DD SuperLight Tarp Review

Overview

The DD SuperLight Tarp is the featherweight sibling of DD Hammocks’ standard 3 x 3 m tarp: a 3 m x 2.9 m sheet of PU-coated ripstop nylon that weighs 460 g and packs to roughly the size of a large grapefruit. It suits hammock campers who want a rainfly that won’t dominate the pack, and ground sleepers who like the flexibility of a flat tarp. The trade-off is fabric that is clearly thinner than DD’s workhorse tarps, so it rewards a tidy pitch and punishes a sloppy one.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	460 g (excluding pegs and guy lines)
Dimensions	3 m x 2.9 m
Material	Ripstop nylon with PU coating
Waterproof rating	3,000 mm
Attachment points	19 reinforced (16 around the edges and corners, 3 along the central ridge)
Seams	Taped central seam
Packed size	19 x 11 x 8 cm
Shelter type	Hammock tarp or flat ground tarp

Performance

Weather protection. Owners’ accounts are consistently good for a tarp this light. One UK walker reported a two-night wild camp in the Peak District’s Edale area, including a night on Kinder Scout in a gale and heavy rain, and said the tarp stayed up and kept him dry. Another user on a long hike let rainwater pool in a sagging overlap after a storm broke mid-pitch. He could feel the bulge of water pressing on the fabric from inside, and it still didn’t leak through. A 3,000 mm coating is middling by modern standards, but the taped central seam and a properly tensioned pitch seem to be enough for sustained British rain.

Coverage. At 3 m x 2.9 m, the tarp is sized to cover a regular hammock with room to spare, which is why DD sells it as a hammock shelter first. On the ground, the 19 tie-outs allow a range of configurations, from a low storm pitch to an A-frame or an open lean-to. That’s a lot of anchor points for 460 g, and users note that the reinforced loops held up even when pegged directly through them.

Weight and packability. Against DD’s standard 3 x 3 tarp, the SuperLight is noticeably lighter and packs much smaller, a point repeated by UK bushcraft forum members. Some buyers on the Finnish retailer Varuste.net still describe it as a solid basic piece of kit rather than the lightest option available. That’s fair: cuben and silnylon shelters of similar coverage can come in lower, though at a considerably higher price.

Durability. Here the reports are mixed but reassuring. The fabric is thin, and one reviewer noted that some of the ties aren’t double-stitched. He had expected tears and failed tie-outs after hanging the tarp over pressure points such as bushes and pegging through loops. Neither happened. Another buyer said the tarp had lasted well despite the thin material. Still, a buyer reported a surface flaw on a first unit that was replaced, so inspect yours on arrival.

Stretch and drying. Nylon does what nylon does. A Finnish buyer wrote that the tarp stretches as it gets wet and needs re-tensioning during the night, a familiar chore for anyone who has slept under uncoated or silicone-free nylon. Another noted that it doesn’t dry instantly once soaked. Pitch it a little tighter than looks necessary, and expect to tweak a guy line or two before dawn in a prolonged downpour.

Included kit. The tarp is sold with four lightweight pegs, guy lines and a drawcord stuff sack. The 460 g figure excludes the pegs and guy lines, so add a few dozen grams to the carry weight. At least one buyer wished the stuff sack were a bit bigger, which will be familiar to anyone who has tried to repack a damp nylon tarp in the field.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 460 g for a 3 m x 2.9 m sheet, much lighter and smaller than DD’s standard tarp
• 19 reinforced attachment points, including three along the ridge
• Taped central seam; owners report staying dry in gale-driven rain
• Works as a hammock fly or a flat ground tarp
• Packs to 19 x 11 x 8 cm

Cons

• Thin fabric calls for careful pitching and attention to pressure points
• Nylon stretches when wet and may need overnight re-tensioning
• Some ties reported as single-stitched
• 3,000 mm coating is modest compared with premium shelters
• Slow to dry once soaked; stuff sack is snug

Who Should Buy This

Hammock campers who want a light, compact rainfly with real coverage, and solo or paired ground sleepers who are comfortable pitching a flat tarp, will get the most from it. It’s also a sensible lightweight rain shelter for day trips and overnighters in temperate, wet climates. Hikers who expect to pitch in exposed alpine terrain or who dislike mid-night adjustments should consider a heavier, more robust tarp. So should anyone who wants a fully enclosed shelter with bug protection.

Verdict

The DD SuperLight Tarp delivers generous coverage and a lot of pitching flexibility for 460 g, and owners report it holding up to storms better than its thin fabric suggests. It isn’t the lightest or toughest tarp in its class, but it’s an easy recommendation for hammock campers and tarp-curious backpackers who want a light, packable shelter without a premium price.