Among hikers, backpackers, campers, Scouters, and pretty much any outdoor enthusiast, one topic seems to always spark debate: hardware devices or knots? Are you a knot purist who sees hardware devices as redundant, a waste of time (or weight), or…
I posted earlier on how you can use the LoopAlien with a tarp and a continuous ridge line, but a lot of folks prefer using guy lines just on the ends of the tarp’s ridge line. The LoopAlien works just…
UPDATE: Using the LoopAlien with single lines, and faster locking method. I’m a sucker for cool, little hardware gadgets for tarp and hammock rigging. Don’t get me wrong, I love knots (I’m a Scoutmaster, after all), and use them on…
Not all tarps are created equal. Indeed, what appears to be one of the simplest pieces of gear, next to a basic gathered-end hammock, tarps end up being one of the most complex. On one end of the spectrum you…
Here are two quick video segments demonstrating continuous ridge lines with a tarp. The first video is a live example of what I illustrated in my book, and elsewhere, using two carabiners. The second video is a new method that…
I hate tangled guylines. When it’s time to pack my tarp, I take special care to wrap each guyline so it is ready to deploy. One advantage of coiling up guyline is that it helps avoid tangles in the line…
It’s fall in Flagstaff, Arizona and that means cool 20°F (-7°C) nights and bone-chilling wind. Lots of wind. Battling the elements, including wind, is one of the challenges for all-season hammock camping. Wind can strip heat away from a hammock…
NOTE: I’ve updated this article from the original that I published on HammockForums.net in 2010. Along with “Hike Your Own Hike,” it’s equally important to “Pick Your Own Pitch” and “Choose Your Own Tarp.” Just as there are as many…
EDIT 11/26/12: I have completed a thorough hammock camping comparison database chart that includes all camping hammocks, tarps, insulation options, and suspension kits available. Parachute nylon hammocks are one of the most common types of hammocks in the market today,…