Hammocks, tarps and a good night’s sleep

I am a late convert to this method of spending nights away, but I now much prefer a tarpaulin to a tent, given the choice. A tarp and hammock are also light to carry.

The technical stuff

tarp n. abbr. a tarpaulin sheet or cover.
The tarp shown in the pictures above is 3m x 3m square, weighs 650g and has 19 fixing points, which gives it tremendous potential for configuration. I’ve shown just three positions here, but you can even do away with trees and make a tent-like, open-fronted shelter with one or two sticks and a guy rope for support at the entrance.

The good guys

I usually have four guy lines attached (with two spares in my bag), and I put mini-karabiners and small elastic loops between my guy lines and fixings, for ease of setup and to prevent damage should someone catch a line with their foot. I’ve also marked on my own tarp the loops needed for the standard and diamond set-ups so that I can get the ridge line in quickly and correctly. The hammock I use underneath my tarp is 2.7m x 1.4m, weighs 700g and has a zippe compartment into which I put a foam mat. Last year I met Pablo (right), a tracker and bushcraft specialist, who is a big fan of the tarp and hammock system. He said: ‘It’s a very flexible system that not only gives you a great night’s sleep, but also allows you views and a sense of closeness with nature while protecting you from the elements.’

Austin’s tips for setting up a wild camp

• Check there are no dead branches above you, and avoid beech trees, as they have a reputation for dropping branches with no warning.
• Find two robust trees about 10-2ft apart (depending on the size of your tarp).
• Erect the tarp first; you can then finish off the hammock while you’re protected from any adverse weather.
• Secure the hammock at around waist height and make sure it’s fairly taut.