If you love using your hammock, you’ll find that rain can put quite a damper on your day. Spending hours outside will subject your gear to weather. A simple way to avoid water and stay dry, is to use a waterproof hammock tarp.
Here's a quick list of our top picks for the best hammock tarp:
Who Needs To Use A Hammock Tarp?
Anyone who wants to go hammock camping must prepare for any weather that may come their way. Campers, adventure seekers, and hikers can use a tarp for protection from the rain. Hammock tarps keep you dry and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are also many different ways to orient your tarp to best fit your campsite.
Additionally, a tarp can also protect your hammock campsite from the sun. Many tarps feature UV protection to give yourself extra defense from sun damage. During the hottest parts of the day, you’ll want to avoid direct exposure, and a tarp can give you that shelter.
How Does A Hammock Tarp Work?
Hammock tarps provide a layer of protection from the rain over the top of your hammock. Materials such as oxford cloth fabric, polyester, or nylon work to make tarps. The waterproof index on tarps generally range from 2000 to 3000 mm. This allows them to still remain breathable, while keeping water out.
Tarps also help give yourself a base layer of shelter. While you’re outside with your hammock, you also want to have something to prevent debris. A tarp can prevent twigs, dirt, and debris falling into your hammock and onto you.
Here's a short YouTube video that explains how to use a hammock tarp:
How Do I Choose A Hammock Tarp?
Buy a hammock tarp that is going to fit over your hammock. If the tarp is too small then it may move around and not give enough coverage. If it’s too big, it may be burdensome to attach to nearby trees, or rope together. The tarp should match your hammock length with a bit of extra size. You may want more space for a fire, or an alternate setup for your campsite for different parts of the day.
Other than the sizing of your tarp, there are also many different hammock tarp types and styles:
Source: theultimatehang.com
Choose a hammock tarp that features good-quality materials so it’s durable. If the fabric is not well made, it may leak or no longer be effective. Good-quality tarps and rain fly's will last and provide the protection you need.
Buy a tarp that is breathable to keep your camp cool and dry. When you’re sitting or lying in your hammock, you’re going to emit body heat. It’s important that your tarp has enough room for space between your hammock for air flow.
Below is a checklist of things to look for when choosing a hammock tarp:
- Buy a tarp that matches your hammock size.
- Buy a tarp that is well made and durable.
- Use a hammock tarp that is breathable.
What Is The Best Hammock Tarp?
We’ve looked at a range of hammock tarps that are suitable for camping and have selected five tarps. The main things we’ve looked at are quality, price, and the level of protection. We’ve reviewed these five hammock tarps and listed some pros and cons for each tarp.
our #1 rated
Top Lander
Waterproof Tarp
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Top Lander waterproof sun shelter tarp is available in a one size with three color options. The tarp features a 210D oxford cloth fabric with a UV50 silver coating. The tarp is rainproof, windproof, and gives protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
Customers who purchased this tarp liked the amount of adjustments on each corner. People said that the tarp also comes with a handy zip style carrying bag. Customers also said that the material is quite strong with no water passing through.
A few customers who used this tarp said that the size was a tad off from 3x3m and more like 2.95x2.95m. Some people also said the tarp was very dense, yet may not resist heavy winds. Some customers said the tarp was a little thinner than they had imagined.
PROS
CONS
our #2 rated
SGODDE
Waterproof Tarp
Quality
Price
Our rating
This waterproof sun shelter tarp from SGODDE is available in one 3x3m size. This tarp features durable and tear resistant water repellent nylon material. The tarp includes a storage bag along with aluminum spikes and wind rope to secure and fasten it.
Customers who purchased this tarp said it’s quite large and a slim fabric. Many customers also said the tarp keeps them cool under hot sun with it’s silver UV lining. Other customers commented that the tarp takes up little space and is easy to transport.
People who purchased this tarp said the UV protection layer smells like paint and needs to air out for 24 hours. Others reported that the tarp also must fold quite well to fit in the bag. A few customers also said the material is a little thin for certain use cases.
PROS
CONS
our #3 rated
Top Lander
Hammock Rain-Fly
Quality
Price
Our rating
This ultralight hammock rain fly made by Top Lander is available in two colors. The tarp features polyester fabric with a rope and stake system. The tarp provides a good level of protection from both the rain and sun.
Customers who purchased this rain fly tarp said it’s great for hammocks and using over a small campsite. People said that the tarp is lightweight and easy to setup for convenience. Many customers found the level of quality in the fabric quite impressive.
Some customers who purchased this hammock tarp said that the fabric doesn’t stay very cool in the hot sun. A few customers said they found fastening the ropes to the tarp difficult. Some people also said they would’ve like the tarp to spread a bit larger.
PROS
CONS
our #4 rated
ZSL
Hammock Rain-Fly
Quality
Price
Our rating
The ZSL ultralight hammock rain fly shelter comes in one standard size and color. The tarp also includes six windproof ropes, four aluminum stakes, and a cloth storage bag. The tarp fastens to adjacent trees along with the ground.
Customers who purchased this rain fly said the materials used to make the tarp are of high quality. People said the tarp has a comfortable setup and is easy to wash and quick dry. Customers also commented that the double stitching add to the level of durability.
Other people who used this rain fly said that it is a bit difficult to fit back inside the storage bag. Customers also said that the tarp only fits a hammock, and doesn’t leave room much else. Some customers reported that the tarp may not hold up well in harsh weather.
PROS
CONS
our #5 rated
Kinsmirat
Hammock Rain-Fly
Quality
Price
Our rating
This waterproof anti-UV hammock canopy made by Kinsmirat is available with two colors. The tarp features abrasion and tear resistance with anti-UV polyester fabric. The tarp also comes with aluminum stakes and ropes for secure fastening.
People who purchased this tarp said it’s well made and durable. Customers said that the tarp is lightweight and easy to use. Customers also said that the tarp is large enough to cover a hammock with some extra space for coverage.
Some users who used this tarp for hammock camping said the material was a little thin for heavy weather. A few customers said the UV silver lining can smell when first opening the tarp out of the packaging. Some people also said that it can be difficult to fit everything back inside the pouch.
PROS
CONS
Our Choice
Each hammock tarp we’ve reviewed is suitable to protect yourself from weather. All the tarps have decent waterproofing, wind resistance, and anti-UV sun protection.
After comparing all the products the best hammock tarp is the Top Lander waterproof tarp.
This hammock tarp has a durable fabric, and is easy to tie up and adjust. The tarp can work to cover a hammock, or as a regular tarp for a campsite. We also like the fact that the tarp features a 3000mm waterproof index. This is quite useful to help stay dry while hammock camping.