My go to tarp is a Warbonnet Superfly with poles. Used it now for four years and have used it more in the winter then warm weather. Has really done the job. Thanks for the tarp review. Wishing you and your families a Happy Holiday season, Al
Video was a great help.Just went from a 2003 Ed Speer 8' hammock with light blue 8x10' tarp to an 11' hammock and wanted a hex tarp in a stealth color and couldn't decide on size. I think a 12' hex will work the best for me. Thanks for the advice.
Nice work fellas!! 1) I believe the winter dream is Sil Nylon which tends to sag more than the Dutch Xenon which is Sil Poly. 2) Dutch Xenon does have a door option now. I picked up the Dutch Xenon this summer and love it. Cannot not justify DCF at this point. 😂 Thanks again!! ⏰ Mike
The Hammock Gear Quest Tarp is almost the same as the Dutchware. Same fabric and dimensions, but the HG Quest has grosgrain trim along the edges and is cheaper. That's the one I have used for a couple years now. It has a back breaking weight of 13 oz for the 11' ridgeline. I do not agree on your best tarp choice. It is a bulky expensive tarp , loud, too short on the sides and allows wind to flow underneath you, doesn't block sunlight for shade and creates a greenhouse effect underneath....yeah that's not the "best tarp" in my opinion. I'm just anti DCF; it's overkill for most weekend warrior types of people who aren't going to be hiking lots of miles per day. I also think it's not worth the cost per weight savings ratio for the style of trips I do.
I’d love to see a review on the xenon tarp. Not many people seem to have it or have had it long enough for reviews. I feel the UGQ and HG dyneema have way more reviews/buyers.
Schill Brothers Outdoors Thanks for the reply guys. I love the reviews and trip videos. I’ve been to a lot of the same places as you guys (also being from the midwest). Can’t wait to see what you have lined up for 2019.
The only thing I'd disagree with is the required length. If your 11' hammock has a structural ridgeline of 110, which is typical, your 11' tarp still gives you 11 inches of coverage on each end.
12 with doors in snow storm. Dig a pit in the snow so you can drop the hammock down to original snow level , enables the tarp to extent to the snow. Unless you like snow blowing all over you all night. :)
I have the HG Cuben Fiber tarp with doors and it was well worth the cost. If you are hiking on the AT with the rainy conditions you frequently experience not having a tarp that absorbs water definitely saves you more weight. I also have the Warbonnet Super Fly with doors and it does not compare with the HG.
Great review! I've actually come back around and at the moment am happy with my silpoly tarps. As a second choice I'd go with the silnylon. Can't speak for Xenon, but I would never buy a dyneema tarp again. I bought one (back then called Cuben) from Mountain Laurel Designs in 2011. Yes, it was the lightest thing ever, but it only lasted me 4 years before it's started flaking off, and I had to patch it up. For the amount of money I paid I expected it to last way longer than that. I have owned other dyneema composite products, mainly stuff sacks from different manufacturers, and the same thing happens, over time they come apart. So I guess the problem must be the actual material. I don't think it's robust enough to withstand serious weather too often. I've seen videos from other channels showing holes in their Zpacks dyneema tents that have just turn up there for no apparent reason. I remember that happening to me too, and thinking that it was probably caused by old bird droppings that didn't get cleaned up well; but I must say I've never had that problem with silpoly or silnylon. The other thing I never really liked with the translucent color. It made me feel like I was camping inside a greenhouse not in nature. So bye-bye dyneema tarps for me. Great discussion on tarps, thank you for sharing!
Chillgorilla tarp guys, Cheap, has doors, lightweight and tested. I have used it in several snow hammock camping, along with rain and sleet. its solid (I don't sell or rep them) and much better than my other tarps. If you are in the snow and its blowing.... you need doors. Fits my Bridge hammock. I am sold.
As someone else pointed out, the HG Quest tarp is basically exactly the same as the Dutchware Xenon, and great price at $80 (tarp only). I decided to start with the Quest simply because I couldn't drop $300 on a DCF version. But the HG DCF Hex tarp has risen to the top of my list when I decide to pull the trigger. The 11ft version is listed at 5.14oz! Hot damn!
If you guys were real serious backpackers you would ditch those DCF Hex tarps and go with a Dutchware Asym Tarp in DCF at a scant 3.27oz. Kidding aside, I would also through in the Warbonnet MiniFly/Thunderfly as an in between the hex silpoly and the winter silpoly. They provide significant more weather protection over the hex for very little weight cost vs full on doors of the winter tarps. Great video, I'm sure this will help a lot of people just getting into hammock camping on tarp selection or help push those using silpoly/silnylon to be a real backpacker and go DCF.
I have a HG winter palace custom made 12ft wide with a 12ft ridgeline. That way I can pitch it to the ground and keep the wind completely out. I'm about to put a stove jack mod on it to stick a stove pipe through. Should make a nice hot tent...
Any opinion on the brand new fully bonded (no seems) xenon ultra light tarps from dutchware? Seems like they balance weight and cost and performance better than anything out there. Only 2 to 4 Oz heavier than dynema equivalent and packs down smaller. Would love your alls opinions.
Hey guys, been thru some bad weather on the AT this Jan. I had to switch out my hammock which I am waiting on now and am looking at the Winter Dream tarp because of the doors, I got pretty wet with the rain and snow blowing into the sides of my tarp a couple times up on ridges. I am not a UL by any means. I like the winter dream what sayeth you guys? I really need to get back on the AT!
I keep hearing different things about using a 12 foot tarp with an 11 foot hammock. A lot of people say it's a bad idea because you can't pitch it as low if you need to. I don't really get that because nobody ever complains about using an 11 foot tarp with a 10 foot hammock. Any thoughts on that?
Hey guys! I'm new to the channel and I'm loving the videos! Is there anyway for me to get a SBO hat like the ones you took on the CT trip? Love the look of that hat and would love to get one!!
Can you recommend a tarp with doors that isn’t hundreds of dollars? Thanks so much! By the way, I’m new to hammock camping and just bought my Dutchware Chameleon, hex 1.6. FYI, I live in Florida so the afternoon rainstorms will come daily and I’d like doors to protect from that and then open the doors when the rain has passed.
Hey man! I'm in Florida as well and have been looking for a tarp exactly like you have been. I've been looking into getting warbonnet's thunderfly or rainfly. They seem like great tarps, they have doors, lightweight, and aren't super expensive from what I have seen. I don't own one but thought I would mention it as it might be something to look into!
This is a video that needed to be done. There is a lot of junk out there and it is easy for people to fall prey to the cheap costs on some basic tarps. I'm thinking that UGQ winter tarp falls more into the category of a tent though, but I like it.
If you work out the price per trip the cheaper tarps are more costly because they prefer the lighter more expensive HG tarp and use it more. If you don’t want or need the backups and plan to get the more expensive tarp it may be cheaper in the long run to just get the more expensive tarp rather than later upgrade. I can’t decide if I want 11’ or 12’ so I’m getting a silpoly tarp to see. I’ll probably get a 12’ later and eventually get an 11’ or 12’ DCF.
Hey guy's, I know this is off topic, but how do you go about selling gear, been trying to sell a hammock from about month now and I am having no luck, and I just refuse to pay ebay, any suggestions would be great thanks.
From survivalist, you guys are reviewing tarps that are way out of my price range, Not only the sun but tree's damage my tarps every year, I had a tree fall right thru my tarp last year so the most I will spend is $50 cause I buy new almost every year, granted I am in the wild for six to seven months a year.
I regret every review from you guys that I see...typical ultralight junkies.....yeah bro its dope check k out my 500$ dtnema tarp and its sweet bc it's under 10 ounces!
You are comparing sandals to tennis shoes to work boots. My UGQ silpoly winterdream tarp packs down to about half the size of yours. I do have 2 UGQ silpoly tarps. One with doors and one without. Both 12 feet. Why was my second tarp with doors? Because I can. But comparing 3 different materials...come on. BTW, when using a Hammock Gear mesh skin I can stuff my winterdream into the standard tarp stuff sack, the 2 sacks are noticeable different in size. I'm not perfect but when you can't even hang your own tarps correctly...you can't make a decent comparison. This video should be removed until you can hang your equipment properly.
3 years later...I have the Dutchware DCF 12' with doors! Hate the size, but love the weight. Love love, LOVE that tarp! Keep up the great work guys!
Good video guys. My favorite is 11’ with doors. I absolutely love the doors when it’s raining or windy
Awesome!
My go to tarp is a Warbonnet Superfly with poles. Used it now for four years and have used it more in the winter then warm weather. Has really done the job. Thanks for the tarp review. Wishing you and your families a Happy Holiday season, Al
Another great video!! I been a longtime subscriber and love the info you brothers give us. Glad to see how you’ve grown this channel!!🤙
Love my HG Cuban Tarp with doors. Worth every penny. Appreciate the video. Nice job gentlemen.
Thanks Dwayne!
I have the 12' Dutch Xenon Hex. Love it!
Man I love how you use the drone for the b roll. I'll admit though buzzing that thing around dcf would make me nervous. 😂
Gentlemen, thank you for the great review. You always do an awesome job on your reviews. Take care, be safe and have fun.
🤗
Thanks Ronald!
Video was a great help.Just went from a 2003 Ed Speer 8' hammock with light blue 8x10' tarp to an 11' hammock and wanted a hex tarp in a stealth color and couldn't decide on size. I think a 12' hex will work the best for me. Thanks for the advice.
Agreed. Won't look back on my 12' HG Dyneema with doors. Best all around. Mamajamba is my backup. Thanks guys. Another good review.
Thanks Back Kat!
Nice work fellas!!
1) I believe the winter dream is Sil Nylon which tends to sag more than the Dutch Xenon which is Sil Poly.
2) Dutch Xenon does have a door option now.
I picked up the Dutch Xenon this summer and love it. Cannot not justify DCF at this point. 😂
Thanks again!!
⏰ Mike
I saw Dutch has it with doors now! If that was around when I bought this tarp I would have gotten doors.
nope, all sil poly. They stopped using sil nylon like 2 years ago or so.
Oh shizzzzzz new intro tunes..good stuff guys..im not a hammocker but all of this stuff interests me..great video boys..
Gotta keep the music changing!
The Hammock Gear Quest Tarp is almost the same as the Dutchware. Same fabric and dimensions, but the HG Quest has grosgrain trim along the edges and is cheaper. That's the one I have used for a couple years now. It has a back breaking weight of 13 oz for the 11' ridgeline.
I do not agree on your best tarp choice. It is a bulky expensive tarp , loud, too short on the sides and allows wind to flow underneath you, doesn't block sunlight for shade and creates a greenhouse effect underneath....yeah that's not the "best tarp" in my opinion. I'm just anti DCF; it's overkill for most weekend warrior types of people who aren't going to be hiking lots of miles per day. I also think it's not worth the cost per weight savings ratio for the style of trips I do.
To each their own Arcana! You make valid points about what you want out of a tarp. Our wants are just different.
I’d love to see a review on the xenon tarp. Not many people seem to have it or have had it long enough for reviews. I feel the UGQ and HG dyneema have way more reviews/buyers.
Hey John- I haven’t used it much TBH. If we get some more use out of it we may do a full on review.
Schill Brothers Outdoors Thanks for the reply guys. I love the reviews and trip videos. I’ve been to a lot of the same places as you guys (also being from the midwest).
Can’t wait to see what you have lined up for 2019.
Coles Outdoor vids I will definitely check that out when it’s up
The only thing I'd disagree with is the required length. If your 11' hammock has a structural ridgeline of 110, which is typical, your 11' tarp still gives you 11 inches of coverage on each end.
I think I agree as well. Thanks for the clarity.
12 with doors in snow storm. Dig a pit in the snow so you can drop the hammock down to original snow level , enables the tarp to extent to the snow. Unless you like snow blowing all over you all night. :)
I have the HG Cuben Fiber tarp with doors and it was well worth the cost. If you are hiking on the AT with the rainy conditions you frequently experience not having a tarp that absorbs water definitely saves you more weight. I also have the Warbonnet Super Fly with doors and it does not compare with the HG.
I have been using the UGQ silpoly WB 11 for about 3 years and love it. I have been thinking about getting a dyneema tarp
Great review!
I've actually come back around and at the moment am happy with my silpoly tarps. As a second choice I'd go with the silnylon. Can't speak for Xenon, but I would never buy a dyneema tarp again. I bought one (back then called Cuben) from Mountain Laurel Designs in 2011. Yes, it was the lightest thing ever, but it only lasted me 4 years before it's started flaking off, and I had to patch it up. For the amount of money I paid I expected it to last way longer than that. I have owned other dyneema composite products, mainly stuff sacks from different manufacturers, and the same thing happens, over time they come apart. So I guess the problem must be the actual material. I don't think it's robust enough to withstand serious weather too often.
I've seen videos from other channels showing holes in their Zpacks dyneema tents that have just turn up there for no apparent reason. I remember that happening to me too, and thinking that it was probably caused by old bird droppings that didn't get cleaned up well; but I must say I've never had that problem with silpoly or silnylon.
The other thing I never really liked with the translucent color. It made me feel like I was camping inside a greenhouse not in nature. So bye-bye dyneema tarps for me.
Great discussion on tarps, thank you for sharing!
Great information. I'm looking for new tarps!
Thanks!
Chillgorilla tarp guys, Cheap, has doors, lightweight and tested. I have used it in several snow hammock camping, along with rain and sleet. its solid (I don't sell or rep them) and much better than my other tarps. If you are in the snow and its blowing.... you need doors. Fits my Bridge hammock. I am sold.
As someone else pointed out, the HG Quest tarp is basically exactly the same as the Dutchware Xenon, and great price at $80 (tarp only). I decided to start with the Quest simply because I couldn't drop $300 on a DCF version. But the HG DCF Hex tarp has risen to the top of my list when I decide to pull the trigger. The 11ft version is listed at 5.14oz! Hot damn!
If you guys were real serious backpackers you would ditch those DCF Hex tarps and go with a Dutchware Asym Tarp in DCF at a scant 3.27oz. Kidding aside, I would also through in the Warbonnet MiniFly/Thunderfly as an in between the hex silpoly and the winter silpoly. They provide significant more weather protection over the hex for very little weight cost vs full on doors of the winter tarps. Great video, I'm sure this will help a lot of people just getting into hammock camping on tarp selection or help push those using silpoly/silnylon to be a real backpacker and go DCF.
I have a HG winter palace custom made 12ft wide with a 12ft ridgeline. That way I can pitch it to the ground and keep the wind completely out. I'm about to put a stove jack mod on it to stick a stove pipe through. Should make a nice hot tent...
Any opinion on the brand new fully bonded (no seems) xenon ultra light tarps from dutchware? Seems like they balance weight and cost and performance better than anything out there. Only 2 to 4 Oz heavier than dynema equivalent and packs down smaller. Would love your alls opinions.
Hey guys, been thru some bad weather on the AT this Jan. I had to switch out my hammock which I am waiting on now and am looking at the Winter Dream tarp because of the doors, I got pretty wet with the rain and snow blowing into the sides of my tarp a couple times up on ridges. I am not a UL by any means. I like the winter dream what sayeth you guys? I really need to get back on the AT!
How is the durability for the HG Cuban Fiber Tarp?
I'm surprised DD Tarps did not make your review list.
I keep hearing different things about using a 12 foot tarp with an 11 foot hammock. A lot of people say it's a bad idea because you can't pitch it as low if you need to. I don't really get that because nobody ever complains about using an 11 foot tarp with a 10 foot hammock. Any thoughts on that?
Sam - I’ve never had any issues like what you’re describing, I’m not sure what they would be referring to
Hey guys! I'm new to the channel and I'm loving the videos! Is there anyway for me to get a SBO hat like the ones you took on the CT trip? Love the look of that hat and would love to get one!!
Can you recommend a tarp with doors that isn’t hundreds of dollars? Thanks so much! By the way, I’m new to hammock camping and just bought my Dutchware Chameleon, hex 1.6.
FYI, I live in Florida so the afternoon rainstorms will come daily and I’d like doors to protect from that and then open the doors when the rain has passed.
Hey man! I'm in Florida as well and have been looking for a tarp exactly like you have been. I've been looking into getting warbonnet's thunderfly or rainfly. They seem like great tarps, they have doors, lightweight, and aren't super expensive from what I have seen. I don't own one but thought I would mention it as it might be something to look into!
This is a video that needed to be done. There is a lot of junk out there and it is easy for people to fall prey to the cheap costs on some basic tarps. I'm thinking that UGQ winter tarp falls more into the category of a tent though, but I like it.
Oh well, $$$$ count at 77 not going to pull the trigger I'll leave my Crocs home. LOL Thanks for a great review
If you work out the price per trip the cheaper tarps are more costly because they prefer the lighter more expensive HG tarp and use it more. If you don’t want or need the backups and plan to get the more expensive tarp it may be cheaper in the long run to just get the more expensive tarp rather than later upgrade.
I can’t decide if I want 11’ or 12’ so I’m getting a silpoly tarp to see. I’ll probably get a 12’ later and eventually get an 11’ or 12’ DCF.
Hey guy's, I know this is off topic, but how do you go about selling gear, been trying to sell a hammock from about month now and I am having no luck, and I just refuse to pay ebay, any suggestions would be great thanks.
Honestly we don’t sell much. However we’ve used eBay and forums here and there (hammock forums).
Do you like having a split snake skin or do you think you got new skins you’d get a “one piece”?
It really looks like your hanging the winter dream and Xenon tarps inside out, french seam is on inside instead of standing on top of the tarp.
Yep good call - they were inside out when we filmed this
More cat! Nice video!
You are comparing apples to boat anchors or this is a old video. UGQ winter dream tarp weighs in very light with the 1.1 silpoly.
Light pack = light wallet, you probably could have used doors in Dolly Sods
From survivalist, you guys are reviewing tarps that are way out of my price range, Not only the sun but tree's damage my tarps every year, I had a tree fall right thru my tarp last year so the most I will spend is $50 cause I buy new almost every year, granted I am in the wild for six to seven months a year.
The background music is very distracting.
Appreciate the feedback
Idk why I watched this, I have a perpendicular hammock meaning none of these will work as intended. But it’s nice to browse? 😂
why anyone spends double the money for a larger pack size is beyond me.
To sum it up, if you care about saving a few ounces, then go with the cuben fiber. If not, then go with the second one.
I regret every review from you guys that I see...typical ultralight junkies.....yeah bro its dope check k out my 500$ dtnema tarp and its sweet bc it's under 10 ounces!
You are comparing sandals to tennis shoes to work boots. My UGQ silpoly winterdream tarp packs down to about half the size of yours. I do have 2 UGQ silpoly tarps. One with doors and one without. Both 12 feet. Why was my second tarp with doors? Because I can. But comparing 3 different materials...come on.
BTW, when using a Hammock Gear mesh skin I can stuff my winterdream into the standard tarp stuff sack, the 2 sacks are noticeable different in size.
I'm not perfect but when you can't even hang your own tarps correctly...you can't make a decent comparison. This video should be removed until you can hang your equipment properly.