Review on 🌧️ Waterproof Rain Fly Camping Hammock Tarp, EVOLUTION 12 x 10 ft – Lightweight and Backpacker Approved – Diamond Ripstop Design – Includes Survival Bracelet – Perfect Shelter for Hammock – Gray by Carl Lipschultz

EDIT: During last year's trip the tarpaulin tore at one of the attachment points. So now it's practically useless. I don't think I did anything crazy, it just wasn't strong enough for the strain. I was looking for a cheap and lightweight tarp that I could use as cover for a night hike. As it was only one night and I have a chronic knee problem I wanted something "good enough" and light weight. There are definitely lighter options, but at least twice the price. Let's start with the good. As I said, the price-performance ratio is excellent. I love that everything is included: quickdraws, aluminum pegs, carabiners, panniers, etc. It even had an extra quickdraw that we didn't need. Also, I specifically wanted something that was a "chain chain" so it could be towed and better handle the high winds that Colorado has. We had a fairly windy evening and morning and it stayed in place. The stakes are strong but light. I like that the corners are reinforced as well, I only had the typical tarps with eyelets, but this one worked well. By far the biggest downside is that the instructions are terrible. I've done a few tarp hikes and know the basic knots and how to use a line to tie a tarp (see attached image). But this one wanted me to use carabiners AND tensioners and use a very long line that had to run the full length of the tarp and somehow that would allow me to move the tarp but still keep it in line. To be honest I never got to the point where I could figure it out in the instructions. A long ridge rope will have turnbuckles at both ends, but the instructions show a method of tying the ridge rope to carabiners to move and tighten the tarpaulin, but with no detail on how the turnbuckles go in. If anyone can understand these instructions I would appreciate it. But I ended up just using the tarp in a more traditional way, tying a rope to each loop of fabric. It worked great. Another aspect that cannot be called negative but that you must remember is that the lines of the guys are very long. This is understandable for something that needs to be high off the ground for a hammock. I found the lines to be too long for use on the ground, even with the tensioners fully tightened. I ended up just tying a knot in the middle and putting a stake in it.