Ditch the tarp, keep the bug net

Skip the rain fly entirely. You don’t need it in warm, dry weather.

The ideal warm-weather, no-fly setup is a hammock with an integrated bug net (like a Warbonnet Blackbird XLC or a Dutchware Chameleon) and a lightweight suspension — whoopie slings or continuous loops with tree straps. No tarp means less weight, less bulk, and better airflow. You’ll sleep cooler without nylon overhead trapping heat.

If you’re worried about a stray breeze or early morning chill, bring a lightweight top quilt (or just a fleece blanket) and skip the underquilt — in 70°F+ nights your sleeping bag or a cheap inflatable pad under you is overkill. Just watch the weather. I’ve watched friends get caught in an unexpected shower and spend the night huddled under a trash bag. That’s not camping, that’s problem solving.

Check the radar before you leave the tarp at home.