How Many Becker Owners Are Hammock Campers?

[Guyon]

And no, I ain't talkin' about banana hammocks.

In sqoon's thread on modular bag contents, I said something about my recently received hammocks, and a goodly portion of the discussion veered off into hammocks.
My apologies to sqoon for the whiplash thread drift.

I thought I'd just start a new thread and relocate that conversation to this thread. Below is a recap.

I have some things I can update on my Falcon II, which I want to use as an overnighter in the summer, among other things.

My hammocks arrived yesterday, and the hammock + canopy puts the Falcon in a more "expanded" condition.

AWESOME!!! Get those Snake Skins on the Hennessy and you will have camp setup before anyone can even get their tent poles together. How will you store the Hennessy? Inside the Falcon or external....

Don't know. I'm totally new to the hammock game. Right now it's in the pack as it arrived from Hennessy.
Do folks store their hammocks in the skins? Seems like you'd need to be sure you've got a bone dry hammock for any kind of long term storage.

Guyon, you figured out how to suspend your hammock yet? I ordered a buttload of webbing and some whoopie slings today hoping it will work out pretty well.

At the moment, I'm not thinking too much about sleeping solutions, but the hammocks seem like a good way to go.

You are correct about wanting it to be "bone dry" for long term storage, but a microfiber cloth can get the moisture off of the hammock pretty easily and then you just slip the snakeskins down and pack it away.

I keep the rainfly attached and it is the only piece that really collects moisture, when I use it.

The Hennessy ships with webbing (Tree Huggers) when you buy them. You can buy longer ones if you need them. The videos on the Hennessy site really show you how to get them setup.

i have a Safari... BIG hammock. might have to lash that outside

had the original model, that would fit in the front pocket

hah

You are going to love the Hennessys. Best nights sleep you'll ever get outdoors. Durable too. I still use one of the first ones made.

randy

get the "waffle weave" microfiber cloth - it's specifically designed for sucking up water - beats chamois by a mile. the regular weave mf cloths won't hold that much water and are designed mostly for applying and buffing off wax.

ETA: In response to some of the comments....

• DerekH, hagusofnwn is right. The Hennessy's come with webbing. In fact, one of the reasons I chose Hennessy has to do with value. They're apparently great hammocks for the money, and they come with everything you need: hammock (with mosquito netting), tarp (which I upgraded to the large Hex silnylon), webbing/strapping, and Snakeskins (a tubular sleeve that makes breakdown a breeze). While the Warbonnet Blackbird is apparently the "got to have" hammock of the moment, you have to buy all the additional components on top of the hammock itself.
  
• hagusofnwn and JV3, the idea on a microfiber towel is good. I have such towels in my other two main packs, but I have not yet gotten one for my Falcon II. That'll go on the to-do list.

.

 

[Quarter Tank]

set it up and take a picture for us

 

[Guyon]

I'll try to get out and hang it next week.

I'm still debating about colder weather gear. I bought my hammocks mainly with summer overnighters in mind.
But Hennessy currently has their 4-Season System on sale for $99. Mighty tempting.
I'm just not sure if I'd prefer an underquilt/overquilt system (seems bulky).
One nice thing about the Hennessy 4SS appears to be that it's pretty compact.
But it also seems a little more fragile, and some folks complain about condensation issues.

 

[hagusofnwn]

Guyon,

My apologies, I'll take the heat for getting the other thread off the track

 

[DerekH]

Guyon,

My apologies, I'll take the heat for getting the other thread off the track

Don't worry about it man, it really isn't a big deal.

So, I ended up getting an ENOS hammock, and am looking at a combo of strapping and whoopie slings. I am on the fence about a ridgeline though, but as of yet it doesn't matter cause I have to get the other stuff in before I can hang the thing.

I would have like to have a whole setup thing, but this was one of the ones that we were able to use our discount on awhile back there at GGear. Anywhoosles, I already have a tarp, one of the 10'x10' urethane coated ripstop nylon ones from campmor, and a silnylon poncho that is pretty big as well. Really just needed a way to securely attach it to some trees. Silly me, I though you did that with rope or maybe a ratchet strap, but then you look at places like hammock forums and find there are tons of ways to suspend these things.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

I prefer my hammock but will still sleep in a tent when needed. Hammocks have a lot of good things going for them but there is a learning curve.

I haven't done a ton of camping in mine yet - a week in the Smokies has been the highlight so far - but I'm hoping to correct that.

Hey look - there's a BK11 in this hammock pic. Slept with that on my neck every night.

---

Beckerhead #42

 

[DerekH]

I prefer my hammock but will still sleep in a tent when needed. Hammocks have a lot of good things going for them but there is a learning curve.

I haven't done a ton of camping in mine yet - a week in the Smokies has been the highlight so far - but I'm hoping to correct that.

Hey look - there's a BK11 in this hammock pic. Slept with that on my neck every night.

---

Beckerhead #42

What are you using to attach that up there bunny slayer?

 

[cccpull]

Looks like a great idea for daytime camping, but I don't know how it would work out overnight in the swamp.

 

[trailbum]

I use the grand trunk ultralight hammock.
$20 most places.

 

[Quarter Tank]

I'm really starting to like the Eagles Nest OneLink. appears it comes with everything you need to start using it right away.

 

[Guyon]

Guyon,

My apologies, I'll take the heat for getting the other thread off the track

Not a big deal, but I'm the one who started the thread divergence. Just thought we could do hammocks in their own thread.

 

[tradewater]

I bought one of the original Hennessy Expeditions for backpacking and kayak camping right after they came out. I called them and Ed Hennessy explained the whole system and the theory behind the "bias" cut, etc. He even called a couple of months later to ask how I liked it. The wife and I have been using them for years all over the country in all kinds of weather. They have really come a long way and lots of improvements over my first generation ones.

Guyon, I picked up a piece of "reflectix" at Lowes and cut it to fit for cold weather camping. Works great and inexpensive.

Got tons of pics if anybody is interested.

randy

 

[Guyon]

I bought one of the original Hennessy Expeditions for backpacking and kayak camping right after they came out. I called them and Ed Hennessy explained the whole system and the theory behind the "bias" cut, etc. He even called a couple of months later to ask how I liked it. The wife and I have been using them for years all over the country in all kinds of weather. They have really come a long way and lots of improvements over my first generation ones.

Guyon, I picked up a piece of "reflectix" at Lowes and cut it to fit for cold weather camping. Works great and inexpensive.

Got tons of pics if anybody is interested.

randy

I am interested. What all do you use? Just the Reflectix and a bag? Do you use any other kind of padding? I want to be able to do some spring and fall trips where the temp may be hitting the 40s and 50s, but I would like to keep my kit as compact as I can. There's only so much room on this Falcon II. I was planning to roll a pad and a bag together, use a waterproof compression sack to protect everything, and strap it all to the bottom of the pack.

I'm going to upgrade my stakes to MSR Ground Hogs most likely, but I need to get out and hang the thing first and see what all I need.

 

[Bladite]

I bought one of the original Hennessy Expeditions for backpacking and kayak camping right after they came out. I called them and Ed Hennessy explained the whole system and the theory behind the "bias" cut, etc. He even called a couple of months later to ask how I liked it. The wife and I have been using them for years all over the country in all kinds of weather. They have really come a long way and lots of improvements over my first generation ones.

Guyon, I picked up a piece of "reflectix" at Lowes and cut it to fit for cold weather camping. Works great and inexpensive.

Got tons of pics if anybody is interested.

randy

I am interested. What all do you use? Just the Reflectix and a bag? Do you use any other kind of padding? I want to be able to do some spring and fall trips where the temp may be hitting the 40s and 50s, but I would like to keep my kit as compact as I can. There's only so much room on this Falcon II. I was planning to roll a pad and a bag together, use a waterproof compression sack to protect everything, and strap it all to the bottom of the pack.

I'm going to upgrade my stakes to MSR Ground Hogs most likely, but I need to get out and hang the thing first and see what all I need.

lurve my hammocks. have a GIANT brazilian mayan style family hammock. they invented sleeping on the bias it's designed to be a mattress REPLACEMENT. sweet. good for outdoors, and it lives in it's own backpack when i'm not using it - huge.

the backpack also has room for a handful of "solo" hammocks of various flavors that one can find for $5, $10, $20 on sale... generally good quality and they MIGHT hold 2 small people for a picnic but they're not for sleeping around HERE at night (no netting at all); but one COULD use one in a pinch to stay off the ground; or keep gear off the ground and under a tarp (backup off ground storage system); some people could use a rope for such storage instead, cuz they have it, but it's not as handy for laying out clothes and items.

don't know EXACTLY what reflectix is (yet), but a quick google gives me an idea. for that purpose, i got a reflective coated sun guard for a car windshield... it has bound edges, folds, and was $6 weighs nothing.

so, what i do... even in the Summer often, is have a light thin yoga pad on the bottom layer inside the hammock. if it's warm, that might be all i need - keeps the bugs off your butt, otherwise, i generally open up a sleeping bag, and lay on it, and have a wool/poly cloak/poncho on top as a blanket. don't often need a pillow, that comfy

when it's colder, i put that folding sun shield on the bottom, pad on top, then one sleeping bag opened up, and bonus, another sleeping bag on top (i like to really spread out in hammock, confining bags are for grounders :> then the cloak/poncho if i want moar warmth.

hennessey has some new parallel models with ZIPPERS now for side entry, and those, and need to check), other models now have double bottoms for putting such insulating layers into, so it's less of a juggle

wear a HAT in this things. plus socks. that will help a lot. especially when cold or wet. i've been in my hammock in RAGING thunderstorms, high winds, all that. if you setup it up well, and batten the wings down, you stay quite dry and toasty.

i've not slept in a tent, unless i had company, in year and years. sadly, most hammocks are not suitable for 2 or more, though some people will even bring their dog in, but doggie claws and hammocks and fabric integrity do not seem to mix well. perhaps they buy more hammocks

 

[Moosez45]

I've spent alot of time swinging like a sack of meat in a hammock. From Tennessee to Texas. Best method for sleeping in the rough, easily. I want a new Hennessey Hammock and a ENOS doublenest. My current one is a handmade Brazilian Hammock, a friend brought me back from Brazil. Love it, but I actually like that one in the house more than out.

Oh, just an FYI, I have Eyebolts all over my house, I sling Hammocks alot during the summer and it makes for quick "Party furniture or a place for folks to sleep. My favorite spot for mine, the bedroom. Think about it.

Moose

 

[tradewater]

The truck sized sun shield Bladite mentioned works great and they even have a little foam insulation. A buddy folded a thin fleece throw around one and then sewed the whole thing together like a sandwich. He never complains about being cold, so I'm guessing it works. I'm going to make one and try it.

 

[tradewater]

Here's a couple of shots on the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama. We camped this night in the Cheaha wilderness on top of Cheaha mountain. It got down in the low 30's. The Hennessys are strung one behind the other, so are hard to see.

 

[Guyon]

tradewater, you were about 25 minutes from where I grew up.
In fact, we still own a house just a hop and a skip from Cheaha, and we've talked about camping there this year.
Could you run me, piece by piece through the gear you used (additions besides the hammock) for temps down into the 30s?

 

[tradewater]

Sure can. We went pretty light because we did the whole trail. Let me dig out the gear list for that one. The little woman keeps them in a notebook. Man, it was one of our favorite hikes, you've got to do some camping in there.

 

[Guyon]

I don't need everything you carried (though I'd certainly be curious).
I just mainly want to know what you added to the hammocks to keep from freezing.
I've been looking at that Hennessy 4-season system on sale for $99, but I've also been looking at some really expensive underquilt/overquilt systems.
If there are cheaper ways to go, I'm all ears.