Eno hammock

dogwood dan

dogwood dan

Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
925
After a 10-12 year break I am heading back into the woods ( one tour in the infantry =10+ years of not wanting to be hot/ cold, hungry, thirsty, dirty, bug bitten so on)

I used to use a "fishing net hammock" with a rain fly, but while looking around I notice the eno hammocks that seem to be every thing I had and better. Does anybody have first hand knowledge using one, Do they still use them? would they buy them again, what is the good and the bad? ( Pleas keep in mind that I spend most of my time in north Ga. So summers are hot and winters are not too bad)


Thank you for your time and help

Dan
 
Hi Dan,
I hammock camp, but have not used an eno. I'd do a google search for hammock forums. There is so much information on that site about hammocks, it might be next summer before you actually buy one.
 
I'd get something with built-in bug netting, since there's a 100% chance you'll need that. I've only looked at and played with a few hammocks by ENO, Grand Trunk, and Hennessy that friends have. Noone seems to have any complaints about any of them. A friend has several ENOs, and used one when we hiked together for 3 days last fall with a tarp and underquilt. The ENO bug net weighs and costs almost as much as the hammocks themselves, plus they don't come with a tarp, so getting started with an ENO sounds good for the low initial price, but in the end I think you spend more money, AND end up with a heavier package than necessary. Same for some of the Grand Trunks, though that Ultralight Skeeter Beater with netting is tempting to try, since it's so cheap. Cheap is more of a red flag for me than a turn-on, though.

Was just reading a book by an acquaintance about his AT thru-hike, and he had to ditch the cheap hammock and bivy sack he started with. He bought a Hennessy Ultralite Asym with attached bug netting, and included fly, and loved it. That's what I was looking at already, and will probably buy if I get a hammock next year, except I'd get the zippered one, while his has bottom entry. My understanding is that if you buy straight from Hennessy, you can opt for a larger tarp than the standard one, which is kind of skimpy.
The Warbonnet Blackbird is another popular model that has more available options, but doesn't come with a tarp. I'm also considering the lighter weight double layer one that sandwiches your pad between two bottom layers so that it doesn't move around. Doesn't come with a tarp, but I like the idea of using it in cooler weather without having to buy an underquilt.
Hennessy:
http://hennessyhammock.com/catalog/#hammock
Warbonnet Blackbird:
http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php
 
Owen said it dead on, I am a Hennessy hammock fan, I own 3 of them. I would not mind getting a clark jungle hammock, but dam, they cost almost as much as my Kifaru shelters, yet weigh more than the HH, etc, so Ill stay HH for a while, more so when you can pick them up on sale, at REI and use your dividend, or on Amazon when sales are occurring. I went bottom entry since that is all they had at the time. personally I would still go bottom entry since you get less bugs in them, but later if you decide, you can have the hammock modded to have zips on either side or on both, or even completely remove the bug net. One thing you need to remember, not everyone can sleep in a hammock, so if you can borrow one first, I would. Second, since your floating in the air, you loose heat everywhere and thus why under quilts pads mylar blankets etc as so common place for someone who hammocks alot. The lowest I have heard a hammock being used is -26F by shug on hammock forums. Personally near 30, I would opt to just take a kifaru shelter and stove that I own (one of the 4) since at 30f no bugs to mess with, plus its heated, plus by that point with all the insulation etc of the hammock the kifaru weighs less. But on late spring, summer and early fall camping hammock are the shit, more so if you have alot of bugs. Some of my photos (FYI, the std HH tarp is okay but it does have a learning curve, the larger tarps just make it that much more better in heavy rain, but they weigh and cost more. Its a trade off. You can see the difference in the std tarp vs the large hex they sell, the under and over quilt are both by Jacks-R-Better. And so be it they cost a bit, they are VERY nice, and the nest can be used as a outter garment, more so if wearing a poncho, recommend a few feet of shock cord or 550 cord to help secure it all.

10.JPG

HH1.JPG

HH4.JPG
 
I'd by them again. Allaround a multi-use piece of lightweight and relatively cheap equipment. They can make a great camp chair, a cover for your woodpile in the rain, a tarp over your bivvy in the event of a rain, and if you educate yourself well on setup techniques, can provide some good sleeping. I think I paid 18 dollars for mine.
 
I have an ENO Single nest, Guardian bug net and Slap Straps. All work as advertised, functioning as designed. Would I buy them again? No. The hammock is 2' shorter than I should have for a really comfortable hang and came with ridiculously heavy steel carabiners. The Slap Straps are nylon and stretch. The bug net is heavy, though I do appreciate the complete coverage provided. Mosquitoes have been known to bite through lightweight fabrics, so having a bug net that hangs away from and encapsulates the hammock is worth it.

With what I have invested in those 3 ENO items, I could have bought a used thread injector (women call them 'sewing machines') and a whole lot of materials and built my own, to my specifications and have money left over for making other items like suspensions, quilts or tarps.

The DIY scene is very strong in hammock circles. There are plans for darn near everything available online, and a thread injector is relatively easy to use (15 year old males surrounded by 15 year old females can manage it...). Materials are available at fabric or craft stores, or online. And there is the satisfaction of making it yourself that is impossible to buy!

HTH,
Dave
 
I use an ENO doublenest hammock. most of my camping is in north Ga. also. I mostly camp in the fall & spring, so I dont have much problems with bugs. you can get a net to hang over your hammock. I sometimes hang a "Off "brand clipon(bug fan) on the end of the hammock & I never have a problem.
 
I have an ENO double nest that i use form time to time and i love it, the slap straps are a good idea though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top