troutfisher13111
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Can anyone recommend a good strong light weight hammock? Also, what about a bug net? I seen a pic some where on here with a hammock that had a bug screen attachment. Thanks.
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Hammock
- Thread starter troutfisher13111
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Hennesey hammock
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Here is a review I did of the Hennessy Ultralight Backpacker. I would recommend trying one before buying one, or get one from a place with a good return policy like REI since some people hate sleeping in one. That said, I love mine and it weighs under 2 lbs with the rain fly canopy and integrated bug net.
troutfisher13111
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Thanks, I will look into them. Anyone have any opinions/experience with this one:
http://www.thetravelhammock.com/skeeter-beeter.htm
http://www.thetravelhammock.com/skeeter-beeter.htm
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I have the skeeter beeter and its a nice hammock strong construction from what I have seen. I spent a night in it in the woods and was pretty warm but would be better with a rain fly/tarp. The one thing I didn't like is how it fits me. I am 6'4'' and I woke up with my knees feeling like they were going to be snapped backwards. Besides that I enjoyed the night.
The clark jungle hammock is the tank of hammocks but not as light as the hennessy. I slept in the clark and the hennessy and the clark is warmer with better features but at a weight penalty.
http://www.junglehammock.com/
Skam
http://www.junglehammock.com/
Skam
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I have one almost identical to that from Byer of Maine. It's lasted much longer than I ever anticipated. . . 4 or 5 years now. I've used it mostly for lounging around in the back yard and on car camping trips, but I've also slept in it on a few backpacking trips. It's probably one of the best gear investments that I've ever made. It'll probably last me another year or more if I'm careful, but I'm ready to move up and try one of the Hennesey hammocks.
on_the_edge
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www.mosquitohammock.com :thumbup:
Have one, love it. Priced right, can hold a lot of weight (read more than most), can use it on the ground if need be, etc., etc.
Have one, love it. Priced right, can hold a lot of weight (read more than most), can use it on the ground if need be, etc., etc.
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I'll second that. I love my Jungle Hammock.
mystical woodsman
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I have the skeeter beeter courtesy of Ranger Joes. It is VERY comfortable (provided you know how to tie it to a tree tightly, thus preventing sagging and V-like body positioning lol). With a tarp, it is the best in moderate climates, due to being off the ground, and its light weight carrying capacity. You would need warm clothes though, and if the wind picks up, you are in trouble, I would say.
Even though I have it for mild climate camping, I would prefer to usually carry a good cold temperature sleeping bag, with a good tarp you can tie close to the ground to block whatever angle the wind/rain is coming from. With a thermarest mat, you can practically be naked and still be cozy. If in snow regions... you might think about buying a system, with the use of a bivy. I would think that having a good sleeping bag/thermarest, a tarp and some warm clothes would be superior to a hammock anyday, in any weather.
I am no expert, but these are just my thoughts.
)
Even though I have it for mild climate camping, I would prefer to usually carry a good cold temperature sleeping bag, with a good tarp you can tie close to the ground to block whatever angle the wind/rain is coming from. With a thermarest mat, you can practically be naked and still be cozy. If in snow regions... you might think about buying a system, with the use of a bivy. I would think that having a good sleeping bag/thermarest, a tarp and some warm clothes would be superior to a hammock anyday, in any weather.
I am no expert, but these are just my thoughts.
)I have a travel Hammock Ultralight. Last year I used a poncho for a tarp and just a piece of mosquito netting to protect my head and upper body. This year I stepped up to a more significant tarp shelter for cover, and use a Coghlan's double mosquito net hung from the ridgeline (inside the tarp) for bug protection. That has worked extremely well for me, so I'll stick with it for a while.
Last year:
This year:
Teh hammock, Trekkers tarp, and bug netting all pack down pretty small. It packs down as small, if not smaller, than my sleeping bag.
When they say Travel Hammock Ultralight, they do mean it. I believe it supports 250 lbs. The Parachute Nylon Travel Hammock Is a little larger and made out of tougher material. My neighbor has the parachute nylon model, and it seems pretty nice, and it still packs small.
The all-inclusive hammocks like the Hennesseys are very nice, and I think quite appealing. But for now, I like the options offered by the separate components.
Last year:
This year:
Teh hammock, Trekkers tarp, and bug netting all pack down pretty small. It packs down as small, if not smaller, than my sleeping bag.
When they say Travel Hammock Ultralight, they do mean it. I believe it supports 250 lbs. The Parachute Nylon Travel Hammock Is a little larger and made out of tougher material. My neighbor has the parachute nylon model, and it seems pretty nice, and it still packs small.
The all-inclusive hammocks like the Hennesseys are very nice, and I think quite appealing. But for now, I like the options offered by the separate components.
troutfisher13111
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Thanks for your opinions guys. I am going to go with the Skeeter Beeter pro, and a tarp for rain protection.
I'm a newbie to knives and can't offer much in that vain but when it comes to hammock camping I feel I know a bit. I've been using a Hennessey Light Racer for the last 4 years on the Appalachian Trail doing section hikes of 50-70 miles. I've also got the Backpacker Asym and have oufitted my daughters with the same. So far I've hammocked comfortably at 17F and know I can go colder.
My Light Racer weighs 1 lb 6 oz and it is like sleeping on a cloud. After a 15-20 mile day on the AT it is truly a joy to evolve into it versus getting on the ground like an animal! No rocks or roots to deal with but you have to know that hammocks are colder than tents-much colder-bridges freeze before roads. But luckily there is a company named 'Jacks R Better' and they make underquilts for the Hennessey line of hammocks. The underquilts vary in weight depending on which you buy and that depends on what temps you expect. They suspend under the hammock so the down is not crushed by your weight rendering it useless as insulation. Inside the hammock I use top quilts, the ones I use are by Nunatak Gear.
The fly/tarp supplied by Hennessey is OK but I use one made by McCat, the deluxe, it give lots of dry real estate under the hammock.
I always suspend the fly independent of the hammock, that way it doesn't sag when I climb in....I also pack the fly separate of the hammock and suspend it first when its raining.
Hammocks also make awesome camp chairs and they make good sex swings too!
On the Appalachian Trail I'll stop by the shelters, cook, eat, socialize, sign the register but then I'll hike on another mile or two and then take a left or right off the trail and go about 1/4 mile then set up the hammock and dissapear into the woods.
Last year I had almost exaclty 100 nights in the backcountry and all but 5 nights in a hammock, the 5 nights not were in a tent because we were doing the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon and above 10,000 feet there were no trees.
In the long run hammocking wont save any weight over a lightweight tarp or tent but it is ultimately more comfortable.
If I know its going to be less than 20F I use a Speer hammock-not as comfortable to me as a Hennessey but Speer also has a product called a Pea Pod. The Pea Pod completely surrounds the hammock (thus use when bug netting is not needed) and is so incredibly warm.
When setting up a hammock make note of the surroundings, use it to block wind...if really cold and windy set up the hammock low to the ground-I usually set it up so I can sit in it without having to stoop, but when cold I set it up so the tarp will go all the way to the ground. Once I even scooped up leaves and make a 1 foot thick bed of them the length of my body and then suspended the hammock so when I was in it I was nestled into the bed of leaves to increase the amount of insulation.
www.whiteblaze.net has a hammocking section in there forums and then there is also hammockforums.com Either place has thousands of answers on hammocking.
I paddle camp as much as I hike and have even suspended the hammock above water in the mangroves in the Everglades.....
My Light Racer weighs 1 lb 6 oz and it is like sleeping on a cloud. After a 15-20 mile day on the AT it is truly a joy to evolve into it versus getting on the ground like an animal! No rocks or roots to deal with but you have to know that hammocks are colder than tents-much colder-bridges freeze before roads. But luckily there is a company named 'Jacks R Better' and they make underquilts for the Hennessey line of hammocks. The underquilts vary in weight depending on which you buy and that depends on what temps you expect. They suspend under the hammock so the down is not crushed by your weight rendering it useless as insulation. Inside the hammock I use top quilts, the ones I use are by Nunatak Gear.
The fly/tarp supplied by Hennessey is OK but I use one made by McCat, the deluxe, it give lots of dry real estate under the hammock.
I always suspend the fly independent of the hammock, that way it doesn't sag when I climb in....I also pack the fly separate of the hammock and suspend it first when its raining.
Hammocks also make awesome camp chairs and they make good sex swings too!
On the Appalachian Trail I'll stop by the shelters, cook, eat, socialize, sign the register but then I'll hike on another mile or two and then take a left or right off the trail and go about 1/4 mile then set up the hammock and dissapear into the woods.
Last year I had almost exaclty 100 nights in the backcountry and all but 5 nights in a hammock, the 5 nights not were in a tent because we were doing the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon and above 10,000 feet there were no trees.
In the long run hammocking wont save any weight over a lightweight tarp or tent but it is ultimately more comfortable.
If I know its going to be less than 20F I use a Speer hammock-not as comfortable to me as a Hennessey but Speer also has a product called a Pea Pod. The Pea Pod completely surrounds the hammock (thus use when bug netting is not needed) and is so incredibly warm.
When setting up a hammock make note of the surroundings, use it to block wind...if really cold and windy set up the hammock low to the ground-I usually set it up so I can sit in it without having to stoop, but when cold I set it up so the tarp will go all the way to the ground. Once I even scooped up leaves and make a 1 foot thick bed of them the length of my body and then suspended the hammock so when I was in it I was nestled into the bed of leaves to increase the amount of insulation.
www.whiteblaze.net has a hammocking section in there forums and then there is also hammockforums.com Either place has thousands of answers on hammocking.
I paddle camp as much as I hike and have even suspended the hammock above water in the mangroves in the Everglades.....