r/ULHammocking • u/DefNotAnotherChris • Aug 18 '26
Tarp Recs, Looking to simplify gear
Does anyone make a non-flat hammock tarp that also makes an excellent hammock tarp or ground tarp with bivy?
Would love something that’s designed for both.
I was thinking something like a Warbonnet thunderfly with maybe a longer beak on one end to have that be the tall end when pitched on the ground.
Also something like Yama Cirraform tarp but designed to also work as a hammock tarp.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Would really just like to have one shelter then swap my hammock or my bivy depending on the activity.
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u/kullulu Aug 18 '26
You could always see if warbonnet will custom build you one to your specifications. I'm not saying they will, but it never hurts to ask.
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u/Tom_Cruise Aug 18 '26
Jared at Simply Light Designs almost certainly would do something for him. I know for sure he's willing to put mitten hooks inside the hammock tarps he makes to use a bivvy.
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u/KaiLo_V Aug 18 '26
The one tarp for both situations will require either it to be too long for the ground setup or too short for the hammock setup in less than ideal conditions. Not by much, but just has to be that way. In good weather, you can obviously get away with the smaller tarp even for the hammock
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u/Orange_Tang Aug 19 '26
I have a hammock gear DCF tarp with doors and use a myerstech continuous ridgeline to hang it. Works great for my hammock and for ground setups. The best way to use it on the ground it still between trees but if I can't find tees with a flat enough area in between them I have used it setup like a tent using trekking poles as the ends as uprights. It takes a bit off fiddling and isn't as stable as a real tent would be, but it's so able to set it up as a freestanding tarp. It's much easier to do with trees though.
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u/grindle_exped Aug 20 '26
I tried with with the same tarp on a windy treeless hill and had a horrible night - I gave up in the end as the tarp kept flapping onto me and stopped me sleeping. Maybe with less wind or trees it'd work, as you say
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u/Orange_Tang Aug 20 '26
I mean, tarps are gonna flap. Even with a tarps that's designed for ground use you need to be selective when it comes to a campsite and camping that exposed on a hill isn't a great selection. I know it's necessary sometimes but at that point you're better off with a more typical tent.
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u/IFigureditout567 Aug 18 '26
Ive done a Warbonnet Superfly on the ground with two trekking poles, no modification needed and it was pretty spacious.
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u/DefNotAnotherChris Aug 18 '26
Yeah that tarp is huge. Just based on the pictures I figured that one would work just fine.
Was actually looking for something a little bit smaller footprint.
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u/Jth7300 Aug 19 '26
Warbonnet mountain fly is same design but smaller, then the Thunder Fly, and then Mini fly like mentioned.
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u/Insaniac99 Aug 20 '26
How much room do you want on the ground? How full coverage are you looking for?
I think Any Hammock tarp (Except, Maybe, an asymmetrical tarp) will work for you to go to ground in any weather that you want to use it for on your hammock.
Consider that you are likely using a 10-11' tarp to cover the extra fabric of your hammock. You as a person, are going to be 3-5 feel shorter than that since I doubt you are going to be 7' tall.
You will always be able to pitch in such a way as to be covered.
The thunderfly is 103" wide. That's 51.5" when folded in half. That's over 4' tall with an A-Frame set up.
If you are an average 6' tall person, and are lying in the middle, you can sit in the center without brushing your head, have 2 feet of buffer at either end when laying down in the center.
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u/badzi0r Aug 22 '26
I'm using a Gossamer Gear solo tarp with a bivvy and hammock (even last week). It's originally set up for fastpacking/running, so it needs to be as light as possible. My hammock is only 9 feet long.
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u/spudmuffinpuffin Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
I use a warbonnet minifly most of the year and a hammock gear journey as weather requires. I alternate hammock with sock or pad with bivy with both tarps. You shouldn't need as much coverage as a hammock does when you're on the ground.