Hammock tarps are a relatively unknown piece of equipment outside of avid hammock campers. They are instrumental since they give shade during the day, and they shield from the wind and rain.
Why can’t you simply use a regular tarp and tie it over the hammock?
Although this is a possibility, typical tarps don’t offer the same personalization to the hammocking situation.
What do you begin to look for in a hammock tarp to know what quality is?
On this page, we will cover some hammock tarp suggestions and a buying guide with the most important considerations to take in, including:
- Tarp size and coverage influences the amount of protection that it offers, and it needs to suit the size of the hammock.
- Tarp shapes have different aspects of protection and suit various forms of hammocks better. Especially important if you will be using it in specific weather types.
- Ridgelines affect the amount of vertical space you have inside of your hammock home.
Read More : 6 Things to Know Before Buying a Hammock Tarp
As you prepare yourself for a swinging camping adventure, cover all of your bases by finding out which hammock tarp suits your needs.
Our top picks
Here’s a quick glance on our favorite hammock tarps. Read on to find out more about them.
Best for Budget Minded : PahaQue Hammock Rainfly
“A budget-friendly option for campers looking to give a hammock tarp a try.”
Best for the Money : Wise Owl Outfitters Rain Fly Tarp
“Has many uses other than over a hammock, providing extra shade during hiking trips, on a boat, set up at sporting events.”
Best for Backpacking : ENO ProFly Hammock Rain Tarp
“Made with ripstop nylon treated with polyurethane to enhance its water-shedding capacity.”
Best Full Coverage : Paria Outdoor Sanctuary SilTarp
“It provides a 5,000mm of hydro-static resistance. It keeps you dry no matter the weather.”
Best Waterproof : ENO HouseFly Rain Tarp
“Has a unique shape with overlapping doors to keep wind and rain outside the tarp.”
PahaQue Hammock Rainfly
- Dimensions : 12’ x 8.5’
- Attachment Points : 6
PahaQue has made a budget-friendly option for campers looking to give a hammock tarp a try. Polyester is their fabric material of choice, with a 150D rating and a 1500 mil waterproof coating.
The tarp’s shape is hexagonal, with two primary attachment points extending to the same base points as the hammock. It includes four nylon guy-lines that are adjustable and can be fixed to the ground with four provided ground stakes.
PahaQue Hammock Rainfly is oversized, larger than many of the other offerings. It can protect you in the hammock or be set up to protect gear in inclement weather.
What we like
- Budget-friendly option for new tarp users.
- Oversized shape to offer extra protection.
- Included materials to facilitate immediate use.
What we don't like
- Adjustable straps are hard to adjust
Wise Owl Outfitters Rain Fly Tarp
- Dimensions : 11’ x 9’
- Attachment Points : 6
The durable rain tarp created by Wise Owl Outfitters keeps you dry in challenging weather conditions. Its weather shedding capability comes from waterproofing across the tarp’s material, the seams, and hexagonal shape.
The tarp has many uses other than over a hammock, providing extra shade during hiking trips, on a boat, set up at sporting events, and more. They offer two versions of the tarp, Premium, and Lite. The Premium weighs 26oz, while the Lite is 18.9oz.
The premium version of the Wise Owl Outfitters Rain Fly Tarp is the complete package for a hammock tarp. It comes with four aluminum stakes, six guy lines, each 10’ long, and attached. A carry bag is also included.
What we like
- Two versions make it compatible for many uses.
- Premium package complete for immediate use.
- Hexagonal shape offers maximum water-shedding protection.
What we don't like
- Waterproofing a bit lacking compared to similar products
ENO ProFly Hammock Rain Tarp
- Dimensions : 10’ 6” x 6’ 4”
- Attachment Points : 6
ENO ProFly hammock tarp is made with ripstop nylon treated with polyurethane to enhance its water-shedding capacity. The rectangular shape extends far enough to cover over any pitched hammock thoroughly.
The tarp has six attachment points and offers a quick and easy setup. It is designed to work correctly with ENO hammocks, but it does suit other brands as well.
The ENO ProFly Hammock Rain Tarp comes with its stuff sack to make it convenient to pack. It weighs 1.4oz for a relatively lightweight carry, whether backpacking or attending a festival.
What we like
- Ripstop nylon for a durable hold.
- Polyurethane treated to enhance the capacity to shed water.
- ENO design best suits their well-designed hammocks.
What we don't like
- Smaller dimensions don’t offer as much coverage as similar brands.
Paria Outdoor Sanctuary SilTarp
- Dimensions : 10’ x 8’
- Attachment Points : 16
The Paria Outdoor Sanctuary SilTarp is made with 30D nylon. It has a silicon/PU dual-coating equipped with fully taped seams. Overall, it provides a 5,000mm of hydro-static resistance. It keeps you dry no matter the weather.
The tarp’s purchase supports immediate use since it comes with a full kit of supplies. It comes with 1.5mm Dyneema guy lines totaling 60 feet. These can be adjusted with the six micro line-loc adjusters. There are also six aluminum Y-stakes packed for fast setup.
The rectangular shape and lightweight material keep the tarp at 15.5oz, with the entire kit weighing 20.5oz. The US-based company manufacturing the Paria Outdoor Sanctuary SilTarp offers a lifetime warranty on all their gear.
What we like
- Waterproof dual-coating of silicon/PU and taped seams.
- Full kit provided for easy setup and immediate use.
- Lifetime warranty to ensure the buyer’s confidence.
What we don't like
- Provided stakes are not as high quality as the rest of the kit.
ENO Housefly Rain Tarp
- Dimensions : 10’ 8” x 8’ 10”
- Attachment Points : 8
ENO has outdone itself when it comes to the protection offered with this tarp. It isn’t shaped to be the typical overhang style tarp over a hammock. Instead, they say it is like an impregnable fortress.
The hammock has a unique shape with overlapping doors to keep wind and rain outside the tarp. Closing them also helps to retain heat to enable winter hammock tenting. The doors are storable, though, so that you get plenty of cool breeze on a nicer day.
The ENO Housefly Rain Tarp has two doors and is made with silicon-coated nylon. It weighs just over a pound at 1lb 9oz.
What we like
- Overlapping doors keep inclement weather outside.
- Silicon-coated nylon enhances waterproofing.
- Storable doors for versatile use.
What we don't like
- Difficult setup compared to other hammock tarps.
ProVenture Hammock Tarp
- Dimensions : 11’ 10” x 9’
- Attachment Points : 6
ProVenture crafts their rain flies from polyurethane-treated diamond nylon, a 210D Ripstop material. They are made for intense usage, extra durable to stand up against punctures and tears.
The hammock tarp has an asymmetrical hexagonal design. It is made for maximum coverage, protecting you while in the hammock and covering any gear. They say that it covers an area 23% larger than many other well-known brands.
It weighs 1.8lbs and takes up only 10” x 5” x 5” inside a backpack, making it highly useful for trekkers. Included with the tarp are 3-meter adjustable guy lines and four aluminum stakes. The tarp has six loops and reinforced grommet points to make it easy to set up appropriately.
The ProVenture Hammock Tarp pairs this with a 2-year warranty to give you extra confidence in your purchase.
What we like
- Ripstop nylon gives the tarp extra durability.
- Asymmetrical hexagonal design provides additional protection over you and gear.
- 2-year warranty gives extra buying confidence.
What we don't like
- Heavier than some other products made for backpackers.
Free Soldier Portable Tarp
- Dimensions : 9’ 10” x 10’ 5”
- Attachment Points : 19
Free Soldier’s tarp is heavy-duty, built for survivalist methods of camping. It is large enough with plenty of guylines to customize it to camping with two people, not only one. It is made with 210T ripstop polyester with a 2500 PU waterproof rating.
The Free Soldier Tarp can be used as a hammock tarp, but it can also be set up to provide its ground shelter if necessary. It effectively blocks ultraviolet rays and water. The ridgeline seam is reinforced as well.
The tarp is made from heavy-duty material, and it shows in its weight, 42oz. It comes with everything you need for instant setup and survival backpacking. The kit includes the hammock tarp, four adjustable nylon guy lines, and a stuff sack.
What we like
- Heavy-duty material helps it hold up in all weather.
- Blocks ultraviolet rays to keep you safe day and night.
- Survival addons include guy lines and stuff sack.
What we don't like
- Heavy-weight from the heavy-duty materials.
Exped Hammock Trekking Tarp
- Dimensions : 14’ x 11’ 6”
- Attachment Points : 5
The Exped Hammock Trekking Tarp is larger than some of the other products on this list. It is made to conveniently fit two sleepers underneath for three seasons of the year.
It weighs surprisingly little even with the extra fabric, at 13.8oz. The lightweight material accounts for the increase in price.
These hammock tarps have a unique shape compared to other products as well, featuring five corners with one side coming to a point. Each corner has guyline storage pockets to keep the packed product neat. Their patent-pending slitline enables the user to have a knot-free setup.
The fabric of the Exped Hammock Trekking Tarp is made out of 15D ripstop nylon and has a silicone/PU coating to keep it waterproof. Its seams are taped to stay secure after many uses.
What we like
- Fits two people under the tarp.
- Lightweight material makes it a good backpacking product.
- Guyline storage for easy packing and setup.
What we don't like
- More expensive than other similar products.
Kammock Kuhli Pro Shelter
- Dimensions : 12’ x 9’
- Attachment Points : 10
At 1lb 9.9 oz, this tarp makes an excellent addition to heavy-duty backpacking. It comes in multiple different models, with the Pro offering the most in terms of protection. With the Amphibiskin X™ 15D ripstop nylon, it keeps out the storms. It has a reflective interior to insulate, keeping the heat inside.
The nylon is lightweight and durable, coated with water repellents that make it impermeable to liquid. The seams are fortified with waterproof tape.
There are multiple setup options with the different anchors provided around the sides of the Kammock Kuhli Pro Shelter tarp. Depending on the situation, set it up in A-frame, hammock, asymmetrical, awning, and storm modes.
The kit comes with aluminum stakes and high-vis tracers in the chords.
What we like
- Ripstop nylon fabric keeps the water out and heat in.
- Multiple setup options to suit the scenario.
- High-vis reflective tracers make it easier to see at night.
What we don't like
- More expensive than other comparable items.
Hammock Tarp Buying Guide
Hammock tarps are surprisingly personalized to each camper’s situation. If you want something that gives you some shade on hot days in the forest, you need something very different from a survivalist backpacker.
These are 6 things you need to know about hammock tarps before buying.
Tarp size and coverage
Often, the tarp size for a single person is around 8’ to 10’ by 7’ to 9’.
You might think that this would double for two sleepers, but the assumption is that the hammocks or sleeping bags would be situated tightly under the tarp. The size typically only increases by 4’ to 6’ in width.
A good example of the size of a two-person tarp is the Exped Hammock Trekking Tarp at 14’ x 11’6”.
The size that you need is quite subjective to the way that you intend to set the tent up and the shape of the tarp, covered below. Whatever you choose, though, measure out your typical camp area. A suitable hammock tarp should extend between 6” to 12” beyond the end of the hammock.
You might need a different angle to protect your gear and don’t need to worry about another person. That is why some tarps marketed for a single sleeper sometimes come oversized.
Don’t only think about protecting yourself, but the whole supply setup.
Tarp shape
There are five most common tarp shapes. Sometimes, tarps have extra attachment points and guy lines choose if you need more than one shape from your tarp, as is the case in the Kammok Kuhli Pro Shelter that offers five different setup modes.
- Rectangular tarps are one of the most common and simplest. Imagine folding a sheet of paper in half and setting it up. It would form a little tent. It is the same way with this shape of hammock tarp, with the peak extending over the top of the hammock. They provide good coverage. However, the rectangular shape adds more fabric and thus more weight. Look at the Paria Outdoor Sanctuary SilTarp to get an idea of what a rectangular hammock tarp looks like.
- Hexagonal is another common shape. It often involves a couple more attachment points than rectangular shapes do and are easier to get nice and tight. That keeps the water rolling off instead of gathering in pockets above the hammock. The ProVenture Hammock Tarp is a good example of a quality hexagonal tarp.
- Catenary tarps have a unique design. They have a roughly hexagonal shape but use the theory of catenary arches to redirect gravity’s vertical compression forces out to the arch’s curve. These hammocks have a high capacity for water shedding.
- Diamond tarps can also be called square tarps. They have a similar shape to that of the rectangular tarps. Instead of the ridgeline suspended above the middle of the tarp, it runs at a diagonal. It provides a different type of coverage and tends to be lighter than a rectangle.
- Winter shapes don’t have a specific form they relate to since they have many attachment points. Getting the tarp as tightly as possible to keep heat inside is the primary goal of these tarps. The ENO Housefly Rain Tarp puts these ideas to use with storable, overlapping doors, and more attachments. They often weigh more because they are made up of much more fabric.
Tarp materials and quality
The most common materials used to make hammock tarps are nylon and polyester.
- Nylon is much more common because of its superior durability and lightweight characteristics.
- Polyester is used in the PahaQue Hammock Rainfly to make it more affordable than most other products.
When looking into the material that these tarps are made from, check their denier rating. It speaks to their durability, texture, and weight. The higher the denier rating, the heavier and more durable the material will be, like the heavy-duty ProVenture Hammock Tarp.
Also, check the waterproof coatings over the fabric. Neither polyester or nylon is inherently waterproof.
Ridge lines
Ridgelines on a hammock are the line that extends across the middle, determining the vertical height under the tarp.
There are two types of ridgelines; end-only and full-length.
- Full-length incorporates a guy line that runs from one end of the tarp to the other. It is easiest to set these up since the tarp is adjustable along the ridgeline.
- End-only is the other option, and probably the most common since it reduces the amount of materials and weight. The ends have guy lines sewn into them and are pulled taut over the hammock straps. An example of this includes the Wise Owl Outfitters Rain Fly Tarp.
Guy points
Guy points are one of the more crucial factors to focus on since these partially determine the options for how many setups you can use.
Most commonly, there are guy points at each end of the tarp. The typical number is six, like in the ENO ProFly Hammock Rain Tarp.
Sometimes there are extras lined up along the bottom, sides, or top of the tarp to give more options, like the Free Soldier Portable Tarp.
Each guy point should have special reinforcements along the seams and over the fixed spot itself. These areas receive the brunt of the tension when the tarp is pulled taut. Without extra support, they are the first things to wear out.
Waterproofing
The whole point of a hammock tarp is to gain protection from the elements. Without proper waterproofing of the fabric and seams, the water seeps through to you.
Check to make sure that your hammock tent has sealed or taped seams for extra protection at a vulnerable point in the material.
Sometimes, companies offer waterproof ratings to give you an idea of how well they hold up under the elements. Check this and evaluate the weather patterns you could use the tarp in.
FAQ
How do I prevent my tarp from sagging?
Ensure that you hung the tarp from the correct angle. Check to see if the cords are tight enough, and the distance between the two hang points isn’t too close.
If you have verified these items, consider using a separate ridgeline to give it extra support.
Read More : 15 Hammock Camping Tips and Tricks
What is the main difference between an asymmetrical vs. symmetrical tarp set up?
Asymmetrical, or diamond-shaped tarps, offer as much length along the ridgeline as symmetrical tarps do. However, they extend out further on either side of the hammock.
They provide more protection for gear underneath or around the hammock and place the falling water further away.
Amanda Williams
Amanda Williams is a writer, plant-nerd, and outdoor enthusiast. She has traveled extensively, around the U.S., throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Everywhere she treks, she takes time to enjoy the outdoors. John Muir is her hero. She aspires to inspire people to live better as he did.
