Two things I have learned thus far in hammock/tarp camping are the following. First) The smaller the tarp, the less room for error in setting it up in relation to the hammock. If the tarp is sized too closely to mirror the dimensions of the hammock even the smallest misalignment will result in a wet night. If the small tarp is hung too high, the hammock will be exposed from the sides or underneath. If the small tarp is hung off-centered the hammock will be exposed on either end. Even if the small tarp is hung just right, the hammock may still be substantially exposed to sideways rain/wind. Second) The bigger the tarp, the longer/beefier/or more numerous the stakes to keep it down. When using a larger tarp one must remember there is more surface for the wind to catch. So more consideration must be put into the size or number of stakes to be used to secure the tarp. The same can be said for choosing which knots to use to secure the guy lines between the tarp & its stakes. I generally sacrifice weight to obtain maximized coverage. I rather escape a middle of the night drenching than achieve next to zero backpack weight. I will make that trade even when considering backpack hiking. But to each his/her own!
Thank you sir. About 80% here I knew, and some stuff I learned. I went hammock camping at a campsite with many other people here. We got hit with a severe thunderstorm with like at least 60 mph wind gusts. Everybody's tent got shredded apart, tents and hammocks got thrown all the way across the camp, and the only thing that happened with my setup was 1 stake came out of the ground but I was completely dry. So thank you. Also I set up my hammock against the direction of the storm, but the funny thing is I didn't even think about that until I realized I was right without even realizing inwas right.
I don't know how many times. After or even during a rain storm. I will be watching people packing soaking wet gear. While I under a tarp packing dry gear. I feel sorry for them as their sad eyes watch me smiling and humming a happy tune as I pack. Thank you Orion Lightheart for watching. I really appreciate it.
living in Sydney Australia and been doing lots of kayaking and now thinking of camping overnight by using the kayak to get to hard to reach places ( upper rivers, creeks). Your clips have been exceptionally helpful in getting started. cheers
I have a trip planned in 3 weeks. We are going to the BWCA with the kayaks for about a week. Kayaking with backpacks attach to the back. Works really well. Even in high winds and fast water. When you go. Please let me know how you did. Thanks for watching Robert. I really appreciate it.
I used a military grade jungle hammock many years ago in the Amazon jungle and I still got wet inside when it rained because it rains constantly for as much as two or three days. A good tarp is very important along with a drip ring or other facsimile, especially in colder weather.
I was introduced to hammocks when I did Australian army jungle training in the jungles of Malaysia. I recall one night I had set up my army supplied hammock, which double as a stretcher to carry out any wounded soldier, and put my groundsheet up as a tarp. We were there during the monsoon season so lots of rain. It started to rain heavily in the middle of the night and we had water flowing through our night position. My mate and I were high and dry while we watched our mates who had decided to sleep on the ground trying to recover all their gear which was washing down the hill and soaking their sleeping bags and gear. Lots of fun!
Thank you for sharing that. What a great story. I would have to believe that your mates that where ground dwellers are firm believers in the hammock. Thank you ZMPBP for watching. I really appreciate it.
Great info haven’t read all comments yet what about safety-trip hazard’s of cords --use strips of cloth or fluorescent trail ribbon /visitors or nature’s nite call may help from tripping , throat burns can also use as trial mark
Very helpful, and clearly illustrated. I just received a Onewind tarp that will permit me to close the doors in the winter. I've been comfortable before down to 18 degrees F, but caught a little breeze from the open ends. I'm looking forward to closing the doors this winter, which should give me another ten degrees or so. Thank you very much. Be safe, and enjoy the forest.
Thanks Marine, I live in the southeast (SC) and we have afternoon thunderstorms that pop up and they can become very hazardous to your health! These few tips will be very helpful on our next trip, thank you for putting out these vids! Short story, my sons and I were tent camping, thought I picked out a good spot to place the tent! We set up, left for some biking and hiking and noticed the weather was changing for the worst, we had blue skies and all of a sudden they went to grey. On our way back to camp, we were caught in the rain, thunder and lightening. We arrived at camp, got in the tent and well.....it was full of water. Where we placed the tent the water was washing it out for us. Wish we had hammocks this day! Lol! Didn’t ruin our trip though, we waited it out for about 2hrs and enjoyed the rest of our camping trip, and drying out our gear.
Spending time with the children on our trips, is priceless.They will remember those times for the rest of their lives. A great investment. Thank you Z3R0 Gravity for sharing that.
I know that most people put the stakes in at an angle but have you ever noticed that people that put up the large tents all the time drive the stakes in straight up and down. When you put the stakes in at an angle the wind will work on them and they will cut the hole bigger and come out. Some tent manufacturers even recommend the stakes be put in straight up and down. I know who reads the instructions. If I think it is going to storm I leave those little stakes in the pack and make bigger ones.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I want to Thank You for your service both to our country and to the people getting started in camping. I wore the eagle, globe, and anchor in the late '60s and early '70s. Semper Fi.
Greetings. I am also a fan of hammock camping. What I do is put like a ridgeline 1 meter above the tarp to catch falling branches which i had to learn the hard way. Before i discovered amsteel dyneema, Used paracord, but now i have 2 pieces of 12 meter long amsteel. Keep up the good work!
I've had to set up "hobbit height" on super windy nights. My tarp's ridgeline was low enough for me to have to crawl under it. My hammocks was almost on the ground. Winds were a steady 30 mph with a few 70 mph gusts.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Another tip for high wind nights. Don't hang from the tallest trees. I spent a night on Rowan High Knob with 50 mph gusts. The two trees kept swinging which flipped me up and dropped me repeatedly.
Hi sir, great video. I'd just like to add that it's possible to make your own longer bad-weather tent stakes from wood. Make a 50 cm or so stick, carve one end to a point, crown of the top to prevent mushrooming, carve a 7 notch in it to tie the cordage to and pound in the ground with a rock or back of an axe etc. God bless! (Edit: typo)
I like to learn the hard way. It is not so nice to have water running down in your hammock in the middle of the night in a thunderstorm. Thank you shoespeak for watching. I really appreciate it.
This guy made me invest in hammock and tarp gears at the height of pandemic. Thanks for your wonderful videos! Im from the tropics! I wish to experience hammock camping in the winter. Someday :)
I love the word invest. Little by little, you will be out winter camping. It is a different experience. Thank you T Pas for watching. i really appreciate it.
Good solid info! Thanks! I make my own pegs from wood. Sharpen one side and the other side just make a notch with the saw. This way if the earth is saturated I can make a long peg that will hold.
I use some auger style steaks and screw them into the ground until the eye is only visible I haven't dealt with 60mph winds as of yet but so far that hasn't failed me yet lol awesome video definitely informative and I subbed you great breakdown of why you feel the mentioned mistakes are made. Definitely got me thinking about my setup
Marine,thanks for the great tips ...we've learned so much from you.We really love your channel !! Greetings from Europe.....Your "Marine Fanclub Italia". Ciao e Arrivederci.
I live in Alaska and often it will be high 60s and 70s during the day while dropping below 30 f at night. I always bring a good under quilt and a piece of reflectix insulation. Makes a nice warm sleep in the hammok
For either a reflective insulation or a radiant barrier, an air space is required on the reflective side of Reflectix. Reflectix states this in its sales literature: No Air Space = No Reflective Insulation Benefit. They also state that Reflectix has an R-value of less than 1. Your choice of course, but there are so many better products you can use.
In a bad thunderstorm. I will only pitch my tarp low in very high wind. But otherwise I will always pitch it in porch mode. For lightning storms: Pick a spot in a stand of low trees. But avoid lone or tall trees or isolated groupings, on matter how tall, when you know that there are chances of lightning. Thank you for watching Texas Kalboy. I really appreciate it.
Great vid! I can't recommend the hexagonal ones with doors on the ends enough. Best investment I made for my Hennessy. I've had 6 people under in porch mode in pouring rain and been dry and eating and playing cards.
I don't know how many times that I have had some ground dwellers under my tarp when it is raining, eating and playing cards. That is another reason why I love a big wide tarp. For public safety.
Thank you for the advice. I live in Canada and its suppose to snow tomorrow but i want to get out there and start a fire, so I will have to get my 1st tarp & this info is very appreciated.
When does one need to use an underquilt/mat in the hammock? I am so eager to go camping with a sleepingbag but I'm dreading freezing all night. The weather fluctuates between 27C at daytime to 6 at night.
That would depend on if it is a down sleeping bag or synthetic ( in this case. Synthetic would work better ) And also how thick of insulation is underneath you. Because when you lie on a sleeping bag. Your body compresses the loft that traps the heat. I would say the average would be are 10C. Some people claim that they got down to around 0C. But I believe would be a safe average. Sorry, it took so long to get back to you.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Thank you so much for a lengthy response! Much appreciated. I'll have to do some research then, we're more than pften below 10C these days, so if I am to enjoy this fall and start camping (as I am as green as a pea) I'll need a bit better insulation. I also have to check out our sleeping bags and see if we have any down bags. We should, being in Norway! Thank you, thank you! A wait is no time when there is an answer! :D
A standard rain fly will let a driving rain blow in at the ends , especially if the wind is blowing directly at either end of the hammock. For some reason every time I'm camping the wind and rain manage to fine the open ends , not anymore. Out of all the tarps I have my favorite one is from Warbonnet Hammocks. It's the mid fly ( Bushwhack camouflage ) and they have taken the tarp on step further. They have peaks on each end. What the peaks can do is to stop any blowing rain from coming in at the ends. They can be set up with the hammocks suspension line between them. Plus you can have them at any angle you want to stop a driving rain. Or you can put them back over the tarp to have the standard open ends on nice nights. On nice nights here in Florida I like to set my rain fly in the porch mode with the open part of the porch facing any breeze. Instant cooling when in the hammock , anything to beat the heat.
It is good to hear from you chuck. The next tarp that I will soon check out is the warbonnet Mountainfly, which is a bigger tarp. I am hopping to have for one of my winter trips.
Great pointers. Thanks. I'm in the market now for a tarp to go with my hammock and it's nice to proceed forearmed with knowledge. My test night in my hammock, I just used a cheap poly-tarp from _The Warehouse_ (NZ's equivalent of Walmart). I set it up in porch mode with the windward side pegged close to the ground. I figured that if the weather turned really nasty or the wind direction changed drastically, I could drop the porch down close to the ground as well but there was not any need for that. It rained during the night but the tarp kept the rain off the hammock, even with one side opened up as a porch.
A cheap poly tarp will work just fine as long as you are not hiking far with it. They may not be fancy. But they get the job done at a great price. Thank you for watching Wolf NZ Outdoors.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Yeah, the poly tarp did fine, though the metal grommets were starting to pull out of the holes in a couple of the corners after only one night. But it kept the rain off and enabled me to have my porch, so it did the job. Time for something lighter with proper stitched anchor points though.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Not yet. But it is coming. Was in Barcelona last week. I hoped for sun and warm weather. It was cold and rainy. But I'm happy anyway, got to listen to Bear Grylls live.
Excellent and well explained video. I know I made a lot of these mistakes when I first started hanging 8 years ago and I had to learn by trial and error. Glad to see there are some well thought out videos for beginners to get started. You’ve earned a sub jarhead. 🤙🏽
Thanks for all great tips. Dyneema tarps have fantastic specs so I can see why many love them, but a real drawback is the packed size. That can be a crucial detail in some situation, specially when touring with motorcycles as space is very limited and weight difference is of second nature. It's quite hard to find that information on the web.
Dyneema fiber tarps do not absorbs water like nylon. Which helps them to stay very light, no matter how many days it rains. But for people that need a tarp that pack down very small. Nylon is the best option. Plus they are a lot cheaper. And a lot more durable. Thank you for watching Robert. I really appreciate it.
Great tips, but I really want to see more of that viewer's video. That storm looked BRUTAL!!! I would've been thinking real hard about finding a clearing so I didn't have to worry about a tree coming down on me! I can't imagine that any hammock setup is built to take that kind of wind!
One place where a hammock shines over the tent is. When you come to an area to setup your tent. Most cases you have to use a designated tent pad. If there are dead trees or widow makers ( Dead branches hanging in the trees waiting to fall ) your stuck there to take a chance. With a hammock. I can strategically find trees that are in a safe area. As long as the tree that you are connected to do not fall. Your hammock can ride out the storm. Some time you will be rockin and rollin in that hammock. Thank you for watching Scott. I really appreciate it.
Cheers for your informative vids! I'm in the process of looking for lightweight camping gear to get out more into nature and have time for myself. Been looking at tents, but the hammock seems more and more appealing. I prefer the woods anyways, more in nature and off the grond and I also hear it's much better for your back! I still have no idea what system (hammock with bugnet and tarp) to choose. But I keep educating myself with your and other peoples advice and hopefully find a beginner setup that I will feel comfortable with in the Dutch weather!
Hello ! I am also a hammock fan. Thanks for the infos. You can have a large (4.9x3.2 yards) lightweight (8.11o) tarp and cheap. I use 2 thermo cover film, a transparent film used to cover windows as a thermo layer. Very strong, a tarp made of 2 sheet for a 4.9 yards (4,5m) by 3.2 yards (3m) weight 8.11 ounces (230g). I glue the 2 sheet together using transparent TESA tape RÉF. 64014. I use the same tape to create all the attachement needed for the ropes. Total cost : 26 bucks. I have one standing outside for 2 years now and I juste replaced 3 attachements broken by the friction between ropes and tape. Of course if needed you can add more sheets to have a larger tarp.
@@NotExpatJoe I have no technical explanation but after testing I can tell you it works. I also tried the Gorilla Tape and some other but here in the south of France the sun make them brittle after less than a year and it felt appart. Just to be clear, the Tesa is only used to tape together 2 thermo layer and the attachements points. I think the plastic sheet used to make the windows cover is the reason why it works.
just found your site and enjoyed your tips with the hammock and tarp... I m a backpacker and car camper and still not confident with the hammock. Thanks for your helpful videos, well done.
First start with a over night in the back yard to get your confidence. Than a over nighter car camping. You will find that it is quite simple. Thank you for watching and sharing that Virginia. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for this video and the Beginners guide for hammock camping. They were really helpful and I learned a lot from them! Keep up the amazing work you do! Greets, from Sweden :) Roman
Thanks for the tips especially keeping the stakes in the ground using a rock in front or tree root. I’ve attached mine to limb protruding from a long before, but I like the rock in front as well.
I will always try to attach the guy lines to a tree. We have been getting a lot of rain over the years. Most of the time the ground is saturated. If I am not able to attach my guy line to a tree. Then I would try to put a stake behind a root or than a rock. Otherwise, the rock on top and in front of the stake. Thank you for watching MrBala3. I really appreciate it.
Being"artsy" is what gave me the knowledge and skills to pick my materials and craft my own light weight hammock kit. I don't, however, do grand jetes in my black tights. Hehe.
Great video, very informative and concise. The river you were camped at with its dark waters reminded me of The Black Warrior River in upstate New York.
Hey Marine! Heading up to the bwca in a few days and checked this video out again. Great tips as a refresher course for tarp guy lines. Keep up the good work. We appreciate it!
Just got back yesterday from the BWCA. This time instead of using boots. We used a canoe. Have not been in a canoe up there for at least 15 years. Started going up there in the 70,s With a canoe. Than Kayaks. Than Boots. Now came a full circle back to a canoe. The first 3 days where high winds. But still as beautiful as ever. Please let me know how your trip turned out. It is always good to hear from you Coughing Owls Outdoors.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine just got home from nine days in the glorious bwca. 1981 was my first trip, always in a canoe. Last time was 2015 and that was my last time in a tent. My diy hammock setup provided me with the best restful sleep ever....no more crawling around on hands and knees on roots and rocks for me....great trip...beautiful place and mmmmm....walleye in the skillet!..... Temps averaged mid 50's so that has made the return to southern indiana's mid 90's a challenge. Best wishes as alwsys!
@@coughingowloutdoors8579 I am glad you where able to get back to the BWCA. As you know. It is beautiful country. I was there just before Labor day. The walleyes where not cooperating. But had a great time with my son. Did you shoot a video?
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I had planned on some video, but had camera issues and only got some stills. I'm going to have to invest in a dedicated outdoor waterproof camera.
Great video. Wish you would of touched briefly on the advantages over a long y steak opposed to just a short round steak. My tarp came with round I switched to y after watching your other viedos
I touched on it a little bit in another video. But you are right. Y steaks are the best that I have ever tested. Very dependable. Thank you for watching and your comments. It is always good to hear from you chrisrandall79.
Great video and tips! I just subscribed to your channel So I haven’t looked through all your videos yet but what I would really love to see is how to set up a tarp and hammock in the pouring rain. The reality of camping is that it’s not always dry when you arrive at your campsite. And so all the videos I’ve seen online show setting up camp in dry weather, which is not always realistic. I realize it’s tough to shoot a video in the rain but the reality is setting up camp in the rain is not that uncommon and yet nobody does videos showing that situation. Do you have any advice and do you have any videos showing this?
I just uploaded two parts to a series called : "Tent vs Hammock in the Rain" last month. It was challenging filming the tent than the hammock. Probably because, setting up a hammock in the rain is so much easier then the tent. Thank you Larry so much for watching and also subscribing. I really appreciate it.
Sometimes I will carry extra stakes for the side panel pullouts and for the doors of the tarp on windy days or bad weather. With stakes being so light. Sometimes it is worth the small extra weight. Thank you for watching Archy Grey. I really appreciate it.
Close. I filmed this at Willow River State Park by Hudson Wisconsin. But I will be in that area tomorrow by the Namekagon River. A little over night and some grouse hunting. Thank you t17389z for watching. I really appreciate it.
I needed this video, still have alot of research to do as I'm looking for a tarp to use with a hammock in the winter time for a deer hunting trip. Thanks and I subbed your channel.
For my winter trips. The tarp that I use the most is the Warbonnet Super Fly. But another tarp that I believe that would work well that is a good price for what you get is the Chill Gorilla Fortress 2. This tarp comes with every thing that you would need. Having 4 door in the winter time or foul weather is really great. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thank you for watching and for sub ENC Outdoors. I really appreciate it.
great ideas thanks the one not sure about is the tying to a rock. if windy it could lift that rock no problem and get hit in head with it. tarps are like parachute
Last month. While in the BWCA. I helped my nephew set up his hammock on a huge boulder, on a point overlooking the lake. There was no way of using stakes. And it was very windy. ( which was great , because of the mosquito ) When you are out in the open like that. You can not just use any rocks. They have to be large rocks. There was no way the tarp was going to move those rocks. If they where to move. They would of been dragged along. Now if those rocks where not available. He would of not hung the hammock there. I hope this was helpful. Thank you for watching mist. I really appreciate it.
That is one of my favorite hangs. It is on the Superior Hiking Trail. The river is the beaver river. If you are heading north. It is the second campsite.
This video is hilarious, I constantly questioned if this was serious or not. When it cut to that torrential hurricane grade wind, I laughed out loud. 7:07
Not a bowline. I will use a simple loop knot. And finish it with a over hand knot. I will use this style when I need a loop knot to take apart when I not using it. The other loop Knot that I will use, sorry I forgot the name is a loop knot that can't be taken apart. You take the cordage. Form a loop . Then tie it with a over hand knot. They say that it is the strongest knot to form a loop. I love to use this knot when I am fly fishing. Thank you for watching Greg.
Hello, just come across your vlog, thank you for the hints and tips, there really great, I did notice that you also had a free standing frame which looked amazing, could you please point me in the right direction to where I might be able to purchase one of those please, kind regards.
My favorite hammock stand is the Tato Gear Hammock Stand. You can setup your hammock anywhere. Camping where there are no trees. Picnics. I have also used it in the house for kicking back watching TV or as a extra bed in the house. But a con is that they are expensive. Thank you for watching Ronald.
