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A lot of it depends on if you can sleep in a hammock or not. I can't, so I use a tent or a tarp.
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Tent or Hammock
- Thread starter viva la
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- Jan 30, 2007
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- 244
What about the skeeter beeter hammock? Also, if it's cold enough, couldn't you just use a sleeping bag for insulation?
Well I have both tents and hammocks, tents are better for company and for storage, and for areas without trees (think snow or some camp gounds).
Hammocks however are much better for carrying and for comfort, you do need some sort of pad though - but then I need that in a tent anyway so no problem, I have several 3/4 length thermarest so I just grab one of those.
As long as you can spot a couple of trees then a hammock is great and much faster to set up than a tent, no worries about whats under you, can be stony, wet, slopping, whatever its all good (just look above you - falling trees/branches are not fun).
You do need somewhere to store your stuff though. if its fine you can sling it in a tree, if its wet you need to be more imaginative.
I have a Jungle Hammock and reccomend over the H/H mainly because of the entry/exit (and the price), if you are camping then its nice to hang about and being able to unzip and jump in/out beats crawling around (as well as midnight outings...)
hammocks are definately a good way to go for saving on weight and bulk but you will want to set it up before you go wild and you may want to change the ropes and hanging style a little, I taylored mine to my liking but am still playing with it to get it just right - but thats part of the appeal!
Hammocks however are much better for carrying and for comfort, you do need some sort of pad though - but then I need that in a tent anyway so no problem, I have several 3/4 length thermarest so I just grab one of those.
As long as you can spot a couple of trees then a hammock is great and much faster to set up than a tent, no worries about whats under you, can be stony, wet, slopping, whatever its all good (just look above you - falling trees/branches are not fun).
You do need somewhere to store your stuff though. if its fine you can sling it in a tree, if its wet you need to be more imaginative.
I have a Jungle Hammock and reccomend over the H/H mainly because of the entry/exit (and the price), if you are camping then its nice to hang about and being able to unzip and jump in/out beats crawling around (as well as midnight outings...)
hammocks are definately a good way to go for saving on weight and bulk but you will want to set it up before you go wild and you may want to change the ropes and hanging style a little, I taylored mine to my liking but am still playing with it to get it just right - but thats part of the appeal!
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The skeeter beaters aren't as comfortable as some of the larger hammocks, but they do the job and the price is hard to beat.
The problem with "just" using a sleeping bag is that you are laying on the bottom part of the bag. That means you are crushing the insulation on the bottom, making it essentially worthless. In order to insulate, a sleeping bag needs to loft op and trap air between the fibers, and the sleeping bag under the weight of your body can't do this. Thats's why you need a pad or some sort of other under-insulation.
I went to a hammock & tarp setup to save weight and because I thought it would be more comfortable. I've only been out in it 3x, and now we have a new baby.
So, *we* will be in the tent for the next 10 yrs or so. If i go out on my own again, i'll keep trying the hammock.
So far, I haven't been able to sleep through the night... there's always been a cold spot and I've tried various sleeping pads.
So, *we* will be in the tent for the next 10 yrs or so. If i go out on my own again, i'll keep trying the hammock.
So far, I haven't been able to sleep through the night... there's always been a cold spot and I've tried various sleeping pads.
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If you are having trouble staying warm on a sleeping pad, look into the Speer SPE
http://speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
You can make one yourself easily, but the general idea is to attach foam "wings" to the edges of your pad, to make it wider and prevent cold spots. Another trick is to take a cheap foam pad, and cut it into sections, then turn each of those sectionss sideways, so they are wider than the standard pad. This will give you extra coverage for the shoulders and hips, which are the areas most likely to press on the side of the hammock and get cold.
http://speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
You can make one yourself easily, but the general idea is to attach foam "wings" to the edges of your pad, to make it wider and prevent cold spots. Another trick is to take a cheap foam pad, and cut it into sections, then turn each of those sectionss sideways, so they are wider than the standard pad. This will give you extra coverage for the shoulders and hips, which are the areas most likely to press on the side of the hammock and get cold.
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I have a few Hennessey's and that was the first hammock I tried. I still like it as it's simple and straight-forward. I also have a Jungle hammock and a Warbonnett (which is the bee's knees).
Both my kids and my wife can comfortably sleep in hammocks...that was the first test before investing. Now, kids have their own hammocks. I'm working on getting my wife to use a hammock...sure it's not as "romantic", but it's much easier when backpacking and distributing the load. Our next trip out will be all hammocks.
I'm trying out some different quick-attachment systems. I usually get stuck tying the knots for the kids' hammocks as they aren't quite adept at getting them tied correctly and securely. So, if you have any recommendations Mustardman, let me know! I'm going to try ENO's straps with a snap-link and I already have some webbing and round sail-rings to serve as a belt-buckle cinch system for another method.
All I can say is that if you sleep well in a hammock and don't require a tent for the significant other, hammocks are a great outdoors shelter that are compact, quick to put up and offer several advantages over a traditional tent.
ROCK6
Both my kids and my wife can comfortably sleep in hammocks...that was the first test before investing. Now, kids have their own hammocks. I'm working on getting my wife to use a hammock...sure it's not as "romantic", but it's much easier when backpacking and distributing the load. Our next trip out will be all hammocks.
I'm trying out some different quick-attachment systems. I usually get stuck tying the knots for the kids' hammocks as they aren't quite adept at getting them tied correctly and securely. So, if you have any recommendations Mustardman, let me know! I'm going to try ENO's straps with a snap-link and I already have some webbing and round sail-rings to serve as a belt-buckle cinch system for another method.
All I can say is that if you sleep well in a hammock and don't require a tent for the significant other, hammocks are a great outdoors shelter that are compact, quick to put up and offer several advantages over a traditional tent.
ROCK6
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- Mar 14, 2009
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I use the webbing and rings method - a climbing-rated carabiner on the end of the webbing will make it even faster - toss the webbing around the tree, clip it to itself, and adjust the webbing with the buckle. Make sure to back the buckle up with a slipped half hitch to keep it from dropping during the night - I learned that lesson the hard way 
The ENO slap straps have one fatal flaw - they are made from nylon, and can stretch during the night, changing the sag in your hammock. I use polyester webbing for my suspension lines, because it has very little stretch.
The ENO slap straps have one fatal flaw - they are made from nylon, and can stretch during the night, changing the sag in your hammock. I use polyester webbing for my suspension lines, because it has very little stretch.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
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- 4,172
I use the webbing and rings method - a climbing-rated carabiner on the end of the webbing will make it even faster - toss the webbing around the tree, clip it to itself, and adjust the webbing with the buckle. Make sure to back the buckle up with a slipped half hitch to keep it from dropping during the night - I learned that lesson the hard way
The ENO slap straps have one fatal flaw - they are made from nylon, and can stretch during the night, changing the sag in your hammock. I use polyester webbing for my suspension lines, because it has very little stretch.
Thanks...I'm going to try the cinch buckle as well...I'll use the slapstraps on the kids...they're lighter anyways
Wow, thanks for the half-hitch hint...you would think it was common sense, but I completely forgot about it! I'll make sure to add after everything is set:thumbup:ROCK6
Viva. No I don't use the z liner from Clark with my North American. I just use a thermarest pad in the pouch of my Big Agnes Lost Ranger bag.
The North American has several pockets underneath which I put my extra clothing in if it is super cold out. I sleep very warm so it isn't really needed for me.
One advantage of the clark North American (and several other of their models) is the weather shield which closes the Hammock up like a tent keeping you even warmer. The Noth American is indeed a 4 season shelter as opposed to most other hammocks which are pushing it at 3 seasons.
Clarks newer models are even better. They are spendy if one looks at price alone. However they are US made and of fantastic design and quality. Plus they come with the rain fly so you don't have to buy an extra tarp. If you get the Camo version of any model then you automaticaly get the XL rainly which is a fullsize sil-nylon tarp in its own right.
The North American has several pockets underneath which I put my extra clothing in if it is super cold out. I sleep very warm so it isn't really needed for me.
One advantage of the clark North American (and several other of their models) is the weather shield which closes the Hammock up like a tent keeping you even warmer. The Noth American is indeed a 4 season shelter as opposed to most other hammocks which are pushing it at 3 seasons.
Clarks newer models are even better. They are spendy if one looks at price alone. However they are US made and of fantastic design and quality. Plus they come with the rain fly so you don't have to buy an extra tarp. If you get the Camo version of any model then you automaticaly get the XL rainly which is a fullsize sil-nylon tarp in its own right.
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- Mar 14, 2009
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The clark definitely has a lot going for it, but to claim most hammocks are pushing it at 3 seasons is silly. I've camped at 20 degrees with nothing but a tarp and blue foam pads from walmart, and have camped even colder with an underquilt, all in my warbonnet.
You can go below zero in an ENO hammock, if you use the right insulation. The clark weather shield is neat, but you can get the same effect with a weather shield made from a couple bucks worth of surplus cloth, or a poncho thrown over the top of your hammock.
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- Oct 22, 2003
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- 1,150
http://jacksrbetter.com/ for under and top quilts. When you decide what you like.
I have the shenendoah summer quilt and its outstanding!
I have the shenendoah summer quilt and its outstanding!
I started with a Hennessy. I really don't like the bottom entry, as it interferes with insulation.
I now have a summer and winter setup.
Summer: Warbonnet Blackbird with Yeti 2/3 underquilt and JRB Stealth top quilt.
Total weight: 1700g
Winter: DIY hammock with Speer Peapod.
Total weight: 1700g
Since I use a big tarp, I've never felt I have less space in a hammock.
I now have a summer and winter setup.
Summer: Warbonnet Blackbird with Yeti 2/3 underquilt and JRB Stealth top quilt.
Total weight: 1700g
Winter: DIY hammock with Speer Peapod.
Total weight: 1700g
Since I use a big tarp, I've never felt I have less space in a hammock.
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2009
- Messages
- 727
Man, I can't believe I forgot about hammock camping. I used to do it all the time when I lived in PA. I'm sitting here wondering about canoe camping in the Everglades and remembered, after seeing this thread, that I have an eno doublenest, so I just placed an order for the Guardian Bug Net, perfect, it'll be great for hunting too.