The tents I make all double as hammock tarps too. I am very taken with my (Chinese) Trailstar and wondered whether it could be repurposed likewise too. I am pleased to report that it can – and that it is (just) big enough for a tarp which both of us can lie underneath in our hammocks. (I have now perfected this arrangement). I will shortly be making a 7′ x 7′ (bathtub) floor for the tent which will also double as a poncho and a hammock tarp for one.
If you are unsure whether the roof of the Trailstar is big enough you can always rig the floor as a second tarp to increase its (roof) surface area. I will showcase this later when I have made the floor. The tent alone is certainly big enough (as a hammock tarp) for one anyway (no matter how tall you are) being 11′ 6″ in its diagonal length. It is in that configuration exactly equal on both sides. I’m sure the original Trailstar could be repurposed in exactly the same way. You may be able to afford this better version if you live in the USA.
I find that (for us) the ideal minimax length of the two separating poles is 15″ (375mm). We are 5′ and 5’6″ tall. If you are taller you might need them to be 16″ or etc. but if you are taller you might not both fit under the tent as a tarp and will need to rig the floor as an additional roof. I will show this in a later photo.
This is what the Trailstar usually looks like as a tent
And here it is rigged as a hammock tarp.
The Trailstar has a peak which shows up as a floppy section here which might catch water
See it peeking over the top?
You can simply tie it down so this doesn’t happen. I added this tie-out if you remember.
For us (properly adjusted (which it is not) it will keep us both quite dry and we can use the floor (folded in half) as a floor .
Della looks quite happy with the arrangement. She might not be as happy after a few nights sleeping in it in Fiordland. We shall see – but she came through a similar experience okay on our fiftieth wedding anniversary there – if you remember See: Dusky Track 50th Wedding Anniversary Walk
This cuben tarp (which we used on the Dusky on our fiftieth!) was not nearly so robust (though exactly the same diagonal length). I have made a silpoly version which is 8’6″ on each side making it 12′ in diagonal length so we have just that little bit more coverage (for our recent Slow Walk of the South Coast Track) – but we did not need it as it turned out. In .93 oz/yd2 ‘Membrane’ silpoly from RipstopbytheRoll it weighs around 200 grams – not bad for a shelter for two. Each of our hammocks weighs 200 grams including suspension.
We just use our normal Thermarest (X-Therm) mats in them for insulation plus our normal sleeping bags/quilts and have been wonderfully comfortable and warm even in (Australian) winter weather.
I (now) use a taut centre line for the tarp to which the tarp is attached with Prusik knots so that the tarp itself is not under tension. This is important as the trees can spring back a bit as you exit the hammock and impose a bit of a shock on the tarp if it is tensioned to the trees. This might rip the attachment points – as it did to the cuben tarp. I have now completely eschewed cuben as I am sick of its tendency to shred. .
I will be making a couple of ultralight ‘saddle-bags’ (from tea bags) which will sling over the centre line above our heads for stowing light gear such as head-torches, phones, glasses etc. I usually find you can stand your water bottle on the ground beside you and simply reach down for it. Other gear which you might need in the night (such as your down socks or a warm jacket) can be stowed in Your sleeping bag with you. However I have secured mitten hooks at each end of he inside of the hammock to which small stuff sacks can also be attached. I found that mitten hooks work best if you cut the plastic ‘catch’ a bit short so that they function as simple hooks. I find that you can stand your pack up at the end of the hammock by attaching a small carabiner between the lifter and the hammock suspension. As everything in the pack is in liner bags this keeps everything together and dry.
This is the complete 7′ x’ 7′ Poncho Tarp. It weighs a little more than 200 grams including centre line, tie-outs and tent pegs. This is the lighter one I have already made. I am going to now make a slightly heavier one which I can also use as a floor for the Trailstar. It will still weigh less than 300 grams. There will be posts about these.
You can wear it as a poncho. It also has a hood.
Here I am using it to extend the roof over the Trailstar as described in the text above.
It easily gives an extra couple of feet of length. You would normally peg the poncho tarp to the ground.
Here is a detail of the Prusik knot with the modified mitten hook.
Here is a detail of the mitten hooks at the end of the hammocks used to secure stuff sacks containing equipment you might need during the night.
This is the simple mitten hook attachment which prevents the separation poles from falling out.
I attach the centre line to a tree at one end with a carabiner.
At the other end I attach the centre line to a tree with a Hennessy Hitch.
See Also:
Flames Creed Trailstar Minaret
