Hammock for Camping ?

C

coaldigger

Joined
Jan 27, 2007
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I'm thinking about getting a hammock to try for "solo" camping...can you guys that use them post some pics of your set up along with a description of the Hammock & gear used ?
 
I use a Hennesey Expedition Asym with bottom entry and an independent tarp (9.5' x 7.5' silnylon). I bought it because, like many other Henessey users, its widely available in different retail and comes equipped with everything including a tarp (which I don't really like on its own that much). The bottom hole entry takes a bit to get used to but it does have its advantages in super buggy environments, i.e. pretty much all the bugs are shut out whereas zippered models can suffer from letting a few critters in the process of getting and zipping back up.

As you start to look at hammocks you will be struck by the extremely wide variety of companies and models. Consider that some have independent mesh and others it is integrated, some come with a tarp, some don't. Consider the overall weight of the hammock (plus tarp) and its capacity to hold weight. Finally consider the cost. There are also all kinds of add ons like under quilts and winterizing accessories that can be had.

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If I had to do it over again, I might be tempted to consider a Warbonnet Blackbird hammock and thought at one point I might upgrade to it from my Hennesey. Then the cheap bastard in my came out and I decided that the Hennnesey works fine for what I use it for so I'm happy enough with what I have.

I personally like hammocks for buggy conditions. When it gets cold, frozen or bug free I find usually end up going back to ground since the simplicity of insulating from the ground up outweighs the slight comfort advantage of a hammock and all the jury rigging needed to make a hammock comfortable in the cold.
 
I have used this hammock for about 5 years now. I have usedit in temps down 38F and as high as 98F

I use the original straps and the diamond tarp it came with. The tarp is double walled nylon which makes it impossible for mosquito's to bite through. In colder weather it's good to put a sleeping pad under your bag in the hammock
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http://www.mosquitohammock.com/junglehammock.html

There are plenty of pics of the hammock strung up in the link, but here's one of mine in Bivy mode.

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Thanks....I don't want to spend a small fortune on one of these set-ups, my job don't allow me alot of free time so this might get used a couple of times a year. But I've always wanted to give it a try & you only live on this Earth once !
 
I spent some research time over at hammockforums.com That is almost an overload of info but most seem to prefer the warbonnet right now. There is alot of info to be had over there with some nice vids too.
 
check out the eno (eagle nest outfitter) its a smaller company but we've really enjoyed their hammocks for camping
 
I going all out with the hammock setup. I hate sleeping on the ground, I always wake up feeling like I was beat with a sack of rocks.
 
I have the same Hennessy Expedition Asym with bottom entry that kgd mentioned above, but I am using the provided tarp. I used it for the first time on a four day motorcycle camping trip in NH recently, and I found it much more comfortable than a tent. In rainy weather, a larger tarp would improve it's usability by providing a sheltered "porch."

For bottom insulation, I had good results with a car windshield sun reflector instead of a sleeping pad.
 
I have one of the Warbonnet Blackbird hammocks. I love it. I have used it for about two years now, mainly on motorcycle camping trips. It is integrated with a mesh bug screen and the main reason that it liked this design over others is the ability to sleep on my side. Once hung correctly you can lay in any position you can lay in a bed. My warbonnet is a 1.7 double layer on the bottom. The 1.7 is the heavier of the two available sil nylons hammocks.

The coldest I have been down it in it was about 42 degrees. I had a blue closed cell foam pad under me and a sleeping bag. I was warm and toasty. The tarp I use is a 10' x 10' Cooke Custom Sewing tarp, another great product.
 
I have a warbonnet blackbird 1.7 double layer. I have slept in it down to -5 degrees with my warbonnet winter yeti under quilt, half an inch of evasote foam under my legs and feet, warm clothing, 0 degree down sleeping bag, and my backwoods daydreamer winter tarp pulled down tight to the ground. I was warm and toasty all night. The warbonnet hammock is hands down the best as it has a footboy and shelf. If I was buying a tarp right now I would get a Maccat deluxe. Check out hammock forums.net it's awesome.
 
I am going with a Clark jungle hammock. The Warbonnet is top shelf but from my research the Clark does the cold better and I do most of my camping in the colder months (I hate the heat). The storage Pocks alone can take a clark down to 32 degrees and while I am not a fan of the clark insulation the pockets can be stuffed with almost anything from extra clothes to leaves. Pairing that with the winter incubator and winter burrow from Hammock gear I should be able to take my setup in as low temps as I would want to. I am getting a warbonnet superfly Trap I dig the doors and pullouts.


[video=youtube;Jq2sMWPjQZg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2sMWPjQZg&feature=player_embedded[/video]
 
I love hammock camping :) I currently use a Grand Trunk single user hammy with a basic 10x10' camo tarp. Here's a few pics from over Memorial Day.

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Bought the Hammock on Amazon.com here = http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Trunk-Ultralight-Camo-Hammock/dp/B001AIBJSI/ref=pd_sim_sg_4

Hammock Bliss Tree Straps Here = http://www.amazon.com/Hammock-Bliss-Tree-Straps-Hang-Your/dp/B001B4Q0WG/ref=pd_sim_sg_1

I'd also recommend getting two decent quality binners to replace the "S" hooks that comes with most hammocks - http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Neutrino-Carabiner/dp/B000EEGBN2/ref=pd_sim_sg_2

Thanks for reading!

- Bill
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www.hoosierbushcraft.com
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Coaldigger,

You asked us to lay out the gear we use so here we go. My son and I are Hennessey users and think their gear is great. Don't get me wrong there are many other great hammocks out there we just really like the Hennessey.

We both use Expedition Asym hammocks with side zipppers. They are relatively lite and sleep really really great. We wanted a hammock that had integral bug screens an asym shape for easier angle sleeping (angle sleeping equates to laying flater in a hammock) If we had it to do over we would have gotten the slightly bigger Expedition Deluxe or the Safari Deluxe. (all three hammocks mentioned can be found here http://hennessyhammock.com/catalog/#hammock )

Something my son and I did right the first time, I think, is not going with the smaller asym type tarp that came standard with the Expedition Asym hammocks we bought. We purchased the upgrade to the hex shaped rainfly. I believe this is a must. The smaller flys okay unless the wind is blowing the rain with force and where we live/camp it tends to really blow when it rains. A secondary great use for the larger fly is a dry spot to cook and or a great shade spot on a hot sunny afternoon. Hennessey's rainflys can be found here http://hennessyhammock.com/catalog/rainflys/ and you can upgrade flys on all the hammocks to the hex fly for about 20 bucks (although I believe the safari comes standard with the hex fly).

We threw out the standard tree huggers that came with the hennessey. We instead purchased slapstrap pros from ENO which can be found here and many other places http://www.rei.com/product/768731/eno-slapstrap-pro

Then a couple weeks ago I came across this http://youtu.be/1iJTjful66M My son and I purchased carabiners and rappel rings to do the mod and it works unbelievably well. I can now set my hammock up with one hand in about 4 minutes including rainfly. Substantially less with both hands (I had to try just to test if it could be done under severe distress.)

Here is a couple of picks of him swinging on the front porch a couple weeks ago. He says we don't use them enough so he decided to set it up and read in it.
 

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Random pics....I set it up in a weird leanto/Aframe/ canopy setup....Just messing around with a big tarp in a small clearing. Made a neat little camp area. The hammock slung low, groundsheet underneath. If it rained I could drop the front side down if needed.

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View from sitting in hammock like chair...
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Front side of Tarp/hammock.
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When you ditch the undersized diamond fly it really makes a better setup. Ive slept in one of these in temps down in the 30s, and up to 100. I love it. Mine is the Hennesey Expedition like kgds, but mine is a side zip entry.

If you just want one to mess with to see how ya like it. Ya cant go wrong with a skeeter beeter. They are cheap and well made. Its what I used before I upgraded to my Hennesey. Tarp is a BCUSA 10X10
 
Tixx said:
True survival gear!

And you as well.

Was as Shades Park recently. I had never been there before. Really nice area in IN.
Click to expand...

I really like the parks and other wooded areas around Indiana. Lots of places to get away from it all and everything is clean, for the most part. I've never been to Shades park though, I need to check that out. Thanks for the tip :)

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My Blog - www.hoosierbushcraft.com
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