A hammock tarp isn’t a common gear to most campers. But its usefulness cannot be overstated. The best hammock tarp will shield you from the scorching sun, wind, and rains. while you enjoy your time outdoors
Most of the time campers improvise what they use as tarps. but the results aren’t always pleasing.
However, we have tarps purposefully designed to offer superior protection to the person on a hammock. And only the best ones in the market ensure that this happens effortlessly.
The 5 Best Hammock Tarp
1) Pro Venture Hex Waterproof Hammock Tarp
The Pro Venture tarp is known to be outstanding in giving you adequate protection. That will ensure your maximum satisfaction. It’s built using PU Diamond 210D Ripstop Nylon so you are assured of durability.
The tarp’s asymmetrical design ensures maximum coverage to protect you from all elements no matter how strong they come at you. It’s easy to set up and carry with small dimensions and a weight of only 1.8 lbs.
Key Features
- Material PU Diamond 210D Ripstop Nylon
- 6 tie-downs + 6 sturdy grommets
- Asymmetrical Hex covering 85 Sq feet
- Dimensions 142″ by 110″
- 2-Year Comprehensive Warranty
- weight: 1.8lb (29oz)
What we like
- It covers a large area
- The quality feels premium
- 2-year warranty
2) REDCAMP Hammock Tent Tarp for Camping
The tarp is also versatile it can serve as a; hammock shelter, tent groundcover, ground sheet, and shade canopy. Superior quality is asserted by a double-layer corner tech and heavy-duty security stitching.
Key Features
- Material 210T polyester fabric
- Hexagonal shape
- Dimension 118”X141″
- 1-year manufacturer warranty
- Weighs 2.02 lbs.
What we like
- Wide hexagonal shape
- Waterproof and durable
- Multipurpose
What we dislike
- A bit heavy compared to nylon tarps
3) Unigear Hammock Rain Fly Waterproof Tent Tarp
The Unigear tarp is rectangular and offers excellent protection to your hammock. It features a 210D rip-stop Oxford fabric, PU 3000mm that is waterproof, and offers UV protection.
It has a wingspan of 200 square feet to cover a large area. And comes with 8 tie points that are properly reinforced. To make it easy to set it up over your tent or hammock.
The tarp has different uses and can be used as a; survival tarp, hammock shelter, outdoor kitchen cover, simple tent, tent footprint, ground sheet, and instant shade
Key Features
- Water resistance and UV protection
- Easy to set up with ropes and stakes
- 10D rip-stop Oxford fabric material
- Available in 3 sizes; 10” x 10”, 10” x 13”, and 10” x 16.5”
- Weight 2.1 lbs.
What we like
- Rectangular shape covers a large area
- 210D waterproof oxford fabric water resistance properties
- 2,000mm water pressure resistance.
- Available in different sizes.
What we dislike
- A bit bulky compared to a hex tarp
4) Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Tarp
The tarp also comes with a waterproof carrying bag to make ensure you are able to take it anywhere.
Key Features
- Material: ripstop waterproof nylon
- Dimensions 11 ft long by 9 ft wide
- Easy set-up
- Weights 26 oz.
- UV light protection
What we like
- Solidly built
- Easy to set-up
- Offer an impenetrable water barrier
What we dislike
- A bit pricey
5) Eagles Nest Outfitters Ultralight Hammock Tarp
This is a unique tarp with six attachment points to ensure it is secure from any form of foul weather.
Backpackers will be pleased by its lightweight characteristic at only 1.3 lbs. And the stuff sack that accompanies it.
Key Features
- Material polyurethane-treated 210D ripstop nylon
- Dimensions: (L x W) 10′ 6″ x 6′ 4″
- Weighs 22 oz.
- 6 attachment points
What we like
- Firm attachment
- Fairly lightweight
What we dislike
- Expensive
- Doesn’t come with stakes for use with tents.
Best hammock tarp- Buying Guide
These are just some of the things you should look at when getting a tarp for your hammock.
Size
Tarps come in different sizes and dimensions measured in length and width. A right-sized tarp covers your whole hammock without leaving any gaps. This is important to protect you from weather elements like; snow, rain, and dusty winds.
One rule of thumb concerning the size of the hammock tarp is to have an allowance of at least 5”. At the ends of the hammock, especially on the length.
The Width of the tarp conversely will determine how far the tarp will move down to the ground for added privacy.
Weight
An average tarp weighs around 1 to 3 lbs. Although this isn’t a substantial weight. Campers and hikers with gear stuffed in backpacks. Are cautious about the overall weight of the backpack. And this will result in them opting for the lightest tarp.
Its however discouraging to note that the lightest tarp may not have the necessary material. To offer you the desired protection. This is because the weight of the tarp depends on the material that has been used in its construction. And that brings us to the next factor to look out for.
Material
The most commonly used materials in the construction of tarps include;
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Polyester
This material is thick and offers superior protection to the camper. Compared to nylon, it’s more durable and capable of being used more repeatedly. The downside, however, this material is heavier and a bit more expensive.
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Sil-nylon
Since normal nylon allowed condensation manufacturers came up with this variant which is a combination of silicon and nylon. It has waterproof capabilities and also doesn’t allow condensation
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Ripstop nylon
It’s slightly heavier compared to Sil-nylon but not Polyester. The thicker material however makes it more durable.
Shape.
The shapes available with tarps are as diverse as the sizes available. Basically, all the shapes are covered we have; Triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, square, diamond, etc. With each shape uniquely fitting a specific hammock. The most popular shapes are;
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Rectangle tarp
The most basic of the shape with the best coverage. However, rectangular tarps are heavy and a little more expensive
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Hexagonal tarps
These are rather popular with many campers. The hexagonal shape has almost a similar coverage to the rectangular tarp. But uses a slightly smaller material making them relatively cheaper and lighter in weight.
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Square
This type of tarp is smaller by a margin compared to the rectangular ones. They do not offer adequate protection but they are lighter. When compared with most tarps
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Diamond
What this shape lacks in functionality is made up for in convenience. This is because it only has two anchoring points, making it easy to set up compared to the others. It is also light just like the squared one.
Build quality
The built quality of a tarp will determine its longevity. It’s easy to tell if a tarp has a high-built quality with telltale signs like reinforced seams and thick material. However, it is always important to balance price, quality, and weight.
This is because tarps built of thick materials tend to be heavy and a tad more expensive. Which is not appealing for a camper.
Conclusion
The list that we have provided gives you a glimpse of the tarps available on Amazon. However, there are a ton of other tarps available in the market. We encourage you to use our buying guide when shopping. Because going for a hammock tarp without a proper guideline will leave you with a low-quality crummy tarp.
We also recommend that you consider tarps that can be useful for both tents and hammocks. Because this will give you an extra solution during foul weather.