Calling Hammock and Tarp Campers

I think if you choose carefully with an eye towards avoiding widowmakers, this could really be something great.
 
Rotte said:


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):

608675361_GpNe5-L.jpg


Because the line runs through the 'biner and back you get a 2:1 mechanical advantage--essentially doubling the force you can tighten with.
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That is a perfect example of why I instantly hate all of the "wannabe" and "mall ninja" commentary when it comes to carrying carabiners and some other equipment when you are not necessarily going to be rapelling, etc.

Thanks for posting that. I'll have to practice that one and commit it to memory. It looks like a really good way to secure a lot of different things, not just a hammock.
 
I always have a couple of lightweight carabiners hanging from my pack - they come in handy in a variety of practical ways. But I digress.

About 10 years ago I discovered the joys of hammock-camping. Mine is pretty simple - just a double-sized hammock made of parachute silk, and it's comfortable as can be. I have a sleeping bag rated to 20degrees, and I can sleep comfortably without any additional insulation underneath my body down to about 35-40. Anything below that and it gets uncomfortable. In the warm summer months I replace the sleeping bag with one of those "DreamSack" silk bags - not so much for warmth, but mainly to keep the mosquitos off. The parachute silk isn't waterproof, but it's water-resistant, and the hammock is large enough that if I angle my body properly it envelopes me, like some human taco, and repels light rain/heavy dewfall. The only negative is the "slippery" - that slick surface-to-surface contact between a modern sleeping bag and the parachute-silk hammock.....if I don't have the hammock hung perfectly level, I find that I tend to "slide" to the bottom during the night and I awake in a crumpled heap at the "foot" of the damn thing. lol

Like the OP, I go camping with my dogs in tow, so I carry a small, portable dog bed for them made by RuffWear. I have two bungee-style expandable leashes, and I'll tether a dog to each of my hammock's support trees, with that dog bed on the ground underneath. The dogs have a place to sleep, I have a place to stand in my barefeet until I can get my shoes on for those middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom, and if any critters/intruders approach the campsite, the dogs alert me when they pull their leashes taut and my whole hammock shakes. Not a bad setup. I also have a waterproof bivy sack that's lightweight and small that I sometimes carry if there's a chance of rain, in which case I sleep UNDER the hammock on that dog bed/pad, protected partially by the hammock above and inside that bivy sack. If I'm "car camping", I take along my little tent, set it up on the first day, and flee inside if and when the rains come. So far it's never been an issue.

About that Hennessey Hammock - it's a great idea and works wonderfully - EXCEPT if you're like me, getting older, likes to drink a few beers around the campfire, and sometimes wake up in the middle of the cold dark night needing to pee. Then getting out of that thing in a hurry is a real pain in the arse. Unzipping and escaping the sleeping bag, then maneuvering around to find that exit "slot" that your own bodyweight is pulling closed can get tricky when you're groggy to begin with. God help you in a real emergency.

I'm heading up to Michigan's UP in a month, and I've bought a Kelty Noah's Tarp 12x12 that I plan on experimenting with, along with the trusty hammock. I'll let you know how it goes.

KD
 
oruacat2 said:
I always have a couple of lightweight carabiners hanging from my pack - they come in handy in a variety of practical ways. But I digress.

About 10 years ago I discovered the joys of hammock-camping. Mine is pretty simple - just a double-sized hammock made of parachute silk, and it's comfortable as can be.
KD
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Where did you get yours??
 
Great information guys! Thanks a lot! I've got so much research to do now.....

Rotte..you da man!

Thanks oruacat2....kick azz name you got there I might add.

I can tell I'm gonna dig this set up....and making it right is gonna be fun too.

:D
 
jeff_c said:
REI seems to have a few models of "nicer" hammocks than what I have. Mine is an old CHEAP (under 10.00) nylon mesh one. I may try an nicer one...

http://www.rei.com/product/783003

or

http://www.rei.com/product/754769

or

http://www.rei.com/product/736088
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I have the second one (ENO Singlenest.) I got it after my Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter fell apart. I've replaced each steel biner with two SMC aluminum rappelling rings to form a buckle for webbing. I then had Strapworks.com sew a 6" loop in each end of a 30' length of 1" polypro webbing. I cut that in half and now I have tree straps that adjust length easily with the rings. I can hang anyplace with two trees less than 25' apart. Plus I saved some weight getting rid of the biners!

A lot of info here: http://www.hammockforums.net/
 
I've been pretty interested in hammock camping since I first saw a Hennessy hammock on Youtube. I'm going to get the set-up for it this year and hopefully get out and have some fun. I was looking at these http://www.treklightgear.com/catalog/pc/home.asp. They have some nice stuff on that site. The hammocks look great too. Here's a video about the Double Sized Hammock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOHuy15MAQ. Pretty cool looking set-up. Seems easy, and customizable.
 
I have always had a love affair with hammocks, looks like there's no better time than the present to indulge.
 
Hey johnspark,
Do you use your Falcon II to carry the hammock? Post a pic if you can loaded into your pack.
 
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
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This!

With a little wind or a misty rain you'll get wet if that tarp isn't lowered. It can get a little clausterphobic but it's better then hypothermia.

also...

I'll second the eno hammocks. They're great and really light. Their "slap-straps" are worth the money and make it quick and easy to set up.
 
milani74 said:
Hey johnspark,
Do you use your Falcon II to carry the hammock? Post a pic if you can loaded into your pack.
Click to expand...

M..

The trek light hammock folds into it's attached stuff sack, and compresses down to about the size of a kids nerf football. I have the hammock, a 7x9 tarp and a skeeter net stuffed in the PF2 and I still have room for lots of gear, food, and water. Putting it all in the falcon 2 would leave you lots of room for other items.

I'll take some pics when I get the chance.
 
You guys are doing a damn fine job of converting me! lol, that seems to be the way to go.:thumbup:
Im going to look into getting one.
 
The only real problem with camping hammocks is the requirement for adequate trees where you'd like to camp. Tents are more versatile to site.
 
milani74 said:
Hey johnspark,
Do you use your Falcon II to carry the hammock? Post a pic if you can loaded into your pack.
Click to expand...


IMG_0795.jpg


IMG_0796.jpg




The visible contents:

Trek Light Hammock
Mosquito Net - Not made for the hammock, that one is on the way.
7x9 Tarp with paracord
Brown bag contains personal hygene items, sharpener, magnifying lens, batteries, lighter, 100% deet bug spray, lip balm, film canister with aspirn and other otc meds.
FAK: contains the contents of a pocket survival kit, plus my mods and first aid stuff. (small bills for emergency money)
GPS
Multitool
The white tube is a Hobo Fishing kit I'm testing out this weekend.
Bandana
 
I personally would NOT buy the Hennessey Hammock....

Tom Hennessey has repeatedly patented commonly used hammocking ideas, and then tried to force everyone else to stop using them with threats of lawsuits. He even claimed, on several occasions, that his patents even prevented DIY hobbyists from building hammocks which used his "proprietary" designs for their own personal hammocks. The guy is a jerk.


If you want an all-in-one hammock, with a built in bug net and a lot of other really cool features, you need go no further than http://warbonnetoutdoors.net . Get Brandon to make you a Warbonnet Blackbird, and you will own the best hammock on the market right now. There's a reason his hammock is EASILY the most popular model amongst the members at hammockforums.net.
 
Those are great set ups there MustardMan.

I've got my new bug net from TL...I'm going to try it out this weekend. I'll post the pics when I get back.
 
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