Tarp Shelters

[skammer]

Skam,

What do you think of those down insulators they make to go under the hammock to insulate you from below? Have you tried them out?

-- FLIX

I have not tried them out yet. I am afraid to ask how much they are haha.

Sounds like a good idea tho.

Skam

 

[Thomas Linton]

Chris,

You're right that your body weight would compress the down too much to be of much thermal value. I've heard people say the same thing about their Thermarests. The way I understand the down "cozy" it is that it is suspended under the hammock, so it provides an insulative barrier but isn't crushed.

-- FLIX

A Thermarest-type mat will dent where the body weight is greatest, but it cannot totally flatten unless the air leaks out -- or you are a super-dense alien from some high gravity planet (Welcome to Earth!).

 

[stevetexas]

Hi Y'all ,

I love my Hennessy Asym.

If you ever get caught out and really are freezing your endoplasm off, just lower the hammock until it sits on the ground. Basically, convert the hammock into a tent.

Like this except lower...

http://www.hennessyhammock.com/use-as-a-tent.htm

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/rev...eluxe A-Sym/Shane Steinkamp/Long Term Report/

Then you are in the same situation as all the other Bottom Dwellers.

Steve

 

[PythonDR]

I've owned a Hennessy Hammock for about 5 or 6 years, and I've slept through heavy rain and windstorms, and temperatures down to a few degrees below freezing.

The product is very comfortable to sleep in; in fact, it's the most comfortable sleep system I've used in the outdoors. It is definitely not for the claustrophobic, however.

I generally find it unusable during periods of extended rain - not because it isn't dry, but simply because there's precious little room for wet boots, overcoats, etc. The best solution is to carry a large tarp, which of course defeats the purpose of carrying a small, lightweight shelter!

Like a bivy, it's difficult to dress/undress in the hammock. This may not be a problem in wilderness areas and when the weather's not bad, but creates difficulty in bad weather or when there are other people around.

As to the issue of cold weather, there seem to be some misconceptions. My high school physics, as I seem to recall, taught that conductive heat transfer is far more efficient than convective. For any given amount of under-body insulation, I've found that I sleep warmer in the hammock (convective losses) than on the ground (conductive losses.) In other words, in my experience the idea that you'll be colder hanging in the air than being on the ground is incorrect.

For cold weather, I've settled on a system using a Big Agnes sleeping bag, which has no bottom insulation. Their theory is that compressing down or fiber beneath the sleeper is about as good as having no insulation, so their bags substitute a sleeve into which you fit a sleeping pad. This has advantages; the sides of the bag overhang the pad reducing cold flow through that junction, and the pad stays integrated with the bag at all times. I was initially skeptical, but over the years have become a believer.

I've found that the Big Agnes bag combined with a solid corrugated-type foam pad (Z-Rest, RidgeRest, etc.) and the popular DIY pad (mylar bubble windshield reflector covered with fleece) makes for a very warm and very compact sleep system. I've also used a Thermarest pad topped with the DIY pad, and it may or may not be a bit warmer; I haven't been able to do a direct A-B comparison in sufficiently cold weather to be sure. As it stands, I trust the RidgeRest/DIY combination more.

I hope this sheds a bit more light on the Hennessy Hammock. Of course, I am in no way affiliated with the company other than as a satisfied customer.

-=[ Grant ]=-

 

[idroptapul]

For down-type gizmos to extend the temperature range of your hammock, a lot of folks love the JacksRBetter (sp?) products. They carry the underquilts and, if I remember correctly, a pretty reasonably priced.

For stuff that's not reasonably priced but pretty darn sexy, check out NunatakUSA. Custom sleeping bags and down clothing.

 

[skammer]

As to the issue of cold weather, there seem to be some misconceptions. My high school physics, as I seem to recall, taught that conductive heat transfer is far more efficient than convective. For any given amount of under-body insulation, I've found that I sleep warmer in the hammock (convective losses) than on the ground (conductive losses.) In other words, in my experience the idea that you'll be colder hanging in the air than being on the ground is incorrect.


-=[ Grant ]=-

You are right in that conductive heat loss is more an issue however when on the cold ground the tmep under you is just below the frezing point. When in the air you at are at the mercy of the air and winds temp including wind chill values. The potential to be many times colder in the air than on the ground is real.

On the ground it is very easy to build up insulative natural materials to get yourself up and off of it. Not so in a hammock.

Its not so cut and dry as convection vs conductive heat loss.

Skam