Hi, I’m needing some help deciding between warbonnets thunderfly or mountainfly tarp. After research I think one of these would be the best option. Took a trip the last week of September 2020 with lots of cold rainy weather, even snow. I had just gotten a banyan bridge but not the right tarp. Somehow I remained warm and dry! We’re taking another trip same time this year. Hanging sites can be limiting between 4 of us so I’m worried about too big of a tarp. I’m also looking at Dutchwares hex or wide tarp options. Any advice?

My wife and I both have a Thunderfly. So far we’ve only gone through one big windy and rainy night and we stayed dry.
The door flaps did a good job. After seeing how easy they stow out of the way I might have opted for a Mountainfly. When it’s extra nasty or the wind shifts you’ll be dry, if it’s not raining or just a gentle rain you can leave them folded up and out of the way.
I special ordered the longer 13ft version for my bridge hammock, just enough to get past the dog bones.

Up front -- I have both a Thunderfly 11' and a UGQ Winter Dream 12' -- used for gathered end hammocks.

For that Bridge - do you need more than 11' ?? What Ridge length do you feel you need? Just checking there as I may be into a bridge one day.

Widths: That Mountainfly is really wide ! Which can be a good thing in the rains, but also can be 'just one more thing' to influence finding a site in the BWCA. I've never found the width of my TF as lacking. Since it does not have the interior pole mod like my Winter Dream, I like that it's not any wider, so I can see out more and feel a bit more breeze. I do use a stick or trekking pole to lift the corner of the TF to have a bit of porch mode in good weather.

Thunderfly Width: 103"
Winter Dream Width: 116"
Mountainfly Width: 120"
Superfly Width: 120"

I've never had a problem staying dry under either my UGQ Winter Dream 12' or my Thunderfly (11') Both are great tarps, both can secure the doors back to leave open unless it rains.

For a Bridge, I'd seriously consider the added interior room of the UGQ Winter Dream w/ End Pole Mods, as shown below to really open up the interior for that bridge. I've got Dutch Fleaz on the corners, so can go from porch to bunker mode w/o leaving the tarp in about a minute. w/ the WD style, you also don't have to hop out and secure the door winglets like on the Thunder and Mountain fly, but that only takes a few seconds if you prep the lines the night before.

So, I'm not giving you a recommendation, HYOY, it's all personal, but hope this helps w/ a few things to think about. IMO, I would stay away from Hex tarps; I was never able to stay dry in swirling wind/rain. Had a chat w/ Shug, he acknowledged as much.

The UGQ WD is my fav tarp, it's truly a pleasure to camp w/ it w/ the End Pole Mods and interior poles. I bring it to most bwca trips. The Thunderfly is also an awesome tarp and the exterior poles made the interior much better as well, not nearly has open as the interior poles. For this guy 6'3", I find the interior or exterior poles a must (or my back gets sore from bending over to avoid touching a dew laiden tarp ;)

So, if going w/ the TF or MF, I'd recommend the panel pulls so you can use a trekking pole or light tarp poles for the option to have an exterior pole mod. My poles for the TF were direct from Warbonnet, same w/ poles for the UGQ, direct from them
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Good luck w/ your decision, let us know what you decide!

Winter Dream 12

WD12 - setup on a hill, steeper than it looked. Wind/rain came in from the quartering uphill side. This was a great hang, was able to look out at the valley below during the rain w/ the uphill side snugged down to stop the wind/rain. This is one benefit of the WD12 and internal end pole mod i.e. you can "rotate" the tarp at an angle. Can also do that w/ the TF to some extent.


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Thunderfly

I use a 13’ Mountainfly tarp with my WB Ridgerunner hammock.

I use an 11’ Thunderfly tarp with my WB BB XLC hammock.

I think either would work if you got a longer length tarp to cover the generally longer bridge hammock suspension but my recommendation is a 13’ mountainfly…best coverage for a very slight increase in weight.

I have different tarps so no help there, but your moniker is a terrific Nick Drake tune. Terrific album. Wish he was still with us.

I have a WB 13’ custom Superfly with exterior pole mod for Ridgerunner bridge hammock. It has served me well in all kinds of weather on multiple trips.

The UGQ WD is my fav tarp, it's truly a pleasure to camp w/ it w/ the End Pole Mods and interior poles. I bring it to most bwca trips. The Thunderfly is also an awesome tarp and the exterior poles made the interior much better as well, not nearly has open as the interior poles. For this guy 6'3", I find the interior or exterior poles a must (or my back gets sore from bending over to avoid touching a dew laiden tarp ;)

Just purchased UGQ’s WD13 with the end pole mods. I’m planning on using nama claws on my tieouts. I’m thinking the tension the poles give the tarp will make the claws a real treat to use when I go from porch to storm mode. Anyone done this before?

Lawnchair107: "

The UGQ WD is my fav tarp, it's truly a pleasure to camp w/ it w/ the End Pole Mods and interior poles. I bring it to most bwca trips. The Thunderfly is also an awesome tarp and the exterior poles made the interior much better as well, not nearly has open as the interior poles. For this guy 6'3", I find the interior or exterior poles a must (or my back gets sore from bending over to avoid touching a dew laiden tarp ;)

Just purchased UGQ’s WD13 with the end pole mods. I’m planning on using nama claws on my tieouts. I’m thinking the tension the poles give the tarp will make the claws a real treat to use when I go from porch to storm mode. Anyone done this before?"

On my UGQ 12 posted above - I use Dutch's Fleaz larks headed to each corner to achieve the same goal. Works great. I leave the line stuck in the fleaz wing and have a bowline loop at the other end to put a stake thru

Have never used a Nama Claw - no reference there