Calling Hammock and Tarp Campers

johnspark

johnspark

Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Messages
611
Hey guys,

Juniorspark and I took a walk down to Goldmine Lake today. We were looking for wild edibles and the local animals. We also wanted to see what became of the shelter I built for the "Hasty Shelter" competition thread.

We found lots of black berries and grapes. The green acorns are out too. I found several things that I'm still trying to identify, but they are probably not edible. Anyway here is a picture of what's left of the shelter.

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Here is the reason for the thread title. I haven't ever used the tarp and hammock set up before, so junior and I took some time to get some practice on the set up. Take a look at these and let me know what I'm doing right or wrong. Thanks.

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Junior also learned a good lesson today. He laid his new Buck folder on the ground and walked away for a minute. When he returned he didn't see it right away and was looking around for it. Once he saw it he quickly reached for it and at the same time he stepped on a stick which was partially under the knife. It turned the blade upward toward him as he was grabbing it. He has a nice little puncture wound on his hand. He didn't even say anything when he did it. I noticed the blood running down his arm and immediately came over. At that point we started first aid training. :D There was no need for stitches and he is doing fine now.

Alrighty, let's talk tarps and hammocks!
 
Sooooo glad you brought this up.

I want to get into camping, but (a) my back gets tweaked out easily, and (b) I'm not sure I like the bulk and weight of tents and sleeping pads.
 
If you overnight in a hammock, you still need an insulation layer on the "floor" of the hammock for the same reason that bridges ice up faster than the surface roadways. You'll radiate all of your heat away to the colder outside and you'll compress your bag too much against the environment without a pad or something else to absorb and re-radiate the heat you otherwise lose.
 
Yes it's an open hammock. I have the skeeter net coming soon.

As far as staying warm goes, I was thinking about a bivy bag or a lightweight reflective blanket.
 
I'd go with at least a thin foam pad. You'll need something with insulative value to offset the crush of airspace out of the bottom of your sleeping bag, not just the thermal redirection.
 
Boats is right. A closed cell foam pad or air mattress (Big Agnes rock) are really important in cold weather camping. Your body weight compresses the bag's insulation and you will lose a lot of heat through the hammock. In summer, I can often get away with just the hammock, tarp, and a woobie--works great. Fewer concerns about bugs crawling all over you in the night or waking up in a rain puddle.

And try to get the hammock really taut. If it sags too much your back will remind you the next morning. I tie one end of the hamock to a fixed point, e.g. tree, then set up a trucker's hitch with a carabiner for a pulley at the other end and pull it tight. The carabiner let's you pull it taut with out pulling rope against rope (sure recipe for disaster).
 
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Do you cut the pad to fit the shape of the hammock or just let it fill out however it lays?



I like the tarp set up. I will probably have to get a bigger tarp though, mine is 7x9.
 
NorCalMtn2 said:
Anyone interested in hammock camping should check out these guys. All kinds of options from ultra-light to 4 season extreme to military.
http://hennessyhammock.com/
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Dooooood, those look great. Have you used one? Anybody used one?

I just use a string-type hammock--stuff the ground pad into it in colder weather--but those Hennessy Hammocks look like the cat's proverbial meow. Meeeeeeeow.

 
Good tips here already. I did an overnighter last night with a tarp my buddy made up for me, skeeter net( afterall it is summer here in Texas), and hammock. The Texas heat is punishing and this is the only way to go, besides a RV with full hookups. :D Will post pics at a later time.
 
+ 1 on the Hennessy
I got mine last year, they had a buy 1 get 1 free deal!
Rat Pack #141
 
Hi!

that looks very comfortably.

I would take care that the hammock doesn´t stickout under the tarp, otherwise rain will follow the way to your backside :eek:


ciao
diak
 
Rotte said:


I tie one end of the hamock to a fixed point, e.g. tree, then set up a trucker's hitch with a carabiner for a pulley at the other end and pull it tight. The carabiner let's you pull it taut with out pulling rope against rope (sure recipe for disaster).
Click to expand...

can you explain how you tie a "trucker's with a carabiner for a pulley"?

thanks
 
Those Hammocks look absolutely great! My Dad had a plaid Hammock, looked like a Scottish Tartan Net gone totally mad. I loved that thing. You had to put a stick of Dynamite under it to get him out of it when we went camping and that thing is so primitive compared to these Hammocks.
 
spyken said:
can you explain how you tie a "trucker's with a carabiner for a pulley"?

thanks
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There are a couple web sites that can explain this better than I can, but I'll give it a shot. :D I've seen different ways to tie the trucker's hitch,
but this has worked for me and is very easy to untie. Since I put my hammock up and take it down daily, I like to be able to get my knots undone. ;)

Here is a picture of the final 'knot' (The line runs around the tree on the left, our hypothetical hammock would be attached to the line on the right):

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Because the line runs through the 'biner and back you get a 2:1 mechanical advantage--essentially doubling the force you can tighten with.
The conventional trucker's hitch just runs the end of the line back through the loop or 'bight'. This will work, but the problem is that when
you pull one rope against another you create friction which can weaken or cut the rope. BAD. The 'biner reduces the friction.

So, with one end tied to a fixed point, take the other end and give it 3-4 twists to form a loop:

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Second, make a second loop or bight and pull it through the first. Snug the coils of the first loop down and tighten:

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Now you can snap the biner in place, run the end of the line around a fixed point, e.g. tree in this case, and back through the 'biner.

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I usually make the trucker's hitch fast with a couple of half-hitches. The first is a quick release half-hitch (just a loop pulled under itself).
Make sure your half-hitches are well snugged down or you'll wake up folded in half with yer ass on the ground. :D

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This rig is strong-enough to carry you through most hurricanes and reduces friction and line wear. In short, it is "the bomb".
 
diak said:
Hi!

that looks very comfortably.

I would take care that the hammock doesn´t stickout under the tarp, otherwise rain will follow the way to your backside :eek:


ciao
diak
Click to expand...

When I rig mine, I actually set it all very close. But a lot of it depends on the weather. If its not threatening rain, but you want to keep the dew off you, you can rig the tarp a little higher and it will allow more ventilation.

When I started backpacking, the hammock was the way to go! But then I got into tents... now Im trying to go back to minimalist packing so the hammock comes back into play! They are great for Summers in Ga. The snake threat is somewhat mitigated and its a very dry way of camping! ;)

Also, you can store your pack up under you and it can stay dry too!
 
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