Hammocks

[kyubi]

I noticed a few people are using hammocks these days and was hoping some of you could recommend a few. I can't really tell the difference between the ones I've seen, hoping for something light though including a mosquito net and tarp.

[simonm]

Hey Kyubi

Hammock forums is worth a visit https://www.hammockforums.net/

Of the ones with integrated nets the ones I can think of and recommend looking at are:

Hennessy, Dream Hammocks, Warbonnet - all of these are very popular.

Be careful it's a dangerous addictive path you tread

[andrewa]

I had a brief foray into hammocks. They were very comfortable, but a lot colder than sleeping in a tent. You need good underinsulation.

A

[Orion]

I'm intrigued by hammocks even though they aren't practical for where I frequently camp (above treeline).

One thing is I am not very tolerant of a curved surface when sleeping, but supposedly one can lie perfectly flat on their side in a hammock. I would love to experience this myself as it is difficult for me to imagine it.

The other thing is social. I often share a tent with my girlfriend. We usually cook and eat in there too. Are there hammocks for two or does each person hang seperately from his or her own trees?

[ofuros]

Whatever maker you choose, a hammock & tarp by itself isn't going to keep your warm enough (unless you happen to live in the tropics)
.....just as a night spent in a tent without a pad & sleeping bag is going to be bone-chillingly cold.

Insulation, may be your existing pad & sleeping bag for the time being, & later on you can purchase or make your own Top & Bottom Quilt.
Hammockforums is a mighty resource.....& should answer any further questions you may have.

I havn't looked, but I'm sure youtube will have have plenty of vids of various makers hammocks & there differences.

Just as there's Ford vs Holden fanatics here in Oz.....the same thing goes for Hennessy vs Warbonnet.
.....both have how-to vids on their sites.
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/
http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/

There are many other makers too......you just have to fall a little deeper into the rabbit hole.

.

[kyubi]

Cheers guys, will do some reading

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[ofuros]

I'm intrigued by hammocks even though they aren't practical for where I frequently camp (above treeline).

One thing is I am not very tolerant of a curved surface when sleeping, but supposedly one can lie perfectly flat on their side in a hammock. I would love to experience this myself as it is difficult for me to imagine it.

The other thing is social. I often share a tent with my girlfriend. We usually cook and eat in there too. Are there hammocks for two or does each person hang seperately from his or her own trees?

Just to help you imagine a little better......

sleep-on-diagonal-ILLO.jpg (28.23 KiB) Viewed 11510 times

They're usually hung separately....but you can share the same tarp if you wish.

hammocks-bunk-bed-style.png (39.2 KiB) Viewed 11510 times

[perfectlydark]

Cant say id honestly feel comfortable that close to someone else in a hammock

[forest]

Cant say id honestly feel comfortable that close to someone else in a hammock

Me either.

This is just a "me" thing but I find a hammock prefferable to sleep in than a tent any day (pending hanging spots)
The whole cold thing in a hammock is just like a tent, not enough insulation. But when it's right, it's really right !!!

The whole hammock thing is a very different concept, but once started very addictive. Cannot recommend enough to have a good read on hammockforum.com
Great bunch of people over there.

[LandSailor]

A decent underquilt is essential to keep warm in cooler weather. Usually when people start off with hammocks they try to use a sleeping bag or a foam mat for bottom insulation for a while. If you can afford it, Id recommend just get the underquilt straight away. Without it a hammock is much colder than a tent, with an underquilt it is much warmer IMO. It takes a little bit of practice to get the underquilt situated properly as it can be a bit fiddly. I got mine from HammockGear.com.

Ive got a couple of hammocks which I use for different purposes. A Warbonnet Blackbird with a built-in bug-net which is great for sleep however because of the bug-net and ridgeline across the top its bit awkward to sit in and use during the day. Ive also got a WildernessLogics Night Owl which I use for day-trips as a comfy seat/lounge-chair whilst Im having lunch or having a rest and checking the view.

[perfectlydark]

I move around too much to really consider a hammock personally. Usually wind up off the mat in some weird angle in the tent so I doubt ill change to anything else. Even a swag doesnt hold any appeal for me personally

[Orion]

Just to help you imagine a little better......

Thanks, but I've seen this already and it doesn't make sense to me intuitively. I need to experience it to understand.

They're usually hung separately....but you can share the same tarp if you wish.

Definately a different experience. How do you zip your bags together for snuggling?

[ofuros]

Slowly lower the top hammock to the 'spooning' position, then hang on like a baby koala & cuddle 'till your hearts content.

The double hang pic was meant to be 'tongue in cheek', not serious ...
You have to forget your tent mindset & be open to change. Site location, setup, sleeping, lounging and cooking are all different in a hammock.
Some like it, some don't.

The bush continues to call us......whether we use a bivy bag, tarp, tent or even a hammock.
Enjoy it as often as you can.

[cams]

I move around too much to really consider a hammock personally. Usually wind up off the mat in some weird angle in the tent so I doubt ill change to anything else. Even a swag doesnt hold any appeal for me personally

I don't see this as a problem in a hammock. There's nowhere for you to go if you get a sealed one like a Warbonnet. You can't fall out. I've found that I move a lot less than sleeping on the ground because you don't get hot spots. Also, with regards to sleeping on your side flat. I sleep on my side/stomach on the ground/bed but sleep differently in a hammock. Mostly on my back because it is the most comfortable for me.

In summary, sleeping in a hammock is the only way that I've found to sleep comfortably when not on a proper bed.

Two people is a bit tricky. Clark make a two person hammock but you need three nicely positioned trees. I still take a tent when my wife is there too.

[Onestepmore]

I havn't looked, but I'm sure youtube will have have plenty of vids of various makers hammocks & there differences.

Oodles of vids on Youtube
Make up the drink(s) of your choice, kick back and relax
The styles of the Brits vs the Americans are quite different, different emphasis in their camp style. Quite interesting.
For a start, have a look at Shugemery's hammock how-to series. I think he has about 10 in this set. Entertaining as well as informative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NZVqpBUV0

[perfectlydark]

Not worried about falling out but not getting any sleep! Dont get me wrong my brother has a hennessy and I found it quite comfortable to relax in end of day, but sleeping a no go here sadly

[Orion]

The double hang pic was meant to be 'tongue in cheek', not serious ...

As was my response.

But the social part was serious. I'm guessing most people cook outside their tent/hammocks whereas we are usually in the tent and halfway in our sleeping bags for dinner and breakfast.

You have to forget your tent mindset & be open to change. Site location, setup, sleeping, lounging and cooking are all different in a hammock.
Some like it, some don't.

I'm open, but probing just the same. I've slept in portaledges which are hammock-like but with a rigid steel rectangular frame. I'm not sure the hammock experience is anything like that. I really like a firm surface; even the Neoair is too soft and wiggly for me.

I wonder... are hammocks a fad? Or will they be just as popular or more popular ten or twenty years from now?

[ofuros]

mmmm, only time will tell i guess....

I tried a hammock because of my bad back issues, and they have helped to keep me bushwalking when I
thought I would have to give it away. So I will always have a soft spot for them.

But, they are very easy to customize, from fully enclosed storm tarps to the good ol' rectangular shape, myriad of colours,
different suspensions, side or foot end access.....maybe that is part of the reason why they're popular at the moment. Personalization.

[photohiker]

I'm guessing most people cook outside their tent/hammocks whereas we are usually in the tent and halfway in our sleeping bags for dinner and breakfast.

If you have a look at a few of Shug's trip videos, you'll find many examples of cooking from the hammock and social camping. Is it different to tenting? yes.

eg:



Doesn't get a lot more social than that. Not sure I would have invited the lightning to camp though

[andrewa]

Perfectlydark, I roll around a lot in bed, or a tent, too (dont overinterpret this), as I am forever getting uncomfortable. I was surprised how little I needed to move around in a hammock, although rolling over did take a bit more effort than doing so on a flat surface.

A good underquilt is needed for a good night's sleep. A sleeping mat is challenging to stay on, and doesnt insulate the sides, where a sleeping bag also gets compressed. I also think a decent tarp would go a long way to keeping warm, as I felt there was a fair bit of air movement under my Hennessy tarp. Phillipsart had a great one made from cuban fiber which I think he got from Z packs ( I may be wrong here). It went right down to the ground. Im not sure whether this would cause condensation issues though.

Also, hammocking wasnt necessarily that light. The Hennessy I have is about 1.1kg I think, but then add quilt/underquilt. My zpacks twin is ?600ishg, and I only need one quilt (6-800g), and a sleeping mat, and I've got more room to move.

Andrew A

[nq111]

I would certainly recommend trying out hammock camping.

For one, personally, I think those that persist with a tent in the tropics are as nuts as those that try to persist with hammock on the west coast of Tassie (not actually aware of anyone... but it fits the story ).

My standard warning is that you may not be immediately 'settled' when trying to sleep in a hammock - it may take a few nights as the sleeping experience is very different. But very worth it too.

I prefer a model with a pad pocket. This gives good protection from mosquitoes and allows the use of a mat instead of an underquilt (which provides go-to-ground redundancy if essential). I use an exped symnat ul (LW) and it is plenty big enough for me (at 6'3"). However this is a heavier solution than a good underquilt.

Otherwise the exact choice of hammock once you get amongst the better brands designed for this sort of thing is probably personal (like a suitable pack or footwear).

[andrewa]

My Henessy is a "bottom entry" version. I'm not convinced I made a good choice with this. It complicates bottom insulation issues. If. You're buying a hammock have a good think about how you want to get in and out. I chose mine based on planned use in NZ where there are zillions of sandflies.

A

[Orion]

Can anyone point me to photos or videos of people laying flat on their side?

[simonm]

Can anyone point me to photos or videos of people laying flat on their side?

I don't have any to hand but I did sleep quite comfortably the other night on my side for a period of time in my hennessy.

[simonm]

Orion - check out this link http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCamping.html, not exactly what you are looking for but better than nothing.

[simonm]

Also, hammocking wasnt necessarily that light. The Hennessy I have is about 1.1kg I think, but then add quilt/underquilt. My zpacks twin is ?600ishg, and I only need one quilt (6-800g), and a sleeping mat, and I've got more room to move.

Andrew A

You can get much lighter hammocks though Andrew. Even Hennessy has lighter models, which are about 700 grams I think???

The room a good tarp provides is really worth it too if you are camped in one spot for a while, you have so many options for set up and can have it so you can walk around whilst it is raining and then close it down when you are sleeping, if need be. I just got a tarp from Evan at Terra Rosa Gear and can't wait to get it set up .

[cams]

One more comment about moving around while you sleep. Swinging in a hammock was definitely the wierdest bit when I first got it. I think I'm a lot more used to it now but another advantage of the Warbonnet is the elastic tie outs on both sides. This damps the swinging a lot, as well as providing a nice open area above you.

[photohiker]

Can anyone point me to photos or videos of people laying flat on their side?

Haven't seen many photos, lots of talk though

Here's some talk:

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/sho ... hp?t=22311

http://andrewskurka.com/2012/hammocks-t ... omparison/

[photohiker]

Ok, found some pics:



Sydney Heritage Fleet (includes plans for the hammock)



From a Hammock Forums Post

[michael_p]

Just on under insulation.

I have a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (IAC) pad in the long and wide version. I place it between the two bottom layers of my hammock and it wraps around under me really well (and I'm a big guy). The first time I used this combination I woke up in the morning and thought it was a bit cool in the hammock, then I removed my quilt and realised it was lot colder out of the hammock. Was tempted to stay put for a while but really had to visit a tree if you know what I mean.

I also have a Big Agnes Clearview pad in the long and wide version. Although I haven't tried the Clearview in the field yet as I haven't done a warm weather overnighter. Maybe this summer I might get a chance to try it and see how it goes.

I have tried using a closed cell foam (ccf) pad once but this was disappointing. My arms had to remain on my chest or they would fall onto the cold skin of the hammock. Since then I have learnt that people make wings for the ccf pads (see here: http://hikinghq.net/hammock/wing_pad.html ) to keep their arms warm. Lesson learnt.

Cheers,
Michael.