I’m thinking of changing up my backpacking strategy and wanted some feedback.
I’m thinking of going from being a 100% hammock camper and instead sleeping on the ground under a tarp.
I used to be 100% convinced that hammock camping was the “one true way” to camp but I think I’ve come 180 degrees.
Basically my new strategy is going to be sleeping directly on the ground under a tarp, with a wool blanket and sleeping right next to the fire with a reflective tarp behind me.
The negatives for hammock camping are completely solved in this configuration.
- The gear is all rather cheap. Wool blanket, tarps are pretty cheap
- Setup is super easy. Not very complex. With the hammock setup there are underquilts, overquilts, hammock socks, proper hang, etc.
- No fire at night
- Difficulty of getting in and out quickly / easily.
- Back issues bending in and out of the hammock at night time.
I think the main thing that drove me this direction was a discussion I had with a native american on a bus to Yosemite.
His tribe was from Yosemite and his grandfather taught him to just sleep directly on the ground next to the fire. He preferred this setup and after thinking about it for a long time I think he’s right.
I can have my tarp right next to the fire. I can have the fire going all night long. If I get super cold, I can just throw some more logs on the fire.
I can put reflective material on the back side of the tarp to keep me warmer.
For comfort I’m planning on setting up a hammock tarp / camp chair setup where it’s basically just a small piece of ‘tarp’ material hung over a tripod.
The ability to ‘sit’ in the wilderness in a real chair and be comfortable in the hammock was what drove me to that strategy but I think this will give me the best of both worlds.
Thoughts?
