mrpickl
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"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." ~Norman Maclean
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Post by mrpickl on Jun 22, 2016 10:50:06 GMT -8
OK, OK, OK, It's a quote from Kevin Costner's Robin Hood that has been stuck in my head ever since i got a hammock as an early father's day gift. I have decided that since i'm just getting back into hiking, backpacking, and camping why not make a complete spin on it and try it from inside of a hammock instead of a tent.
first off i'm looking for gear that is cheap. I don't have any problem on spending real money on good gear. I just don't know if hanging out in a tree is my final answer. But, I want to know and not speculate. I currently have a cost effective parachute hammock and a top entrance sleeping bag. Other than that what other gear or pointers or short cuts or mistakes do i need to learn from or about?
How big of a tarp?
Ridgelines why are some inside and some outside of the tarp?
Where do you put your pack, shoes, and other hiking gear?
OK, discuss! Zen-smiley
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jun 22, 2016 13:20:37 GMT -8
While we have some experienced hammockers here, your best bet will be to head over to hammockforums.net. And look up some of Shug's videos on youtube. As for cheap, I got my hammock/bugnet/etc. from someone at hammockforums. Check their For Sale forum - after you've kinda figured out what you want. Warning - there are many ways to hang a hammock, even in identical conditions. You can put some gear under your hammock since the tarp will presumably keep it dry. Small stuff you can hang from the ridgeline (like the headlamp you might want at 3am), either by themselves or in little bags.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 22, 2016 13:21:45 GMT -8
Gear is so often informed by location and season.
So: where and when?
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mrpickl
Trail Ready!
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." ~Norman Maclean
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Post by mrpickl on Jun 22, 2016 13:35:44 GMT -8
Spring, Summer, Early fall... Southern Appalachians.... Around Asheville and such
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Jun 22, 2016 14:07:44 GMT -8
What is the length of your hammock? That will help determine what size tarp you should use. A shot in the dark is to look at the Yukon Outfitters fly. It is around 14oz, I think, and is pretty functional for late spring, summer, early fall at a price usually under $50.
You will need insulation under you so make sure you check out Shug's videos on that. you can use regular pads in the hammock.
Gear fits under my tarp right next to me in my hammock.
Ridgeline configuration is based upon personal preference. Over the tarp is usually argued to wear the tarp less. Some tarps are guyed out directly instead of using a ridgeline. You set it up, you decide.
+1 for Reuben's suggetion that you check out hammock forum.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jun 22, 2016 14:43:27 GMT -8
you can use regular pads in the hammock. Well, maybe you're different, but for many hammockers that backpacking pads tend to shift, which can be both annoying and cold. Double layer hammocks allow you to put a foam pad between the layers. For colder weather an underquilt is usually needed.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jun 22, 2016 17:06:38 GMT -8
I use a Hennessy Hammock Ultralight Asym. I'm a bit on the simple side but I use the same setup as I do on the ground (same mattress). It's works alright for me but in shoulder seasons, I tend to throw my rainshell next to me to keep the wind from blowing in. Otherwise, I'm fine. I've considered the underquilt and technically own one now so I guess I could experiment with it in winter conditions. The tarp on mine is extremely small but has withstood some intense weather (Mid-winter trips, sleet blowing sideways, etc). I use utility biners to clip my pack and gear underneath. The only tricks I'd pass on are to hang a water bladder or similar to the side points on your tarp when heavy winds are blowing to keep it from moving or lifting. Otherwise, my hammock is my best shelter for a great night's rest. Pure heaven...
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jun 22, 2016 18:56:45 GMT -8
The right hammock makes a huge difference on whether it works for you or not. Happily for me, I went with an asymmetrical hammock right away, meaning I spent some money on it, instead of getting your average $35 ENO hammock -- I have an ENO someone gave me and WOW, I would not recommend sleeping in it. Not compared to a Warbonnet or Hennessy or Dream Hammock or other shaped hammock that does so much better at letting you sleep flat in it....
Also, pads kinda suck in hammocks. And I got a double layer which works better than just sticking a pad in the regular ENO parachute hammock.
My boyfriend tried a cheapo hammock with his NeoAir. He prefers a tent. GEE, WONDER WHY? Wait, I know....
He would do better in a bridge hammock, but, like so many people... he's too cheap. SO I end up in the frickin' tent when we go somewhere together. Just got back from the chiropractor....
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Jun 23, 2016 7:29:04 GMT -8
I use the Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro, which is extra wide, so I can lay diagonally. I have used my Therma-Rest Scout pad in it very easily. It doesn't slide because the material is a little "rubbery". I also have a Ponch Liner Underquilt as well, which works well for May-September at lower altitudes. I can add the two together and be comfy down to about 25.
Reuben is right that the UQ is better, but it isn't needed when you start out. Dropping a couple hundred bucks on an underquilt can be pretty daunting to someone starting out. Go with what you have, adapt as you use it, upgrade as your finances allow. In my opinion, (which isn't worth much but I've been using hammocks for over 20 years), the most important thing is to get out and use it. Set it up in the back yard or somewhere close to home and try it out. Work on your set up, adjusting ridgelines to get a good sag, playing with your tarp to set it how you like it, messing with your insulation to be sure you will stay warm if it gets cold, and lastly having some fun with it.
...and I still say check out the Yukon Outifitters Walkabout Fly. If you want to go bigger, do a google search for the monster fly, it is solid for winter and can be set up nicely to allow breeze through in the summer.
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jun 23, 2016 7:50:37 GMT -8
The thing about some of this gear... you can get it used, on Hammock Forums. Or you can sell it used, on Hammock Forums. And hammockers have been known to loan gear, even mailing it to people, on Hammock Forums. And if you live near one of the "hangs" (where hammockers flock together) you can go and the hammockers will let you climb in their hammocks of all kinds, all styles, underquilts and pads and bridges and all, try them all out.... Hangs are posted on - yep - Hammock Forums. There's a subforum for it. Biggest of the get togethers are on the east coast. So you should go read all the endless, hundreds of posts on Hammock Forums... it'll answer questions you haven't even thought about yet.
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Post by Coolkat on Jun 23, 2016 9:48:28 GMT -8
that does so much better at letting you sleep flat in it.... Interesting... this is why I've always avoided hammocks. If one can sleep flat in one I could be tempted to try one. Oh yeah.. what about us stomach sleepers?
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jun 23, 2016 11:34:33 GMT -8
that does so much better at letting you sleep flat in it.... Interesting... this is why I've always avoided hammocks. If one can sleep flat in one I could be tempted to try one. Oh yeah.. what about us stomach sleepers? Bridge hammocks are where stomach sleepers tend to go. I can almost do it in my Warbonnet Blackbird. Primarily, I am a side sleeper, and that works really well in the asymmetrical models like the Blackbird. Any hammock you can manage to be on the diagonal in, you can sleep flat. THe bridge hammocks are like sleeping in a long trench -- definitely flat.
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Post by cheaptentguy on Jun 24, 2016 13:36:06 GMT -8
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mrpickl
Trail Ready!
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." ~Norman Maclean
Posts: 11
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Post by mrpickl on Jun 24, 2016 17:17:45 GMT -8
reuben Whether or not i s ever get completely off the ground remains to be seen , But i Must sent a heartfelt thank you for suggesting the Shug videos... He is an absolute Hoot and one Day i hope to procure him a beer for his wisdom. Thank you!
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jun 25, 2016 13:22:59 GMT -8
mrpickl, I've never met Shug and don't know much about him, other than he's a professional clown (dropped out of college to the horror of his parents, as I recall), and a really really nice guy, not to mention a very experienced hammocker. The world could use a lot more Shugs. A LOT more Shugs.
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