DD Hammocks - DD Tarp 3x3 - Coyote Brown - Lightweight and 100% Waterproof Tarp Tent with 4x Pegs and Guy Lines for Camping Scouts and Bushcraft Adventure

I only bought this via Amazon rather than direct from the manufacturer because I had a gift card to use . Dispatch from the manufacturer was speedy , and delivery by Royal Mail was excellent so I had the tarp within 3 days of ordering ! I'd decided on the coyote brown colour as it seemed dark and inconspicuous as well as quite unusual compared with the ubiquitous green tarps . I was pleased to find that the colour of the actual item is a good match for the illustration , suitably drab and likely to be unnoticed in use . The tarp appears to be very well made and quite robust, with straight accurate stitching , strong, well fixed loops (and plenty of them) and material which is a good compromise between weight and strength . It is supplied in a bag made of the same tarp material which is a decent size to use for storage (unlike some tent bags which are a nightmare to try and wrestle the tent back into after use). In the bag, in a neat little bag of their own, are 4 cheap steel pegs and 4 lengths of braided nylon cord , each cord is around 2m long and has a lineloc type slider. To rig the tarp up properly (and avoid it doing a kite impression in any wind) you need to supplement the pegs with some more substantial ones, and have another 10m or so of suitable cord to hand , but I guess the included cord and pegs are a nice touch to start you off. The tarp folded and packed in to its bag makes a neat flat package (30x19x5cm) which is easy to slide into a bag or rucksac , and, including the bags, pegs & guys it comes with, the total weight of mine is 933g .

DD Hammocks have been in the tarp and hammock game for a long time. That only happens because they make quality gear. They are popular for a reason. They might not be the cheapest on the market but high quality never is. The material is strong. It has loads of tie out points that are very well sewn on with strengthening sections to boost that reliability even more. I've used this tarp to put over the front of my Wild Country Helm 2 tent to give me a bigger place to sit and cook if the weather is rubbish so I'm not stuck in my tent all day. I hold the front corners up with hiking poles and guy line everything down like a makeshift awning. The company also make a silicone version which is lighter than this one but it's more expensive. It could be worth the extra expense if you're going to be hiking a long way with it. Personally I will stick with this one.

I bought this as an insurance policy against tent damage caused by high winds to my ultralight hiking tent. I’m dubious about the tent surviving anything above a 25mph wind so wanted something to create a wind break or temporary roof to pitch my tent under to keep things as dry as possible while setting up. It’s perfect for that, durable, well made, rugged with great pitch points, etc. it is very heavy though, at over 900g or 2lb(ish). It comes with 4 steel wire pegs and 2 adjustable guy lines, which is nice. I swapped the wire pegs for 6x 8” aluminium ones, which weigh more, but I feel may function better in windy conditions. Just a hunch though at this stage. I can’t fault the tarp as a product, I’m just not looking forward to carrying it for a week at a time…….unless I need it often, in which case I won’t care of course.

really makes you re-think how big 3x3 can be, quite a piece of kit! can be used in different form e.g. lean-to or A-frame. doesn't come with cord for a ridgeline so bare that in mind. material itself is fairly durable and not afraid to tighten/ stretch it a little. woke up with damp on the underside last time I used it but that was most likely from the dew on the grass I pitched on. as for my first time owning a tarp along side with my bivvy, I'm quite content :)

If you only want something to drape over garden furniture or a pile of logs in the winter then by all means buy one of the cheaper tarps that cost half the price of this one. If you want to use it for camping of any kind the DD tarp scores high for versatility because it has so many tie out points including a central spine that allows it to go both over and under a ridgeline. Also a taped central seam and reinforced corners. A nice piece of kit, good value for money.

For the price you can’t go wrong. Have had this tarp up in the garden for a few weeks now. It has provided shelter against sun, wind and extremely heavy rain whilst I lay in my hammock during lockdown. It’s certainly very versatile with all the loops down the centre and around the edges. YouTube is excellent for teaching yourself the various possible configurations and also for refreshing your memory if, like me, you had forgotten how to set up a ridge line. It’s certainly lighter than one of those standard blue camping tarps, but perhaps not as robust - I wouldn’t use it as a ground sheet for example. As a lightweight shelter, however, I cannot fault it.

Good waterproof and durable, easy setup and pack up, good colour

You get what you pay for with this tarp, it is very robust, durable and lightweight. Easy to pack away, many tie off points make getting it set up a breeze. Amazing product.