Hammock Advice From the Beckerheads?

james terrio

james terrio

Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
Joined
Apr 15, 2010
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At the Beckerhead Gathering last fall, 1066vik introduced me to the joys of swinging in the woods, and I loved it!

Wait... that sounds totally wrong. :eek:

What I mean is, he lent me a hammock to use for the weekend, and I found it both easy to set up and quite comfortable, as well as being lighter/packing up smaller than a one-person tent.

So much so, that I have since gotten my own, and my wife (after hearing me brag about it) wants her own hammock rig for weekend camping excursions.
So, I need some advice and sources from you cats and kittens about where to find a good deal on one for Miss Angie, and what we should look for/be wary of. Pics of your rigs are very strongly encouraged! :)
 
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The only one I've used is the Hennesy Expedition zipper model. I've spent few weekends in it and much prefer it over sleeping on the ground. I like the fact that it has built in bug netting too.
 
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My hammock on the right, my brother's tent on the left.
 
Needs an Off-Topic tag, JEEEZZZ :P

My mind went to all kinds of jokes when I saw the title, let alone the first line.

I'll suffice to say that the BK4 looks most like a hammock. There, you have some Becker content :P
 
I just ordered an ENO doublenest over the weekend, should be here Monday. And i went with the atlas straps for the woods and got an indoor hanging kit as well for my living room.

No real experience using it yet sorry. But ill share what i have noticed so far.....

Like said, i got the ENO DN, and the atlas straps already..... now im planning on buying an Eno guardian bug net next month, and a rain fly eventually as well... This totals out over 200 bucks.

You definitely want a bug net if your in an area with skeeters and crap (most the US) so thats about a MUST, and the rain fly is important in bad weather..... but a cheap tarp will work..... Then if it gets cold when/where you are you need to think about an under quilt as well and these can cost hundreds by themselves, of course you can make your own too if your so inclined...........But when you add it all up it costs more than every family tent i have ever bought. And even though they say it fits 2 people... Really only one person will sleep comfortably in it most the time from what i have been reading.

Im just saying all this so you dont do what i did and order a hammock and think thats all "ill" need to go camping LMAO Now if you get one thats a hammock with a built in bug net and tarp as 1 package you will be set, but again the decent ones, that i have seen anyway, are going to cost some serious coinage.

Im still happy i chose the ENO, because buying piece by piece each month is easier on my wallet than buying one of the $200+ setups i have seen that are well made and come as a package.
 
I like the Hennesseys because they're rock solid and they come as a complete kit.
You get an excellent hammock, netting, fly, and straps. Everything is ready to go and designed to work together.
I use a Hennessey Ultralite Explorer. I did upgrade to the larger fly and have never regretted that decision.

P1050512.jpg
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
What counts as a "decent one"?

<---Total hammock noob (or ^, since the name appears above).
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I have no idea LMAO Total NOOB as well. I havent even laid in one yet HAHAHA

But it looks like the Hennesseys and Warbonnets are some good ones... And as a package look a little cheaper in the long run than piecing it together........ I just didnt think things out very well... As per usual :D
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Needs an Off-Topic tag, JEEEZZZ :P

My mind went to all kinds of jokes when I saw the title, let alone the first line.
Click to expand...

You're right, I just added the off-topic icon... sorry if I offended anyone with my smart-alec first line. I was just trying to be a bit humorous. :o

I posted this here because I know several Beckerheads have lots of experience with camping hammocks, so this is where I come for advice on the matter. Hopefully this discussion will be helpful to others as well. Thank you all for your input!
 
james terrio said:
You're right, I just added the off-topic icon... sorry if I offended anyone with my smart-alec first line. I was just trying to be a bit humorous. :o

I posted this here because I know several Beckerheads have lots of experience with camping hammocks, so this is where I come for advice on the matter. Hopefully this discussion will be helpful to others as well. Thank you all for your input!
Click to expand...
I'm offended that you changed the first line! It was better the way it was.
 
Hey WW,(and everyone else that cares) I'd recommended not getting an eno rain fly to go with it, from everything I've read and seen they are barely big enough to cover your hammock, like 1 or 2 inches on each end, I'd recommend going with the Hennessy hammock hex fly, it's about the same price but a lot bigger, I've used it in huge rain storms with 30mph winds and it's held up fine
 
Guyon said:
I like the Hennesseys because they're rock solid and they come as a complete kit.
You get an excellent hammock, netting, fly, and straps. Everything is ready to go and designed to work together.
I use a Hennessey Ultralite Explorer. I did upgrade to the larger fly and have never regretted that decision.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, thank you!

Chameleonbear said:
I'm offended that you changed the first line! It was better the way it was.
Click to expand...

I'm offended that you think I changed the first line. It can't possibly have been "better" the way it "was", because it's still the same as the first time I posted it... I didn't change anything except add the off-topic thing to the thread title. :confused:

;)
 
james terrio said:
You're right, I just added the off-topic icon... sorry if I offended anyone with my smart-alec first line. I was just trying to be a bit humorous. :o

I posted this here because I know several Beckerheads have lots of experience with camping hammocks, so this is where I come for advice on the matter. Hopefully this discussion will be helpful to others as well. Thank you all for your input!
Click to expand...

I was just razzing ya. I am interested in this topic too, and found the smart-alec line very entertaining. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

-edit- Is there such a thing as a two person hammock? They're comfortable, but I don't think the wife and I would like the notion of sleeping alone.
 
I have used a ENO double nest with an aftermarket rainfly and straps without any complaints. However, before I got the ENO, I tried some lower end units from the big box marts. And while most of them are affordable they are cheaply constructed and will tear or fail after limited use. Furthermore, the boxmart cheapos don't come with straps or a rain fly so if you go that route you will have to rig something up. If you are interested in a quality hammock, I would look in to the ENO or Hennessey...but I will warn you they are not inexpensive but they are well built.
 
spikebot587 said:
Hey WW,(and everyone else that cares) I'd recommended not getting an eno rain fly to go with it, from everything I've read and seen they are barely big enough to cover your hammock, like 1 or 2 inches on each end, I'd recommend going with the Hennessy hammock hex fly, it's about the same price but a lot bigger, I've used it in huge rain storms with 30mph winds and it's held up fine
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions bud, i will check them out, and once i get ready to order one i might go with that instead of the ENO. For now im going to use a cheapo blue tarp though :D .


Gosh the mailman needs to bring me my hammock already... I got the indoor hanging kit already setup and the anchors mounted in my living room. So i dont have to wait until i get outside to try it out.
 
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