When it comes to hammock camping, a tarp is an essential piece of gear that provides shelter from the elements. There are several different shapes of tarps available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a comparison of some of the most popular shapes:
- Asymmetrical or Diagonal: These tarps are often favored by ultralight backpackers because they are compact and don’t add much weight to your gear. They are also easiest to set up as there are few guy lines. However, they provide little protection from side wind or side rain so are better for mild conditions.
- Hexagonal: A hexagonal tarp sits between asym and rectangular tarps, providing a good balance of coverage, portability, and set up time. If you are buying your first tarp and unsure which shape is best, I’d recommend a hexagonal shape as a good place to start.
- Rectangular: These tarps provide full coverage from side wind and rain making them ideal in harsh weather. They have a large coverage area which makes them great for hanging out during stormy weather and they are very versatile with several ways to pitch them or use them as a groundsheet. However, they tend to be heavier and bulkier than the previous two and also take longer to set up.
- Diamond-shaped: These tarps are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. They are designed to be used diagonally over the hammock. Diamond-shaped tarps provide good coverage while preserving ventilation. They offer more coverage than asymmetrical tarps and are equally simple to pitch. However, smaller diamond tarps require greater skill to keep dry in adverse conditions. It is often necessary to sleep in a specific direction under a diamond tarp to maximize coverage.
- Winter Tarp (with doors): These tarps provide protection from all directions and are ideal for all seasons. They are meant for the most extreme weather conditions. You can usually set them up with or without the doors. As well as being the heaviest and bulkiest item, they also tend to be much more expensive than the previous tarps.
I hope this helps you make an informed decision on which tarp shape to choose for your next hammock camping trip!
