Hammock Camping 101? Fix it, repair it, how do I do it, what's the best part to use, and now: how do I get there?

[ipl31]

[joeball]

I've only seen people in .83 with Hennessey Hammocks, they start at If you pay more you are paying for something lighter and/or bigger.

Temps in the 40's can be tough, to get insulation under you. Once you climb inside with a pad and your bag and nothing to hold on to it can be hard to get arranged. That and most pads are narrow. Sleeping on your side is possible in a hammock but is also easy to roll off your pad or have it slip out and then you cool quickly from underneath. I re-experienced all of this last night.

[ipl31]

Thanks. The one thing I am worried about is my knees bothering me if I am sleeping with them above my waist. But I figure I can buy it from REI try it out for a night or two and return it if doesn't work.

Any suggestions for pads that would fit well with it?

[joeball]

Not a full length thermarest or Exped.

My small 3/4 thermrest worked ok and was less in the way, you climb in through a slit below your feet so with a short pad you don't have it pushed to the side, then you sit on the pad and lay back and it stays in place pretty well but again most small, thin, pads are not that wide.

What I experimented last summer with was an RV sunshade, basically foil covered bubble wrap, 10-15$ at an auto parts store, for summer it worked pretty well if you can convince your self it helped you retain heat in three ways: conductive, convective, and reflective. It doesn't really compress but packs small enough. I'll be using it this summer again.

I wanted something warmer last night and I didn't really find a solution. The underquilts/insulation make sense but cost as much or more as the hammock and complicate the situation I feel.

As for position, your butt usually is the lowest point, I try to hang the head end up a few inches higher but even if I get my head above my feet, my feet are usually more elevated than they would be if I was on the ground.

[Alex]

There will be lots of hammocks on Ben Country. I think there were 8 last year.

The 3/4 length thermarest is the best budget option that I've found for insulation. The trick is that you want something a bit wider because it wraps more around your body than it would in a tent.

I also have the Hennessey Super Shelter setup, which is an undertarp and piece of foam to provide insulation. It's too expensive for what it is. It works okay, but it complicates hammock setup and I still find it limiting when temps fall much below 45 or 50. Last night I used it and the 3/4 thermarest and was very warm.

The super expensive option that gets rave reviews is the Jacks R Better underquilt, which is like another sleeping bag that hangs below your hammock. I'm tempted, but $260 is a lot of dough.



Hammocks are tricky. They are really comfortable and it's nice being able to setup without flat ground. Keeping warm when it is cold out is the hard part.

[ipl31]

[fatasian]

[key lime]

[eärendil]

Has anyone tried a ? I've been thinking about getting one to use with my hammock, it's light, it packs small, has an r-value of 4.1 (the best thermarest is 3.8), and it's not as expensive as one of those quilts. It's not though.

[lantius]

i tried out a super-thick exped downmat 9 deluxe, and the thickness was actually kind of a negative. there isn't a massive amount of internal space to begin with, and as andre said it can be hard to get situated. maybe if you are sure it's going to be "real cold" but probably overkill for three season use.

the main thing i've found with hammocking is that you really need a wide pad - that shoulder coverage is key. because of the way the hammock wraps around you, any place that touches the hammock is basically under compression and at 'outside wind temperature'.

what works best for me is the <a href="http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/thinlight.html">gossamer gear 1/4" thinlight wide</a>. the wide pad is 40", meaning it actually wraps around you. it's cheap, incredibly light, and basically indestructible. down side is that it's bulky and doesn't compress for packing. i think you can get 3/8" or 1/2" from other sources if you need more, but this has totally been fine for summer camping for me.

[henry]

[mcrawfor]

http://www.friendlyfoam.com/

Asked for closed cell, choose a width you like, i have quarter inch. Cheap as shit, warm as can be.

Henry:

I told Lee once that the tent was still the way to go for couple-camping, but he told me "No - just do it before you get in the hammocks. It's all about <b>the good night's sleep.</b>"

So... watch out, Ben Country.

[joeball]