Hammock advice

[velvetmonkey]

Hi there,

Was on an overnight camping trip to Coney Island recently with my wife.
We travelled by canoe down the river Bann and made our way across to Coney Island for a quick tent overnighter.
Anyways, one of the guys with us had set up a hammock for the night and I was more than impressed.

I'm thinking of buying one, but don't know the first thing about them, or what type to go for.
He had quite a large tarp along with his hammock, and looked to be well set up.

Rather than just going ahead and buying one, can anyone out there advise which type to go for?
Does make and model matter much?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[b0ogaloo]

Hi

Did you try his rig out ?

I own a DD hammock and I have been in a Hennesey hammock

The DD hammock has served me well over the past few years, recently I ordered a custom one from UK Hammocks which should be here this coming week

Hammock choice is very much an individual thing and they range in price from £20 -  £170  ish

With the more expensive Hammocks  namely Hennesay, Warbonnet and custom one you can lie diagonally across the hammock giving  the user a lot more room and a flatter lay. you can also sleep on your side rather than back. although I have managed to sleep on my side in my DD but it was rigged very taught between the trees

Theres an American dude called Sean Emery he has a channel on youtube and I'd recommend you watch his eight part  beginners guide to hammock camping , very informative and amusing

As for tarps the DD 3x3 is probably a good all rounder ... the XL  is as its says XL i have both and only use the XL in winter


Andy

[velvetmonkey]

Thanks Andy for your advice, I'll check out DD hammocks on ebay etc. as well as checking out that youtube link.

The guy did let me lie in it - seemed a lot more comfortable than lying on the ground.
I'm thinking apart from the comfort side of things, there would be less to carry with a hammock set up as opposed to a tent, as I tend to bring along another groundsheet to use as a tarp anyway.

Another advantage would be that I would have to get fairly comfortable with tying knots etc.

[Hunter]

I spent a weekend in march at lake Fern in Donegal in a DD hammock best weekends sleep i ever had away camping.

[b0ogaloo]

Under insulation is very important, even in our " summer" .

The DD has a double layer of fabric fastened by velcro in which you must put some form of insulation . be it a foam mat .Thermarest or what I use an Exped downmat. My downmat doesnt move inside the hammock but I used to use a thermarest which did
The ideal solution is whats called an underquilt which is basically a quilt that is strung under the hammock . Snugpak make a synthetic underquilt for £80  or you can go the down filled option from Uk Hammocks, Warbonnet or Hammockgear.com but as you can see they are pretty expensive .. i haven't got one but a UK hammocks winter quilt is on my to get list this year

As for knots ... its nothing fancy.I have the karabiner and knotted tree hugger mod done to my DD so no knots to tie while hanging the actual hammock , I use a truckers hitch to tension the tarp line , no rocket science involved

Andy

[velvetmonkey]

Thanks Andy, but that last bit about knots etc was double dutch to me!

I know I'm going off topic, but anyone know a good website to instruct on knot tying?

[b0ogaloo]

Try this one

Andy