Hammocks ?

[MoBill122]

Anyone using Hammocks to sleep in ?    Tired of lugging this tent, when I see something that seems to be better.

What's everyone think of them ?  Prices ? etc ?

[sam4msu]

Yes, I sleep in a Speer Hammock.  I love it, have never been more comfortable while backpacking.  The only limitation I know of is for stomach sleepers.  If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at sam4msu@nehp.net.

 

[noladiver]

I have an ENO double nest hammock with a Large Dry Fly rain cover. I am in the process of weening myself off my tent until then I lug both when I go backpacking. Eventually I will be hammock only. The hammock = $50 Straps = $30  dry fly = $80    My friends all have one we each have "our" color. ill upload a picture of our camp  from Saturday if you want we had 4 hammocks flying.

[Lostsheep]

I use a Hennessey Hammock and really enjoy it, except for cold weather. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it. Look for them on clearence from their website before you buy. It'll save you quite the money.

[noladiver]

Here ya go Bear this was taken on saturday on trail 209 on the Sipsey.
 I was also looking for the pic. from our hammock party we hung 5 in the living room of my apartment not long ago.

Hammocks ?

[Lostsheep]

Nola, we must have passed each other somewhere along FT209 in the Sispey and didn't realize it.

We left from Ship Rock (9am) heading SW along FT 209 and camped near Fall Creek Falls (4:30) on Sat night. We took a side trip up to Bee Branch on the way too.

Somehow we missed each other...

By the way, here's the Hennessey Hammock Ultralight Asym for you to see The rainfly is not on in this photo either.

[noladiver]

Lost, You guys were ahead of us by 2 hours I would guess. I see you have a sleeping pad on your pack do you use that in the hammock? Also what do you do when hammock camping in cold weather? Sorry for the hijack OP

[Lostsheep]

That's an older photo of my setup, but yes, I do use a pad in the hammock in the cooler months.

The pad in that photo weighed nearly 3lbs so I ditched it for a much lighter one! A thermarest prolite 3.

In the cooler months, I tend to wear an insulated underwear shirt, boxers, sleep in the 20* bag, and use the prolite 3 inside the hammock with me, and I'm very toasty warm that way! It seems to help block out that wind coming from the bottom and keep the insulation there after compressing the bottom throughout the night.

I'm working on an "underpad" currently, but haven't gotten the materials yet. My idea is to sew a "sleeve" to the bottom of the hammock so the pad will be on the outside of the hammock instead of the inside. Should still work. I can purchase the whole setup from hennessey, but what's the fun of that when I can make it for much cheaper?

What/How do you stay warm in the cooler months?

[noladiver]

I have not converted to hammock only yet so I usually crawl in the tent. For just hanging around in camp when its freezing outside we hang the hammocks closer to the fire. Ill keep this in mind for next winter.

[Skippy]

MoBill, I have been hanging for about 5 years now and I love it. I sleep so much better than I did when I was  tent  camping.Some of the advantages to hanging are that you can find a spot to hang almost anywhere and you can cut your weight  almost in half if you carry a 2 man tent but not quite as much if you carry a solo tent. I have a Clark but they are a little pricey around 300 bucks. The ENO's are a good first hammock to buy to see if you likehangingSome of the other makes are Hennessey,Speer,Tom Claytor and there are probably some more out there that I missed.

If you are going to cold weather camp a underquilt sure makes a difference!! I just bought a Jacks R Better underquilt  and have used it a couple of times  down to 25 degrees and stayed warm in my long johns and my sleeping bag used as a topquilt It can be a challenge sometimes if you try to crawl in your bag. Another advantage that I like is if it is raining you can pack all of your gear up and leave your rain fly deployed and keep everything dry until you are ready to go and then just take the fly down and stuff it inside oneof the pack's outside pockets.

This past January I went to a winter hangout in Greyson Highlands Va. and saw a little bit ofeverything out there. Iwas very impressed with the JRB Bridge Hammock. You can actually lay flat in this one.It also has a sleeve built on the bottom of your hammock so you can slide your pad in  and not have to lay directly on it.The pad is only used as insulation  to keep your backside warm. That one will be my next hammock.The rain fly on that one also gives excellent coverage.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.
Brett

[MoBill122]

U-TUBE has a bunch of video's on hammocks I found earlier too

[noladiver]

Wow skippy I had no idea there was so hammock culture out there.  Thanks for that informative post.

[Lostsheep]

Nola/MoBill, next time you decide to hit some trails, let me know and I'll try to meet you to let you demo my hammock. I have no problems with it. Mine specifically is the Ultralight Backpacker Asym which will allow you to sleep on your side or back with comfort.

Here's a like to Hennessy Hammock's main page that will show you some Demos. Very cool design if I do say so myself.

Their weakness is the cold weather, but several have taken it that low by adding insulation to the underside. I'm still working on mine actually.

[Skippy]

another good site to learn about hammocks is hammock Forums.com
lot's of really good info!!
MoBill I also have a extra hammock that you could borrow to see if you like hanging.

Anyone interested in a overnighter this weekend to Sipsey or a section on the Pinhoti?

[Lostsheep]

Can't go this weekend, but hopefully soon again!

[lawnmowwer]

 I can't make this weekend eather. I have to much work to do. Woo Hoo I am starting to make money again. I just hope it keeps raining this summer.

[noladiver]

Nola diver is diving in Pelham. I do like to hang for a lunch break on my surface interval though. Next weekend I was kicking around a hiking trip to the Sipsey

[Chris]

I slept in a Hennesse hammock for a while. Personally for me a couldn't get a good night's rest in it. I guess I'm a ground person!  8)

[MoBill122]

 HikerTrash...

 I thought you joined the Service  and was shipping out or something

[MoBill122]

 I bought a Skeeter Beeter Camo Hammock from Campo.... hopefully it will work out ok for me.

 Probably throw me out on the ground and break my back first night ! <G>

[Lostsheep]

Do you have a link Mobill? Tell us a little about it? I started w/ the wide fishnet like hammock from Walmart, but eventually it didn't hold up and I constantly got tangled in it...I went straight for the Hennessey from that.

My one gripe about Hennessey is climbing out in the mornings. If you don't have your boots right, you'll step on wet ground, and sometimes if feels kind of like being reborn!

[MoBill122]

Here is the link to the Campo page

https://www.campmor.com/w...40000000226&langId=-1

[Lostsheep]

Looks like a steal actually. Glad to hear you have one. Now try it out and see what you think of it and let us know. Looks like a very nice piece, and for $50, you can't beat it.

[MoBill122]

Well...since I'm a short little 160lb person, maybe it will hold me without falling apart to soon !   LOL

[Chris]

HikerTrash...

 I thought you joined the Service  and was shipping out or something

I am leaving July 28.