Hammock setup

[mattmacman]

Hey guys I finally have some cash spare after chrissie to buy a hammock setup, I know quite a bit about them after some previous posts however I know theres some guys and gals out there that are on another level.
For the main hammock its become a tossup between the Warbonnet blackbird double layer 1.1 or the Hennessy Explorer Ultralite. Now Im not aiming for this to be an ultralite setup, rather a comfortable and easy to use well thought out setup that i can just relax in after a long day of hiking. I am quite set on the Hennessy hex tarp in polyester rather than silnylon as it is only 120 grams more but is much cheaper and wont stretch which is important to me, I wanted the hex shape as I would appreciate the ability to still move around in rain and cook underneath whilst being in a sheltered environment.

The Hennessy is slightly more expensive however you get the tarp with it and they have a promotion at the moment where you get a free small hammock and two sets of snake skins. I like the side foot box of the warbonnet but I wont let it be a deal breaker or maker as i dont mind too much, does anyone with experience think it makes too much difference?

Im also wondering about all the customisable's such as the suspension system the tarp ridge line and so on. I know whoopie slings are meant to be the bees knees but i still cant figure out how they work, im also looking at the triglide setup from Jacks are better, http://www.jacksrbetter.com/Strap%20Set.htm for suspension. Other things im looking at include a continuos ridge line and some dutch clips to just simplify the setup.

My main concerns are comfort and just being able to walk into camp in rain pull out the tarp chuck that up then get the hammock up in snake skins whilst cooking up a brew while the tent noobs get all wet and confined to their tents.
THANKS FOR ANY INPUT =)

[Liamy77]

You could talk to bluegum mic re the whoopies....

[mattmacman]

Hahah, thanks for the suggestion liam but I dont even know what length I need them!

[Strider]

I finally have some cash spare after chrissie

What's your secret. I spent all mine!

[Bluegum Mic]

Hiya Matt.

Most people go with a six foot whoopie. Basically all it is, is a spliced amsteel rope that has a fixed loop one end (either goes through the channel end of the hammock or larks head around the gathered end). The loop at the other end is adjustable and goes over whatever your using on your tree huggers ie the knot of your marlin spike, dutch buckles, elephant trunks (what I use), carabiner etc. Not sure if you've watched them but Google shug emery and watch the hammocking for noobs videos. Theirs 10 of them, they are very entertaining and he covers everything about hammocks. I can't remember who the other one that did some good vids on suspension (grizzly Adams??? Hmmm I can't recall).

I've used my whoopies and I've used an amsteel daisy chain direct on the tree strap via my elephant trunks (smart outdoors is the website for them).

Im currently having a custom dangerbird made in the states by Papasmurf (Randy). These are a gathered end hammock that has both a no seeum top and a momentum top (both zip away to their own storage bag at the peaks of the hammock- opposite ends). So for hot buggy weather have no seeum top. For cold, foul weather, sand blowy weather have the momentum top deployed. Im having a double layer 1.1oz made and it comes in at 600 and something grams. Ill have it Feb sometime if you want to wait for me to try it and give feedback. Otherwise hammockforum.net has posts n pictures on it.

As for warbonet BB or henessey you can't go wrong. The other week when I caught up with a few members from here/HF their was mostly warbonnets. Im sure they will chime in with some great feedback.

Good luck, happy spending and enjoy. Once your in the trees you won't want to be a ground dweller again

Last edited by Bluegum Mic on Thu 05 Jan, 2012 7:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

[andrewa]

I've got a HH. About to get its first backcountry christening in NZ over the next few weeks. I'm using whoopsies and carabiners for hanging-whoopsies bade from Dyneema from boating shop; carabiners coz I will have them anyway from my rafting throw bag. The tarp is smallish, and presumably adequate for the hammock, but I personally like a bigger covered space if it's pissing with rain, so we also take a silinylon 10'x8 tarp between 2.

I'm looking fed to some less usual camp sites along the river, as where we go has lots of trees, and bit many flat spots for tents.

A

[HitchHiking]

Hey Mattmacman. Youll love either hammock! Hennessy has marketed very well and is made offshore. They are very good no doubt if you get the one to suit your height. They are popular for a reason is one way to say it.

I got a Warbonnet BlackBird over two years ago now and really enjoy it. They are made in the USA and are lighter then the hennessy (depending on the model) but dont come with the tarp included. Its very comfy and easy to keep warm with the right kit.

The old hammock set up is a slippery slope eh! You will have a heap of fun trying different things with it.

Here is a video I posted a while back with my set up. Hope it helps

[Bluegum Mic]

Gosh I want your karo step UQ. If you ever go to sell it...

[forest]

Both will serve you well.

Me, I'm a Blackbird kinda guy 1.0 Double
Love the footbox and the shelf is great and a much loved feature of the WBBB's.

Looks like the Hennessy model you are looking at is a side zip. That's good.
Only nit pick I have with Hennessy's is the bottom entry as I'm no fan and it makes using an UQ interesting.

You will love the hammock on those hot WA days, they are unbelievable in the heat !! Soooooo cool
Awesome in the cold if you do things right too.

Anytime there are tree's about it's the one item I will not take from my pack.

I'll agree that it's all kinda daunting to start with but there are plenty of people around in OZ and on Hammock Forum that are only too happy to help out with information.

Shug's youtube video's are a great start for the hammock NOOB !!
Damn, I still like watching them.

[mattmacman]

Thanks for the responses guys, I do like the look of the WBBB more than the HH but the HH comes in such a great package its hard to turn down! The only real feature that excites me about the WBBB is the footbox as the other features aren't massively important to me. Does the HH give a good lay?

[Stuntman]

I have both HH expedition bottom entry and a WBBB 1.1 double.

I like both, but prefer the zip side entry on the WBBB vs the bottom entry of the HH. I also found that I prefer the bigger fly than is standard with the HH - makes great living/working space if its wet - you'll find your setup becomes the social meeting point of the tent dwellers with the bigger fly.

In either case I find the side zip just makes getting in and out and getting yourself organised easier and quicker - especially with an underquilt. The reason I found the WBBB is because I didn't appreciate the HH postage overcharging. Other than that both good products.

I also have my flys setup in seperate snake skins on seperate ridgelines -great if you pullup somwhere and you want some quick shelter and it makes setup/pull down quicker in my opinion. So worth looking at an extra set of skins if you go the HH route.

[Ticklebelly]

I bought a HH online just before Xmas and am very happy with the product. Bought HH over WB on a perception of value for money. Until I get the opportunity to try a WB, I just don't have enough info to argue for one over the other. I have slept in the HH 6 times so far in rain and fine weather and used it straight from the packet with only the stuff that came with the device. Standard tarp is fine in the wet and the Hex tarp also works fine. What I got for the money works and I'm having fun learning about hammock camping. i don't think you can go too far wrong with either.

Ticklebelly

[Pteropus]

Recently I briefly showed my girlfriend some pictures of hammock set-ups posted on this forum but mentioned to her that I didn’t know if I could sleep in a hammock since I am mostly a front sleeper...the whole conversation lasted about 1 minute...and a few weeks later she gave me a HH Expedition A-sym for my birthday! Not bad eh She said she knew I might not be able to sleep in it but at least now I can find out. I was eager to find out myself, if I could sleep in it. We were on a property in western Qld over Christmas and New Year and so one afternoon I strung it up between two young box trees, and despite a big thunder storm threatening to drop by I slept really well (and the storm missed us)! I love it! I loved the feeling of swaying that lasted 10 or so minutes after getting up in the morning too! Just like getting off a boat!!

The Expedition A-sym is a bottom entry hammock, which takes a bit of getting used to...I dont think I got used to bottom entry/exit in the one night I used it. It also weighs 1.2 kg, which is a bit more than both my Tarptents (Moment and Rainshadow 2). However, it packs to approximately half the size of either of the TTs and it has its own sweet tarp included! I know nothing else about hammock camping yet and it looks like a whole new world (what's all this talk of “whoopies” and “ underquilts” ?!) but I know I will defiantly use it. I used a 3/4 length air-mat just to keep myself off the hammock as I was unsure about mozzies attacking through the base, and I had no dramas what so ever. My girlfriend tried the hammock out a few nights later though and didn't bother to use the air-mat, and she did get bitten through the base of the hammock quite a bit. Over time I will read through all the hammock posts here to get tips on the best set ups....but alas, I don't see much opportunity for multi-day hikes in the busy near-future..

In a total coincidence, I got my girlfriend a king-sized cotton Mexican hammock for Christmas. It’s pretty sweet too...except it doesn’t have any protection against mozzies or the weather like my new toy does!

[Bluegum Mic]

Nice one. She sounds like a keeper Yes I love my hammock...so much so my custom new one is being sewn as we speak (he just emailed me). Very excited. Hopefully we can organise a SE QLD hang. There's a few of us now

[Liamy77]

out of interest could folks post exactly what hammock, quilts etc they use? - just to see what the general consensus is?

[Marwood]

You're no more likely to get a consensus about choice of hammocks than you are to get agreement about which tent to choose.

But here's my setup:

Hammock: Warbonnet 1.0 DL (no longer made).
Hammock suspension: AHE straps and whoopies.
Tarp: Warbonnet Edge (with STLs made from S2S reflective cord, ridgelines of Zing-It with Dutch's Tarp Flyz).
Underquilt: Warbonnet 3-season Yeti.
Top Quilt: Hammock Gear 20°F Burrow.

Total weight with stuff sacs, pegs, etc is about 2.2kg.

Attachments

[Bluegum Mic]

Agreed I think your going to find a varied response but that being said its always good to get a range of responses to see what's out there.

Hammock- I have a tenth wonder hornet rigged with whoopies/daisy chain depending on where, tree straps (arrowhead equip) and elephant trunk buckles (smart outdoors). In a few weeks time ill have a dangerbird custom (ill post pics).
Underquilt- I have a 2/3rds diy IX (insultex) and Im just finishing a climashield apex insulated DIY underquilt.
Top quilt- I have a rab top bag converted and am in the process of converting my mountain designs ultra 500 down bag. It makes an awesome quilt.
Tarp- I have the Terrarosagear prospecting tarp. Awesome coverage and can close in for 4 season stuff. I had it rigged on zing it ridgelines but I found the prussiks jammed so I made a double amsteel ridgeline which works well. Hitchiking is about to make me an adventuring tarp in coyote brown (silnylon) to go with my new hammock for summer stuff. They are great pieces of gear.

[cams]

Used mine for only the second time on the weekend. I've had to sleep on the ground a few times in between because I didn't want to leave my gf sleeping alone in the tent...on the ground. Definitely definitely more comfortable. I think I'll have to get her a hammock too.

My setup:

Hammock: WB Blackbird 1.1 double layer
Suspension: Stock webbing straps. Although I have some whoopies from Bluegum Mic waiting to be installed
Tarp: ZPacks standard hammock tarp
Top Quilt: Mont-Bell UL DH #3 works well unzipped. Or I have an enlightened equipment -7deg quilt for when it gets colder
Under Quilt: Another enlightened equipment quilt

Haven't figured out the best way to attach the under quilt yet. How do others underquilts attach to the blackbird?

Last edited by cams on Mon 09 Jan, 2012 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Marwood]

How does others underquilts attach to the blackbird?

[ofuros]

My ongoing setup,

Hammock................Hennessy Explorer Ultralite ( chosen because its made for the taller guys like me... 6ft & over)

Suspension...............Endless climbers slings + rap rings ( easy to set up even in the biting cold with gloves on)

Fly.........................Hennessy Typhoon ( compact, + 3 tie down points each side, for those nasty, squally westerlies
that blow down in Tassie. Bullet proof. Can add the End Doors in really severe weather.

Insulation Top...........Modified Rab sleeping bag similar to Bluegum mics ( viewtopic.php?f=53&t=7943 )
Great mod, don't have to pretend to be a inch worm any more ! )

Insulation Bottom.......Hennessy Super shelter( good to about 0-5c, will have to add a light underquilt when heading down to
Tassie on my annual pilgrimage).

[ULWalkingPhil]

out of interest could folks post exactly what hammock, quilts etc they use? - just to see what the general consensus is?

Warbonnet blackbird 1.1 Dbl
Warbonnet Camo Superfly
Warbonnet 3-season Yeti under quilt
Whoopieslings
Hammock Gear 20F burrow top quilt

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Last edited by ULWalkingPhil on Mon 09 Jan, 2012 3:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[photohiker]

Warbonnet BB 1.1 double
Whoopiesling and treestrap suspension
Wilderness Logics Tadpole Tarp for dry trips
ZPacks Hammock Tarp with doors for winter trips. (New!)
LeighLo V2.1 20F UnderQuilt with triangle suspension doohickeys. (New!)
ZPacks Sleeping Bag as topquilt (30F + Overstuff) (New!)
Thermarest lite seat for foot insulation, thanks Shug! (New!)

With hiking poles and groundsheet this should be a groundable setup. Not tested yet though.

Sent from my spaceship orbiting earth

(Just Joking)

Last edited by photohiker on Mon 09 Jan, 2012 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Sent from my spaceship orbiting earth

(Just Joking)

Sent from my iPhone killer GT-I9100 using Tapatalk someehrre on earth

[Bluegum Mic]

Photohiker how do find the leighlo. Ive been toying with the idea that might be my next purchase down the line.

[photohiker]

Yea, they're well hidden, but you can find them Here.

Leigh is currently running with about a month of orders in backlog. I ordered mine on Nov 15th and it was shipped on Dec 21 (big Christmas rush apparently) Arrived here Jan 3. No big deal, it was 40C the day it arrived. If it works as well as it looks, it'll be awesome. Really well made.

[photohiker]

Haven't figured out the best way to attach the under quilt yet. How do others underquilts attach to the blackbird?

Usually with some shockcord or similar to the gathered end at each end. People make a bit of noise about Triangle thingies, so I ordered some with my UQ. Easy to make apparently. DIY Triangle Thingies

[Bluegum Mic]

Ha! Sorry. I phrased that wrong. I meant how do you find it as in do you like it, quality etc. I've been eyeing off her underquilts for a while. They look great.

[photohiker]

haha. Sorry about that.

It all looks great. The stitching etc is first class. I haven't done anything but look at it yet as it's either been too hot or I've been too busy.

Must work out a couple of hang poles here at home, we've got a big block but nowhere to hang a Hammock! Could have hung it all today, the temp has struggled to get over 20C all day.

[Macca81]

out of interest could folks post exactly what hammock, quilts etc they use? - just to see what the general consensus is?

Hammock - Home made, one end whipped the other end gathered. Whoopie at one end and UCR at the other.
UQ - Home made, from an old sleeping bag. I need to make a decent one, this one was a quick fix that i have not gotten around to replacing.
TQ - Nunatak quilt.
Tarp - Oztrail or Coleman, not sure, cheap thing from a local outdoor store.


Total cost of setup, approx $50

[mattmacman]

Hey guys sorry I havent got back to you, I have been busy (in the absence of school) fishing and on the Hammock forum trawling through info, but tonight i ordered my full setup!
It shall be...
Warbonnet Blackbird 1.1 Double layer
MacCat Deluxe sil nylon tarp
Dutch buckles (AWESOME THINGS!) + Amsteel whoopies
Dutch tarp flyz + cord to make ridgeline

Havent got quilts yet but will look into them =)