LOVE MY ENO HOUSEFLY – GREAT ALONE OR OVER MY TENT

AT31 041715 — We were expecting(and received) some serious rainfall on this trip on the Appalachian Trail. So I opted to take my ENO Housefly along with my MSR Hubba tent without rainfly.

Laurel Fork Creek in the Big South Fork!

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I have several hammocks that I take on different occasions; for different seasons and for different reasons. My smaller hammocks are generally intended as options in case there isn’t enough flat ground for my tent; or there just isn’t enough room for my tent when I’m with a group; or I’m going for that no pressure point comfort. But when I’m going with one of my big hammocks and leaving the tent at home I usually take one of my big tarps. These consist of a Kelty Noah’s 12X12 Tarp and an EQUINOX EGRET 8X10 TARP which are both great tarps but they are standard tarps with no doors. I’ve also got a SEA TO SUMMIT ULTRA-SIL TARP PONCHO that I almost always take with me in conjunction with GRAND TRUNK NANO 7 HAMMOCK for lightweight backup to a tent. But I’m always looking for better options.

Now, I’ve yet to convert to tarp camping like some of my friends and I’m not sure I ever will go that route because I like the idea of my space being enclosed and defined. So, I started doing some research and looking at my options and came across tarps that have built in doors (primitive, non-zip doors) and it piqued my interest. This tarp with doors was exactly what I was looking for so I did some digging and found a few manufacturers that sell tarps with doors. Then I researched the cost/weight factors and decided on which one I could afford. I decided on the ENO Housefly because I have a few ENO products that are great quality so I was confident that I wouldn’t be disappointed if I purchased the Housefly.

My ENO Housefly over my MSR Hubba 1 tent at our Friday campsite just South of Butter Gap on Kuykendall Creek in the Pisgah National Forest

I figured, with this ENO Housefly I could possibly make my hammock and tent combo even smaller and lighter. Currently, on a typical spring or fall trip I pack my MSR Hubba Tent, Sea To Summit Silnylon Tarp Poncho and Grand Trunk Nano 7 Hammock which all add up to about 5.8 pounds. If I substitute one of the Tarp Tents for the MSR Hubba Tent then I could easily take off 2. But if I take the ENO Housefly, Tyvek and my Grand Trunk Nano 7 Hammock I can eliminate about 3 pounds and still have my tent/hammock option. This would still be too heavy for my ultra-light friends but I like my comfort and this arrangement works for me.

I’m also checking out the shelters from Tarp Tent because they are extremely light and would actually be a little better protection than this tarp but with a slight weight gain.

Here is some information on the ENO HOUSEFLY TARP…..

Part rain tarp, part luxurious waterproof fortress, the ENO HouseFly rain tarp features silicon-impregnated nylon sides that keep you warm, dry and comfortable while you lounge in your hammock.

Specification	Description
Best use	Backpacking
Seasons	3-season
Sleeping capacity	1-person
Weight	1 lb. 9 oz.
Weight – metric	0.7 kilogram
Packaged weight	1 lb. 9 oz.
Packed size	5.5 x 11 inches
Dimensions	126 x 120 inches
Dimensions – metric	3.2 x 3 meters
Floor dimensions	Not applicable
Floor dimensions – metric	Not applicable
Covered area	126 x 120 inches
Peak height	Variable
Peak height – metric	Variable
Number of doors	2 doors
Number of poles	Not applicable
Pole material	Not applicable
Pole diameter	Not applicable
Canopy fabric	Silicone-coated nylon
Design type	Non-freestanding