What’s Your View Towards Hammocks?

[Jeff Brown]

Over the past couple of years I've been experimenting with a backpacking hammock. Last week I set it up in a screened-in outdoor patio and I've been experimenting with different types of insulation, hang adjustments, and working with various knots.

While I was doing this I realized that I haven't seen much discussion on hammocks here in the forum and I'm was curious about what people think about them, and how they rest with the lightweight backpacking community.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Jeff

[Hikin’ Jim]

Mixed results for me.

Where I live (So. California), finding trees to hang the thing off of can be difficult. Basically, I only bring the hammock if I'm going to an area I know well and know that there are suitable trees. Also, the hanging straps that came with my Hennesy Hammock are kind of short. They're very limited as to what size of trees they can go around. I've taken to carrying climbing webbing with me so I can supplement the hang straps.

In cool weather, I don't like them a bit. I've spent nights in the hammock, chilled, where I'd have been fine with a similar sleep set up on the ground.

On the other hand, in good weather, it's the best sleep I've ever had on the trail. Super comfortable.

HJ

[te – wa]

we have a reasonable hammock forum here. it can only grow with your input. there is no reason for anyone to be cold in a hammock with all the current methods of staying warm, down to Zero and below.
i agree, HH straps are way short. fortunately, hammocks are largely a DIY and Cottage item, so finding ways to improve the suspension is just a simple matter of shopping. Strapworks, for instance, has polypro 1" webbing for very cheap, and you only have to bartack to make a tree hugger. DIY down underquilts are a different story, you can take on the exciting task of making one to suit your needs, or you can purchase one from any of the fine vendors.

its so nice to see something that started 5,000 years ago (mayan) getting proper recognition in today's outdoor equipment spotlight.

go hammocks!

[BlackHatGuy]

Love hammocking. My preferred method of backcountry sleeping. Been nice and warm and toasty and comfortable down to 3 degrees (and snowing).

[Jeff Brown]

Thanks for your input guys. This is very helpful.

There does seem to be a learning curve regarding how to keep warm, but I'll continue experimenting until I find the best system(s) for me. I personally have always found it tough to get comfortable sleeping on the ground, so figuring out hammocks seems like it will be a worthwhile endeavor.

[Andy F]

I made one (Speer-like) with a modified end gathering for comfort. But, I simply sleep better on the ground. I usually only use it for afternoon naps when car camping now.

For insulation underneath, I liked using an Exped Downmat rather than a CCF pad or underquilt. It insulates much better than an underquilt if you have to sleep on the ground for some unexpected reason too. I found that it helped me lay flatter too.

[Hikin’ Jim]

To quote myself:

In cool weather, I don't like them a bit. I've spent nights in the hammock, chilled, where I'd have been fine with a similar sleep set up on the ground.

Emphasis added.

I know there are ways to stay warmer in a hammock (underquilts, etc.). At a certain point, at least for me, the weight added up to more than what I would need if I slept on the ground. The hammock then got relegated to warmer weather use.

HJ

[BlackHatGuy]

"the weight added up to more than what I would need if I slept on the ground"

Yup. Staying toasty in cold weather in a hammock, for me, means carrying more weight in my pack. But, for me, it's completely worth it, as I sleep much, much better, and wake up much more refreshed, when sleeping in a hammock. And I mean, by far.

But that's me. We are all, of course, different.

[Ken Thompson]

Yup. Staying toasty in cold weather in a hammock, for me, means carrying more weight in my pack. But, for me, it's completely worth it, as I sleep much, much better, and wake up much more refreshed, when sleeping in a hammock. And I mean, by far.

A big +1

Best sleep ever.

[te – wa]

yes-
but-
lol

many 3 season UQ's just as light as pad
you can get by with a nightlite, but why?
even 3 season neo-air almost as heavy as te-wa Freeze

winter: same deal. many 0 degree UQ's weigh between 18-24oz

if you need example, see my pack list good to 20 F

I would never sleep on a 3/8 torso ccf to save 8oz. that's absurd.
my $0.02

(be mindful that my current pack is for carrying a 5 day food load, with 4 liters of water. for 2-3 day trips, i use a pack that weighs 17oz)

[Stephen Barber]

Doug and Ken say:
"Yup. Staying toasty in cold weather in a hammock, for me, means carrying more weight in my pack. But, for me, it's completely worth it, as I sleep much, much better, and wake up much more refreshed, when sleeping in a hammock. And I mean, by far."

Same here. The increase in weight is minimal, the increase in comfort is phenomenal!

[David Lutz]

Is there a trick to side sleeping in a hammock?

I only have one night in a Hennessy Asym. I was on a pad and the pad kept working it's way in-line with the ridge, which had me following the arc of the hammock.

I'm going to get an underquilt and try that.

Based on that one night, though, I can definitely see the potential……

[Ken Thompson]

Underquilts will add a level of comfort unatainable elsewhere.

[Dale South]

There is a forum dedicated to hammocks, hammockforums.net. I have been a member there for six years. Some wonderful, cleaver and smart people over there. Check it out. You can learn new techniques for lighter, easier and quicker DIY suspension systems, under quilts, top quilts, hammock socks and thousands of other ideas.

I have slept warm and toasty down to 1.8 degrees with 40 mph winds and snow in mine. My lightest system for hammock and rain fly is less than 16 oz including suspension and rain fly guy lines. My under quilts weights are similar in weight to pad weights for sleeping on the ground.

[Jeff Brown]

Thank you sharing some of your views. This has been a very interesting article for me to read.

I too am sold on the comfort of a hammock. Soon after I first slept in a hammock I said to myself, "Wow, this is incredibly comfortable. Why aren't they more popular?"

But as I started to learn ways of keeping warm and how to hang my hammock properly, I came to realize that hammocks, at least winter hammock setups anyway, can be kind of a complex system.

[Paul Wozniak]

I couldn't get comfortable with the shoulder pinch. Sort of like trying to sleep in a taco shell. This in a Speer homemade. I am 6'0", 210 lbs.

Solutions???

[Jeff Brown]

Hi Paul,

I don't have a solution, but you might want to check out the BPL hammock section, or start a thread on the topic if necessary. I'm sure someone can help you out.

[Eugene Smith]

"What's Your View Towards Hammocks?"

Hostile… just kidding.

In my own personal process of simplifying my backcountry experiences, I eliminated hammocks from the equation. What I found was that after a 10 hour day of hiking all I really required to get a solid night of rest was a warm meal, pad, and quilt, for me this is lighter and significantly more simple than rigging a hammock suspension, hammock, tarp, underquilt, and topquilt. It boiled down to eliminating extraneous items, weight, and bulk from my pack- hanging above the ground is an unnecessary measure for me to take in obtaining sleep while backpacking… I do willingly accept a less than hammock level of comfort in the evening by choosing to sleep on the ground and I'm ok with that.

[Ken Thompson]

Eugene. With a little practice you should be able to rig up a fully tricked out hammock in less time than setting up a tarp. Easily.

[Joe Clement]

No really any trees where I hike. That made my view easy.

[The Cossack]

best sleep since the womb

i have a cheap light hammock from hammock bliss and for me it is the way to go-
simple- light and cheap

15 oz with whoopie slings and tree huggers-

25 bucks for the hammock

gossamer gear pad for cold temps down to around 20- 30 bucks

8×8 tarp 30 bucks

[Yuri R]

Excited to see this post as I've just got myself a Hennesy Ultralight Backpacker for cheap and have never tried hammocks before.I plan on using one all over California and maybe Oregon.

I'm surprised to see so few people leaning towards this option as hammocks seem pretty light compared to the lightest tents and even some tarp+bivy combos.

Plus the multiple use aspect seems great – chair during the day, bed at night. Bug, mice, small animal protection since you are in the air. The tarp that comes with many hammocks can be used for shelter even when the hammock itself is not deployed. Hammock can also be used to pull all food and gear into the air away from bears if you plan on a day hike out of the camp.

[Chris Peichel]

Hike high, sleep in hammock

Way better then sliced bread

[spelt with a t]

I have a Henessey, but I keep thinking of stuff I want to do with it based on other setups (manufactured and MYOG) I've seen. But I'm just getting started. Therefore I tell myself firmly and often: NO major purchases or mods until I have enough practice with the hammock I DO have to know exactly where it doesn't measure up.

I've never enjoyed sleeping on the ground. I roll around too much to be able to stay on a pad, and spend too much time on my side to be comfortable on one. The hammock keeps me contained in comfort while still allowing me to fidget. I was apprehensive to take the plunge for my first backpacking shelter, but I'm glad I did.

[Matthew Perry]

You won't regret it.

—-M

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