Zen and the art of hammocking.

[Ogri the trog]

I have never used a hammock before, but I have invested in a DD hammock, which I intend to try out at my first meet next w/end ( I am taking other sleeping arrangements if it doesn't work out!)

Any advice would be great, I intend to use a standard MoD issue Basha with it but I am not sure if it will be to short !

Greg,
Make yourself known and we can chat about whatever you want. I'm no hammock expert but I can bounce ideas about for you to try.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Gailainne]

Hi
Could someone explain the diagonal concept ? I'm having a hard time seeing what you mean ! I have a DD hammock, and I would imagine like any other hammock with no stiffners at either end to keep the hammock open it would enfold you, from the hanging points, so how can you sleep diagonally ?????.

If possible I think a few photos/sketches rather than explaining it in words might be best....I'm an engineer...me likes diagrams.

 

[Pablo]

I think the idea of sleeping diagonally is that you keep the hammock tauter thus reducing the droop in the middle. Not easy with a DD hammock as it's not that wide. I have tried it in a DD but I ended up with my face and feet on the opposite sides of the hammock. This isn't too comfortable as it's like laying on a knife edge

My recent experiences of hammocking in this weather are here if anyones interested.

Pablo

 

[Gailainne]

Pablo

Nice site and very nice write up I am really looking forward to playing with my hammock, rather than my tent, hopefully sooner rather than later, work permitting I plan a long weekend this month in my favourite part of Scotland, the west coast, particularly Arrisaig.

Stephen

 

[rik_uk3]

Whats the typical weight of a hammock, tarp, moggy net and under blanket setup?

What do hammock fans use when there are no trees about, do you use a frame of some sort, or just limit your camps to forested areas?

The reason I ask, is that I am drawn to the hammock setup, but at my age, its going to have to come in lighter than my Golite Hex 3 and thermarest to make the investment worthwhile

I have a US Jungle hammock, not liked by some here (but not all), but it's about the same weight as my tent, add to this a tarp and net and I'm worse off; plus, to be honest, I do like to "close the door" at the end of a day, so my new hammock setup would need to really save weight to get me to buy

All advice welcome

 

[Gailainne]

Rik
The DD single is 2.6 kilos thats inbuilt mosi net and a tarp (1.7k) underblanket, shrug no idea, the thing I like about the hammock concept, (bugger all to do with RM) is that even with a thick thermorest, my back can't handle sleeping on the ground, (too many bad falls skiing I suspect) I havent tried it in anger yet, but hope to soon...if it doesnt work its back to a lilo, and I hate those things.

BTW re tarp someone bought up this site tarps
Appologises for forgetting who a descent size is a full kilo lighter. Hope this helps

Re closing the door, even in a tent I try to keep the front door open, sunsets, sunrises, the stars sweeping across the sky, lol even crappy weather, I must admit to enjoying nature...I know there is probabily something wrong with me, but while I'm camping the worse the weather the better I like it.

Please dont get me wrong I do not even attempt to cook in such weather, but retreat to the nearest hostellery, with cold beer and hot food on tap..(so to speak)
But a peaceful nights sleep under canvas, bring it on

 

[Greg]

Greg,
Make yourself known and we can chat about whatever you want. I'm no hammock expert but I can bounce ideas about for you to try.

ATB

Ogri the trog

Thanks Ogri the trog,

So do I ask for Ogri or do you have another name?

 

[dommyracer]

its going to have to come in lighter than my Golite Hex 3 and thermarest to make the investment worthwhile

Not a chance I'm afraid.. I enjoy hammocking, but if I was walking any distance or going somewhere where there's no trees then its floor time.

I do like to "close the door" at the end of a day,

Oh no, this is the best part of bivvying IMO. Those hex 3's look good when you want a bit of privacy though

 

[Ogri the trog]

So do I ask for Ogri or do you have another name?

Just shout, someone will point you in the right direction, my whole family will be there so I'll have distractions as well as a good excuse to leave them for a wander. Tony will know my whereabouts as well. It should be a very informal event, (just like all the others) so half the fun of looking for someone is all the other members whom you stumble across in your quest.

As far as a real name is concerned, Pete sometimes works but "Oi!" gets a more immediate response

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Greg]

Ok Oi! I mean Pete!
Cheers

 

[Zodiak]

I suppose I was wondering If anyone else has little tricks for getting comfortable in a hammock that might be worth sharing.

Hmmm, I find that if I stay up till 2AM and go to bed tired then I can sleep thorugh anything so it doesn't matter where my feet are or which angle, I am oblivious

The only problem is that on my back I snore like a 2.5 V8 motor with no exhaust pipe and keep everybody else awake.

Last year I got bannished from our site on the second night and went a good 200m away from everybody else, out the site, across a valley and and into some private woods, I have no idea whose. It was a cold still night and they could still hear me so they called on my mobile to shut up!!

Mind you its useful at scout camp as the "young people" can always find you at night

 

[oops56]

Put a dam clothespin on your nose :AR15firin

 

[Wayland]

The only problem is that on my back I snore like a 2.5 V8 motor with no exhaust pipe and keep everybody else awake.

I can sympathise with that one, I usually set up slightly away from everyone else if I can for the same kind of reason.

The problem at meet ups is that others often end up taking pitches near by, later on.

I suppose we could always issue cotton wool to stuff into ears if needed.......

 

[Zodiak]

Its been a while since I last posted on this topic, and things have moved on Please jote that I am an explorer scout leader so most times I am with half a dozen or more other people, probably on a scout site, and I don't normally get to put my rig up until everybody else is ready, which for a weekend away will probably be around midnight!

I am STILL persisting with my lightweight basha pitched diagonally, but the way I rig has completely changed.

I now use a 12m length of 9mm"paracord" as a ridge line because the normal stuff snapped one night as I was setting up in a storm. Deep joy. It is heavier and takes up as much room as the tarp but I trust it.

I had to replace my OG paracord guys because kids kept tripping over them. My first experiment was guys with reflective flecks in them, but they were not really that visible after a few trips so I swapped them for bright yellow ones. These worked really well.

Earlier this year I tried using bungees instead of guys, and they certainly make setting up faster, However the extra tension meant I had to use hard ground tent pegs which are like 9" nails with a plastic top, Ideal for Kent but bulkier.

This made my rig even bigger so I have gone back to the yellow guys and smaller pegs. Last week I added some plastic cleats to simplify set up and they were fine, but the biggest bonus was how much it simplified taking down.

As for my hammock I now use a set of £5 luggage straps from Lidl (or was it Aldi?) with ratchet claws. I just wrap them round the tree and tie the ends to my hammock. Sorted, secure, fast and so far no visible damage to the tree itself. The added bonus is that I can just release the ratchet to adjust the height of the tarp in seconds.

I reckon I have knocked at least 5 minutes of my set up time through the kit and another for practice, which is useful last thing at night. The down side is sheer bulk and weight. I used to be able to store my rig in an old S10 gas mask bag, but it won't all fit now. This isn't normally a problem as I never tend to be more than a few hundred meters from my car, but if I were out on foot I would have to look again.

My final big of new kit, which is absolutely brilliant, literally, is my mini LED lantern. It is about the size of a 35mm film canister and lights my tarp perfectly. I can read by it, get changed, but most importantly find my way back to it after I have had to get up in the middle of the night! It cost £6 from http://www.scoutshops.com/acatalog/Lanterns.html Also available in pink

 

[nobby]

I've got that same lantern and it is good as ambient light, but I don't find it bright enough to read by. My eyes, however, are getting fairly old
At present I have to use my headtorch on its brightest, 3 led setting but would prefer a hanging light to read by. I am thinking of either a luxeon led or 3 led type lantern instead.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Well, I can manage in a DD - although I'm also waiting for a MagiKelly hammock for that extra space. I'm just shy of 6', so I imagine it would be tricky if you're any taller than that. Although if you curl up a bit on your side it might work...

Hammock length is more an art than a science. I'm now using a Groupbuy hammock, and I've never had a better kip outdoors. Originally though, I bought a Thai hammock off Ebay for me and my brother in law.
I'm 6'1" and the Thai hammock was too short for me, whereas my 6'3" brother in law sleeps like a (big) baby in his.

Cheers, Michael.

 

[Zodiak]

Hammock length is more an art than a science. I'm now using a Groupbuy hammock, and I've never had a better kip outdoors

Couldn't agree more, they are wonderful.

My previous rig was a cheapo netting hammock, well actually a new one each year they kept breaking, but it was much shorter and worked well with my tarp pitched square. Now I have to put it diagonally and during wet weather lower it right down close, which makes getting in and out a right pain and the end can still get damp if the wind changes.

I think my tarp is 3mx2m so I could buy a second one, pop stud them together and make 4x3 which would be great, but I can't guarantee the new one would fit, it would take up more room in my bag and unless I kept them fixed together it would add time to setting up. This would cost around £35.

My other option is buy a DD hex fly, which is big enough. This would be smaller, lighter, easier to set up, but cost £55. I could probably flog my old one on e-bay for £10 so it would actually only cost £10 more. But then I wouldn't want to light a fire under it, because its nylon

Decisions decisions...

 

[harryhaller]

My other option is buy a DD hex fly, which is big enough. This would be smaller, lighter, easier to set up, but cost £55.

DD hex fly? I can't find that on DD's site - can you post a link? Sounds interesting.

 

[mjk123]

>>Whats the typical weight of a hammock, tarp, moggy net and under blanket setup?

hammock plus underblanket (I tie them permanently together) plus waterproof bag: 2.5kg
mossie net plus stuff sack 250g
tarp 500g
straps, guy lines, tent pegs, plus inflatable pillow 750g.

All in: about 4kg, and good down to 10oC comfy.

Compare to tent(2kg?) + mat(1kg?) plus sleeping bag(1.5kg?). You mileage may vary, but lower weight of hammocking isn't really a convincing argument.

>>What do hammock fans use when there are no trees about, do you use a frame of some sort, or just limit your camps to forested areas?

There's the major factor; availability of suitable pitch for either hammock or tent. Where I live you can't find many places to pitch a tent stealthily. Trees are plentiful, except above the tree line. A tent expresses a definite intention to stay the night. A hammock is for lazy ramblers.

Another benefit of a hammock, IMHO, is that simply being off the floor by a couple of feet you avoid exposure to morning damp that always comes out of the ground, nomatter what the weather.

 

[harryhaller]

Where I live you can't find many places to pitch a tent stealthily. Trees are plentiful, except above the tree line. A tent expresses a definite intention to stay the night. A hammock is for lazy ramblers.

That's a very good point, mjk.