Hammock for Camping ?

Thanks everyone ! I'm still looking around for a good deal on a set-up ! I don't want to put alot into it until I see how I'm gonna like it !
 
PROS of hammock camping are that you can accomplish a comfortable nights sleep (more comfortable than any tent camping I've done) and most of the time do it with lighter weight on your back. Also, it eliminates the need for a sleeping pad, which is additional weight/space savings. Finding two trees that will work is less difficult than you think, and can create some real versatility with where you can camp, because you don't have to worry about what's on the ground or find a flat place to camp, etc. Also, by using a tarp you have a HUGE vestibule area so you can have plenty of space to move around, cook, dry your clothes, prepare kindling, etc and be out of the rain or snow.

It gets a little trickier when it gets colder out, because you have convection working against you. Your sleeping bag will compress underneath you, and the air moving around your body under the hammock will chill you quickly. This is where a good Underquilt comes in.

For solo backpack style camping, I'll probably never see the confines of a cramped backpacking tent again.

JGON
 
I've got about a half-dozen hammocks...Hennessy, Speer, Warbonnet, ENO and Mosquitehammock. With a little imagination, hammocks can be used without trees (as Tony demonstrated quite effectively) and they have few disadvantages unless you don't sleep well in a hammock or the temps drop to wear additional insulation pushes weight to tent equivalents.

My first hammock was bottem entry Hennessy like kgd's. I still like that version for grab-and-go bags as they are fast to put up and stupid proof for entry and exit and little fear of ripping zippers or mosquito netting. My preference though is to have a double layer bottom...it just makes it easier to secure a sleeping pad when the temps get a little cooler on the bum.

I also prefer a separate fly. Not only can it give you more coverage (I like 10x10 or 10x12 foot size), it gives you a lot more versatility. They are easier to open up for a better breeze even if it's raining but hot and humid. It allows you to set up your over-head cover first so you can keep your kit dry and still set up (or take down your) hammock. If the temperatures are really extreme, you can still use the seperate fly for any number of improvised ground shelters and with a bigger fly, you can actually seal your hammock up from horizontal rain...keeping you very protected and dry.

There's a lot of good info on hammck forums as mentioned and looking into the various suspension methods is worth the research. Mine aren't the lightest, but they are extremely fast. A quick wrap of the tree straps with a cinch buckle gets my hammock up (and taken down) and secured in under a minute with some practice. Experiment a little and find what works best for you.

Weight is the other big advantage, especially when family camping. I've packed the 7-8 pound 4 person dome tent on a few trips...never again! The kids and wife all now have their own hammock and my pack weight as dropped several pounds. If you find you sleep well in a hammock (most do), you'll be amazed at how good a night's sleep you'll get when your out. I actually sleep better in my Blackbird than a do in the bed at home!

coaldigger said:
Thanks everyone ! I'm still looking around for a good deal on a set-up ! I don't want to put alot into it until I see how I'm gonna like it !
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My recommendation is to look for a deal on the bottom entry Hennessy as it's a quality package deal and you'll get some great use out of it as you evaluate a quality back-country hammock set up. Another option is ENO (Grand Trunk and Byer are other quality, inexpensive alternatives) and a surplus mosquito net. Any tarp that covers you're hammock area will do for rain cover and you'll get an inexpensive set up to evaluate if hammocks are for you...if they are, you'll be looking at Clark and Warbonnet hammocks very soon:D. I actually still like my ENO and carry it on day hikes...it packs down small and can be set up for an afternoon nap or just relaxing as you weight for your water to boil or just to relax fish or fauna-watch.

Side entry or hope top hammocks have the advantage of using the hammock as a camp chair and also make it a little easier to put your boots on in the morning.

For summers/hot temperatures or insect active ground…I’ll never consider another tent (unless the area bans hammocks:grumpy:). Outside of glacier camping, hammocks can be used just about anywhere. My comfort level goes down to the low 40’s before I start considering a small tent. With a decent pad and I’ve actually rigged a poncho liner to serve as an under-quilt, I maintain my comfort without adding specialty insulation that increases my standard pack weight. Even if the colder temperature includes that cold under-draft, I have successfully lowered my hammock to ride on a pile of pine branches (covered with some Tyvek to protect the underside of the hammock) for insulation and used the fly to seal off the direction of wind all the way to the ground (ala lean-to set up).

Give the hammock a try and if you find you sleep well, you’ll never go to the ground unless held at gun point:D

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ROCK6
 
I got my lightly used Hennessy on a motorcycle forum for a hundred bucks. Surf around and you can find a deal. If it turns out to be not to your liking, you can sell or trade it easily. Try hammock forums.
 
I've used a cheap jungle type hammock I got from Brigade Quartermasters nowfor several years. It packs up smaller than a nalgene bottle. Between that and my poncho i've went on overnighters with just my Kifaru tailgunner being such a compact package. I'm do for something better though which has bug netting. Two months ago when I went I got seven ticks on me and which after tweezing them off I still have red bumps there. I've since got a tick remover tool to see if that will work better but this could of been avoided I think with a better hammock.
 
crossada said:
I've used a cheap jungle type hammock I got from Brigade Quartermasters nowfor several years. It packs up smaller than a nalgene bottle. Between that and my poncho i've went on overnighters with just my Kifaru tailgunner being such a compact package. I'm do for something better though which has bug netting. Two months ago when I went I got seven ticks on me and which after tweezing them off I still have red bumps there. I've since got a tick remover tool to see if that will work better but this could of been avoided I think with a better hammock.
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Did you get the ticks when in the hammock? Another trick is to treat you hammock (opening areas) with some permethrin...I've never had any issues when off the ground, mosquito netting and a little permethrin treatment on the hammocks.

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
Did you get the ticks when in the hammock? Another trick is to treat you hammock (opening areas) with some permethrin...I've never had any issues when off the ground, mosquito netting and a little permethrin treatment on the hammocks.

ROCK6
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I was thinking the same question, ROCK6 :-) Unless you didn't have some shelter over you like a tarp, the little buggers do tent to drop out of branches from time to time. Otherwise, I would say that you had them on your before you crawled into the hammy. Just my thinking anyway.

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Well I had my poncho up but flung back over the ridge line. I was using the hammock to lay in and socialize with my buddies around a camp fire. It was after midnight before we all decided to turn in and I secured my poncho back up. I did find a couple of ticks before I turned in so it's possible they were on my clothing working their way up.

Being in the woods in the midwest this time of year it's almost guaranteed you'll find ticks and mosquitoes (which buzzed me all night too) but I just figured the netting would help. Last year I had a run in with chiggers, at least that is what I think they were. They somehow latched on around my socks and went to town on me. My legs were swollen from bites for weeks with itching. I'll take the ticks anyday over that again.
 
Yeah chiggers can really tear you up as well; my first introduction was a bivouac during my Basic Training down in Columbus, GA. I was “tore up from the floor up”:D I was just wondering about the ticks as the last area I went backpacking there were several ticks just crawling around on the ground in the camp area...not necessarily common behavior from ticks (they usually don't move much other than to jump on a passerby). A lot of times, they'll get onto your clothing and get carried back into your camp area. It is a good reminder to always do those daily/nightly checks! It takes ticks about 24 hours after biting (if they are carrying the bacteria) before they can infect you with lyme...do keep an idea on your bites and it wouldn't hurt to pack a small vial for one of the buggers if the Doc doesn't believe you.

ROCK6
 
I think I might have a deal on a Grand Trunk UltraLite ! I've already got a Hennsey Diamond cover on the way & now I gotta find some bug netting ! I'll keep you guy's posted !
 
I have an ENO doublenest & I love it. I bought the bigger one, just to give me a little more room. I also prefer the traditional style hammock.
 
coaldigger said:
I think I might have a deal on a Grand Trunk UltraLite ! I've already got a Hennsey Diamond cover on the way & now I gotta find some bug netting ! I'll keep you guy's posted !
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Well the deal on the GT UL fell thru & ain't gonna happen so back to square one...on the lookout for a decent Hammock ! But I'll keep you guy's posted as soon as I find one !
 
I have a Warbonnet hammock and Jacks'R'Better down quilts for cold nights. Very comfortable but you need to make sure you pitch your tarp right. I was hiking in the mountains a month or so ago and it rained heavily for the entire night. I stayed mostly dry but learned some valuable lessons about how not to tie your tarp in windy, stormy conditions. I would have preferred the security of a tent that night but the adventure was half the fun!

Here's the setup I use:

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I have a military surplus Vietnam jungle hammock, i got it because it was very small when packed and light weight. I usually carry it in my pack incase I end up spending the night so I have something semi comfortable. I have used it to camp a few times but never in anything close to what you'd consider cold. Still it worked pretty good for the price which was like 15$ I think. Kept the bugs out, haven't tried it in the rain without a tarp over me but I don't see why it wouldn't work. I would like to upgrade to a nicer one for actuall planed hammock camping trips. Im thinking about the warbonet but that Clark one is pretty cool too. Thanks for posting that video
 
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