Tarpology: DD Hammock 4x4

 

Backyard Overnight at My Childhood Home

During the summer holidays, I visited family in other parts of the country – including my childhood home. That’s always a perfect excuse to sleep outside. We did a classic diagonal tarp setup. I'm a big fan of this style because it gives you enough height to comfortably sit upright in the shelter.

Another great feature is that you only need a single tall anchor point – in this case, a big birch tree.

I originally bought my 4x4 tarp because it popped up cheap and unused. I've become more and more of a fan of the extra size. In the setup below, I folded the corners of the tarp into the shelter – perfect if it had rained heavily. With a small trench around the shelter and a folded-in floor, no water would’ve gotten in.

Small Shelter Tricks

The middle of the shelter is supported by a stick with a tennis ball on the end. The ball stays packed with the tarp and helps prevent punctures. I also use it to store all my bankline bits (guy lines, etc.).

One small trick at the shelter opening: there are lots of tie-out loops on the DD Hammocks tarp, so with a short piece of string, I tied the top closed. Because of the stick inside the shelter, this little closure pulls the whole side tight. Even though there wasn’t much wind that night, you could feel the difference in how much less the tarp flapped.

New Blanket from the Bundeswehr

After previously freezing under a Civil Defense blanket, I’ve finally bought a new one. I used to think CF blankets had high wool content, but I’ve since learned it ranges from 30–70%. They’re woven from low-grade material and only meant as emergency blankets.

So I bought a big Bundeswehr blanket instead. It measures 200 x 220 cm, which is great for folding double. It’s new (they made tons in that army), and it’s 100% wool.

Bedding with Reeds and Reindeer Hide

Near the camping spot is a large marsh area. It didn’t take long to gather a good bundle of reeds – I filled my shemagh with them. They worked really well on top of the reindeer hide, but two loads would’ve been better. I think two layers would have been soft enough.

Still, on this chilly summer night, one layer and the hide were enough that I didn’t feel any cold from the ground. I wrapped the blanket fairly snugly around me and slept through the night without getting cold – even without wearing all my clothes.

Takeaways from the Night

A great little overnight. A few good takeaways:

• A 3x3 tarp is big enough for two people. A 4x4 gives you many more options but doesn’t weigh much more.

• Two filled shemagh bedding layers give good comfort. One is a bit thin.

Remember: You don’t need to go far to enjoy nature. You don’t have to be out for 24 hours to count it as a trip. One night outside is awesome – even if you eat dinner and breakfast indoors. We enjoy nature in the way that fits family life.