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I'm just getting in to using a backpacking tarp for camping. How much rope is the norm for bringing along to use for the ridgeline. How about for setting up a hammock?
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how much rope for tarping?
- Thread starter bennyjenkins
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I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to give you a good answer beyond "more than you think you need." There's lot's of different ways to rig a tarp depending on weather conditions. Different setups are going to require different lengths. Because you mentioned "hammock" and "ridgeline" perhaps you are only planning for that, then still—take more than you think you need, and then add some more. (I carry a minimum of 50 feet.)
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50 feet sounds like a good round number. I suppose if the trees are too far apart one could rig up something else. Thanks for the tip.
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I'd do at least 50'. A ridgeline and 6 tieout's will get to 50' pretty quick. Also, 550 cord is not the best cordage for tarp and hammock usage. I'd use Amsteel, it's much lighter, doesn't sag when wet, and much stronger than 550 cord. I love 550 cord, but it's not anywhere as good for this type of use as Amsteel. My Black Bird uses straps to hang the hammock, and each strap is probably 20' long. I don't use a ridgeline with my tarp, which is a plain-jane Snow Peak rectangle tarp with grommets around the perimeter. I use the cord that came with the tarp and with the hammock. This should give you some ideas:
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I carry an 8x10 nylon tarp when hiking or camping.
Rather than re invent the wheel each time, I carry precut lengths of para cord and rope with me in a little plastic bag that packs in with the tarp.
I take a 24' support rope, two 10 foot sections of paracord, two 30 foot pices, and 6 bits that are a foot long. I have some of those little S-Biner clips as well.
I also carry 8 stakes made from 3/6 steel rod. The entire kit, including the tarp, weighs 2 pounds.
It only takes a few moments to string up the tarp in any one of a number of different configurations.
Rather than re invent the wheel each time, I carry precut lengths of para cord and rope with me in a little plastic bag that packs in with the tarp.
I take a 24' support rope, two 10 foot sections of paracord, two 30 foot pices, and 6 bits that are a foot long. I have some of those little S-Biner clips as well.
I also carry 8 stakes made from 3/6 steel rod. The entire kit, including the tarp, weighs 2 pounds.
It only takes a few moments to string up the tarp in any one of a number of different configurations.
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- Jan 16, 2009
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- 5,679
I would pre-rig it it beforehand in your backyard and leave the tie outs attached to the tarp (melt the ends of the paracord with a lighter). Make the ridge line 5-10' more than the most you think you will need (it is better to have a few feet extra than to be one foot short).
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I also don't use a ridgeline with my tarp - if the tieouts ever started to weaken, I might consider switching, but right now I don't bother.
The amount of cordage I use varies - the tieouts to the trees are usually about ten feet on each side, and then I have several tarps. My summer tarp has 8 foot lines on each of the 4 corners, and I carry maybe another 10 or 20 feet of spare cordage just in case. My winter tarp has more tieouts, but those tieouts are also more likely to be pitched close to the ground, so I carry a handful of 4-6 foot lines, and a couple lengths of shock cord to pull the doors shut too.
For my hammock hanging, I also use an all-webbing suspension, like C_Kyle. It's much quicker and easier to adjust, and doesn't add a ton of weight. If you DO decide to use rope to hang your hammock, I would strongly suggest still using webbing "tree huggers" to wrap around the tree and tie the rope to. Some people really freak out about you tying hammocks to trees and potentially damaging them, so even if you don't believe you are gonna cause much damage, it's worth putting the webbing on to make the appearance that you're going to some effort to protect the tree. Hammocks are already banned in a number of places, and as they get more and more popular, we should be doing everything we can to keep them from getting banned in more locations.
The amount of cordage I use varies - the tieouts to the trees are usually about ten feet on each side, and then I have several tarps. My summer tarp has 8 foot lines on each of the 4 corners, and I carry maybe another 10 or 20 feet of spare cordage just in case. My winter tarp has more tieouts, but those tieouts are also more likely to be pitched close to the ground, so I carry a handful of 4-6 foot lines, and a couple lengths of shock cord to pull the doors shut too.
For my hammock hanging, I also use an all-webbing suspension, like C_Kyle. It's much quicker and easier to adjust, and doesn't add a ton of weight. If you DO decide to use rope to hang your hammock, I would strongly suggest still using webbing "tree huggers" to wrap around the tree and tie the rope to. Some people really freak out about you tying hammocks to trees and potentially damaging them, so even if you don't believe you are gonna cause much damage, it's worth putting the webbing on to make the appearance that you're going to some effort to protect the tree. Hammocks are already banned in a number of places, and as they get more and more popular, we should be doing everything we can to keep them from getting banned in more locations.