Hammock help!

[Blechy]

Good evening all,

I'm after an opinion on Hammocks. I've used a Tent whenever ive gone camping, but now want to move into the world of Hiking with a Hammock

I was looking at this one: http://supremehammocks.com/shop/cotton- ... o-netting/

Seems to be a decent price and is exactly what im looking for, ie, Something I can completely cover myself in at night, I may love the outdoors but spiders terrify me, even the thought of one inside the hammock

Can anyone else suggest anything? I'd even look at some sort of swag, but i love the idea of Hiking with a hammock.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Phil

[undercling-mike]

Looks a bit funky to me, the top 'tarp' portion would pool water in rain and wouldn't provide much protection anyway. Also looks and sounds heavy and bulky.

It's going to be more expensive to get a good camping hammock but worth it over the one you linked because I don't think it's fit for hiking. For an integrated net hammock look at the offerings from Tier Gear (Made by forum member Simon in Australia) or Hennessey Hammocks or Warbonnet. Make sure to investigate the different suspension options and consider that you will also need a tarp and some kind of bottom insulation (pad or underquilt).

[Gadgetgeek]

That one looks like a hanging swag, not a good walking choice. I have to run, but I'll add more info this evening when I get back. You height, weight and budget will help me give you some thoughts!

[simonm]

Here is a link to mine as referred to by undercling-mike (thanks) - http://www.tiergear.com.au/11/online-sh ... wk-hammock.

This is a review of one of my hammocks that was won in a fundraising raffle on a the BushcraftOz forum - .

[Gadgetgeek]

Like Mike has said, you can use some of your old kit, get some new kit and see how you go. I'd start with a Tier Gear one as a starter, as you will spend a fair penny on a warbonnet (although if hammocking isn't for you, the warbonnet will be easiest to move along again) And in a lot of cases any large-ish tarp will work well, so you don't really need a specific "hammock" tarp, and they are a handy bit of kit regardless.

Take a look on youtube for a guy named Shug, he's a bit of a goofball, but really dialed in, just watch those and get an idea of how things look, what sort of setups there are to consider, and from there you'll have more info in your pocket. A big factor is the type of terrain you are going to be in, I've been in several places with heaps of trees, and not one to hang from due to either species of tree, or obvious widow-makers. It can be very frustrating dealing with some of the trees here.

My personal setup is a hennessey explorer zip with a home made tarp. Its quite good, they have been around a long time for a reason, but they don't work for everyone. the hennessey tarp is pretty small unless you upgrade, fine for okay weather, but not enough coverage in prolonged rain.

[photohiker]

That Texsport hammock is 7 pounds! Thats over 3 kilos.

http://www.texsport.net/hammocks/texspo ... mmock.html

[ErichFromm]

The hammock in op looks dodgy and likely to tip... I have a wb blackbird and love it but second getting one from simon. shug is awesome too...lots to learn. unlike tents, hammocks take a little skill to set up: no two setups are exactly the same so worth a little reading/watching up...

[Blechy]

Thanks for all the detailed reply's!! I'm a member of a few forums for different hobbies (Arnt we all? haha), but I really didnt expect the kind of response i got

I look forward to getting more involved in this forum and getting out of the city!

Thanks all!
I'll be sure to keep you posted on what I decide

Phil

[Gadgetgeek]

No worries man, its a small community here, but they are a great bunch. If you have more questions, or thoughts, ask away, there are plenty of people who can give you advice based on their experience and mistakes.

[McGinnis]

All the advice above is good (esp. watching Shug's videos).

I bought my first hammock going on 10 years ago (a Hennesy Ultralite Backpacker), and while I like it very much and have used it often in places I could never have pitched a tent, I find it far too cramped nowadays. Whether that's because I'm no longer a slender 65 KG or because I'm somewhat more precious about comfort at the end of a long day I don't know - but whatever you do, make sure the hammock is sized appropriately for you. Gathered-end asyms are unforgiving if they're too small.

The other thing that irritates me recently is the 'birth-canal' entry, as it was called; it's fiddly and irritating in the middle of the night, and I think the zippered option (which simply wasn't available when I got mine, even as an aftermarket mod 2QZQ style) would be vastly more convenient - though I haven't tried it, and I imagine a good hang is quite important so as to ensure enough slack is present to zip cleanly.

My next hammock will most likely be a WBBB DL 1.1, with a proper underquilt setup and possibly a 'gear hammock' below, though I do like the look of simonm's gear (linked above).

As far as tarps go, I've always found the tiny stock Hennessy diamond tarp perfectly adequate for staying dry, through some pretty wet weather (though nothing torrential); but I do love the Warbonnet Superfly. Overkill? Maybe, but I like to go out in wet weather, and it's nice to have a refuge big enough for more than just sleeping.

Another point to consider is what other outdoor activities interest you. If I'm walking, my shelter depends on where I'm going. On the mountain bike, I usually take a tent; if I'm kayaking, I almost always take the hammock, as it can be almost impossible to find flat, dry sites in some places.

Good luck with your choice.