Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: george81 on April 07, 2014
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So had a day off work, spent the day online which ofcourse lead me to the forum. After looking at the photos of the last camp I decided to order a new tarp and hammock. All tips on best setup welcome.
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You wont be sorry. What did you go for?
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For hammock suspension - Tree huggers and Whoopie Slings
For Tarp - Evenk knot at one end, Tautline hitch or Truckers hitch at the other.
Good work on buying the hammock - you'll not go back to tents!
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Ordered a basic one from Dd with a 3m tarp. Well impressed with their service, I ordered it after 3 yesterday and it wad delivered this morning!
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I have the DD and tarp, it's good gear.
This is what I reckon I've learned in no particular order.
- Don't hang it too tight, it should hang banana shaped
- If you aren't sure how tight you might like it use car roofrack straps to attach to a tree at one end, then it's dead easy to adjust
- Your first few times make sure you've plenty of time to get setup in the daylight. If you're unconfident then setting up in the dark is a pain
- Make sure there's nothing that would injure you if you fell. Not that I ever have but I find I dwell on it if I know there's a pointy rock beneath
- Check the trees above to make sure there's nothing waiting to drop (good advice for all forest camping)
- Lie diagonally across the hammock rather than straight down the middle, it flattens it a bit
- If it's raining watch for water running down the straps that attach to the tree or tarp ridgeline (or use o-rings)
- Personally, for some reason I find my ankles get cold pressing against the hammock. I've really no idea why but thick socks help
- Gravity will always have your bum descend to the lowest point as you move around. It's easier to just start there rather than trying to lie with your head higher than your feet by pulling yourself up the hammock
- You don't want to be too high or too low. I find the best height is where my feet can only just touch the ground when sitting on the lowest part of the hammock
Ordered a basic one from Dd with a 3m tarp. Well impressed with their service, I ordered it after 3 yesterday and it wad delivered this morning!
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Ordered a basic one from Dd with a 3m tarp. Well impressed with their service, I ordered it after 3 yesterday and it wad delivered this morning!
Up in the back garden tonight then ;D
You'll not regret it they're fantastic best nights sleep ive had in a hell of a while I dont even want to think about going back out with my tent.. Have a look on YouTube for different set ups but try and not over study them like I did, it just over complicates it for you. My best advice would be just keep it as simple as you can and you wont look back. Let us know how you get on...
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I am new to hammocks also and with all the advice you will get from these folk is both welcome and great.
I agree on dont over think it keep it simple. Have tried webbing straps on its own and works for me simple and quick. But will be trying huggers and whoppie slings out next trip. as I say take advice from these folks and welcome to the forum.
I just made a home made under blanket out off army poncho liner some para cord and elastic cord all for 12 pound. looks job but let you know how it hangs next trip out.
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I'm waiting for one of you swingers to turn up at camp with one of these:
http://goo.gl/GjWDrs
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Awesome ;D and I already have the disco ball to go with it 8)
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And the lights as well. :)
Awesome ;D and I already have the disco ball to go with it 8)
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Dont think the platforms would be much use in the hills though ::)
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Glenn if i had trees it would have been up already. May have to go find some woods to test, think im gonna cut down thé slings and try using thé remainder as tree huggers with a couple of karabiners.
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A word of caution on shortening your whoopies; it will reduce your choice of hang spots - and with a tarp thats usually a good half metre longer each side you may struggle to get an ideal spot.
Also, wider webbing as a hugger does less damage to the tree itself...
I have the wide huggers, whoopies and a couple of heavy grade carabiners as o rings - setup is less than a minute and you get a much broader choice of spots.
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Thanks for advice and ordered whoopie sling kit, would have got it this morning but thé postie was acting like à ninja and left wee red card instead!