This has been a long time coming. I sewed the prototype in 2023 and am just finishing it off today (January 2026) but I think it will have been worth the wait. I hinted that I would be making it years ago in this post 7 x7 Poncho Multi Tarp. This design doubles (quadruples) as a poncho, a tarp (tent) for one, a hammock tarp for one and with the addition of two small snap-on ‘wings’ as a tarp (tent) for two. It is a great piece of emergency gear. Just to make that ‘quintuple’ it is also going to be the floor of my Trailstar tent. And if you want to add ‘sextuple’ if you carry one each they can be rigged together as a hammock tarp for two people.
Just to make that ‘septuple’, It will also be a bathtub floor in its final iteration eg for the Trailstar tent. It can also be used to extend the Trailstar when using it as a hammock tarp so that there is plenty of coverage for two (taller) hikers. The initial version I am showcasing today is in too light a material to use as a floor. I also made some mistakes with the prototype which I will correct (with instructions to come) in the final version. I will offer it as a DIY for $10 but you will have to wait a while – as you can see I have slowed down.
One of the ‘mistakes was not having worked out the order of sewing the hood and the two other pieces together. Another was sewing the hood on the ‘wrong’ side. I am now also reprising attaching the ‘wings’ with buttons instead of cam snaps. I am all about avoiding failure in the wild.
This design started off as a development of my C20th ‘Holeless Poncho Tarp which I added a hood to early this century. Then I extended it to make it into a Pocket Poncho Tent (which worked OK for someone short like me). I was using it in these posts: How Green Was My River and Pack-Rafting the Remote Wonnangatta. I could have increased the dimensions for taller folk but somehow I never got around to posting the design.
The original holeless poncho.
I had long ago (late last century) realised that a 7′ x 7′ tarp was big enough for a tarp (tent) shelter for one and as a hammock tarp for one being 10′ long on the diagonal – a ‘normal’ hammock being approx 8′ long ie 2′ longer than a 6′ occupant. A ‘lay-flat’ hammock (like Hennessy’s Leaf) is even shorter an effect which can be DIY-ed by adding a fixed centre line approx .83% of he length of the hammock. Try it yourself. It works at treat (use a bowline knot), however you may need to start out with a hammock that is a little bit longer (closer to 9′) if you want your standard 6′ mat to stay in it in the ‘lay-flat’ configuration. Frankly I have tried keeping a mat in a centre line hammmock (Hennessy or otherwise) and it is just a pointless struggle for me. I am happy with the ‘lay’ of a standard gathered end hammock which is what I will stick to – after any hours of experimentation with all sorts of alternatives.
I made and used such a tarp lots of times last century along with a DIY hammock. Somewhere along there I realised that I could fold the extra bit of fabric over my shoulders – which extended the garment/shelter from being just a holeless poncho into a 7′ x 7′ tarp) then added the hood in between the two joined pieces.
Then I realised that if I added two ‘wings’ ( a 5′ x’ 5′ piece of silpoly cut in two diagonally) to the two upright sides of the shelter (attached with the wonderful Kam-snaps) it would have ‘doors’ which could be partially (or wholly) closed to increase the (tent) shelter provided (and increase the shelter area) so that two could us it. Of course this addition also makes it more ‘storm-proof when used as a hammock tarp too. One could also tie one’s raincoat at the other end to increase its storm-proofness even further.
Then I realised that the 7′ x 7’ tarp was exactly the right size for the floor of the Trailstar tent. Somewhere recently I also worked out how to convert a flat tarp into a bathtub floor. You will see how soon. It is all coming together beautifully. Of course if I am just journeying by myself and want to use it as either a hammock tarp or a sort of tens shelter I will need a small groundsheet. I will make one (suited to one person) with bathtub floor and post the design (soon).
I also realise that if you are ridiculously tall as so many folk seem to be nowadays that a 5′ x 7′ poncho (or a 7′ x’7′ tarp might seem just a tad small. If you are vertically excessive you could just add a few inches to the overall dimensions (say settling for a finished tarp that is 7’6″ x 7’6″ (diagonal = 10′ 71/4″). You decide. For most folks this 7′ x 7′ (finished size) tarp will be quite adequate. I am roughly 5’8′” and it is more than big enough for me. I was shrinking a bit but a back operation a couple of years ago added a bit to my height. Haven’t measured myself lately.
In this post I will show you the prototype version I made from some .93 oz/yd2 ‘membrane’ silpoly from Ripstopbytheroll which is 2000mm waterproof. If I had my druthers I would now use their slightly more solid version which s 4000mm waterproof. I do like the ‘coyote’ brown (olive drab) kind of colour as it really disappears in the bush – and deer (particularly) do not see it. They will walk right up to it – which I find quite enchanting.
This is the view of it set up as a tent from the rear. There is enough room in there for two and oceans of room for on. Of course you need to make yourself a little ultralight ground sheet
Here is Della about to close the two ‘wings at the front.
And completely dry in there (I had not added the tie downs at this stage.)
Going, going…
And here it is rigged as a hammock tarp.
I think you can see the 8′ hammock high and dry inside here. It has been hanging off the back verandah (quite dry) for a couple of weeks now through several inches of rain.
And here is is being used to extend the cover of the Trailstar Tent used as a (Double) hammock tarp.
Of course it can also be worn as a poncho too. 2 1/2 feet of it are doubled back across my back.
It zips up and the front and the sleeves with waterproof #3 zips.
There is plenty of room under there for a pack.
And of course it has a hood with a peak to keep the rain out of your eyes.
The whole thing fits inside this tiny bag (including pegs) and weighs just a little over 200 grams in this .93oz/yd2 fabric.
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How good is that?
In the prototype I used waterproof zips to close the front and the arms. I will endeavour to close them with buttons (or cam-snaps and a flap) on the final version as they are more reliable (and/or field repairable). Similarly I will definitely attach the ‘wings’ with buttons as they will be less liable to come away in strong winds. This tarp is 2000mm waterproof but I will make a final version out of 4000mm silpoly to certainly withstand the rigours of Fiordland where I will use it to camp out as I am not sure I can still (at 76)make the longer distances between huts there in a couple of places (eg Loch Morie to either Kintail or Supper Cove) which are usually (well) over 8 hours of hard slog.
See Also:
Holeless Poncho Tarp
Trailstar when using it as a hammock tarp
