The story-
Having spent a year or so using a Warbonnet Blackbird style hammock, which I really like, it got me thinking about having a dedicated hammock for winter, another for summer.
Toying with the idea one day of hitting foreign shores where they really do get below -10, I mulled over a solution (for me) on down bag compression in asymmetrical
style hammocks. Enter the Warbonnet Ridgerunner.
Its a bridge style hammock, meaning it uses support poles top/bottom to give the user a flat, wide lay. I've been reading up on this style of hammock for a few months
and all the reviews for the WB have been positive. Not as 'tippy' as others and no shoulder pinch issues that I could find, a design problem in bridge style hammocks due to the U shape of the fabric.
I have no experience of other bridge hammocks and this is not so much a review as a simple detailed look with an honest opinion. My summary so far comes from two hours kip.
The hammock-
I opted for the double layer, simply because sometimes I like to use a mat in the gap (as per other hammock) and I generally feel its worth the
extra weight. The RR material, poles and general lay out have been well thought of and are of the highest standard including stitching.
One feature I really liked was the fact that the bug netting can be unzipped around the head and sides and stows in a neat little pouch in the foot area.
Useful in winter when you are fighting with bag liners, bivis ect and there is no real need for netting due to lack of insects.
I would have personally preferred loops and toggles rather than flat tape, as tying bows with cold hands can be interesting. I can live with it though.
One concern being the actual maximum user height of the hammock (so this will count for very few) was possible compression issues of down in the footbox/head area.
When you set it up it looks a fair size smaller than an end gathered hammock and I thought 'Jeez, this is going to be close'. It appears that even this has been taken in to account
and purpose build pockets/bellows have been fitted top and tail to accommodate. I thought this was a superb feature being how many people will actually use, or even notice this!
Another clever feature on the hammock is something Warbonnet call 'saddlebags'. They are fitted on both sides at the head end and are basically two pockes to keep all your junk in~ headtorch, phone ect.
They can be accessed from the inside with the netting zipped up. I managed a phone, set of keys, Silva alpha headlamp (not small) and a sheathed bark rived bravo 1 with loads of room to put more stuff.
It would have been nice to see these double layer possibly (with the negligible weight penalty) but they look sturdy enough if you bear sharp objects in mind.
It seems that this has been a very well thought out hammock. The bridge/pole system has been smoothed on all edges to reduce/remove damage to your tarp if contacted
and not all tarps due to the wider nature of the bridge will be suitable if you prefer a standard A frame. If you like to have porch open style, no bother.
I opted for the WB Superfly which worked well in a standard A frame, even without the pullouts being used although it was a still night. There's a couple of videos
on the tube of U showing the RR/Superfly to give you an idea.
Pulleys on the bug net cables-
I opted for the flat tape and buckles system as I've used this before briefly and liked it.
The straps shown are non standard from Dutchware, although the WB straps are no different really, just plain black.
Overall impression!? Well, its been with me for less than 48 hours and I was planning to be still in it now, but a phone call dictated otherwise.
Build quality is superb and lots of time has been put into the little things to make a great complete package. Its possibly marginally heavier than some hammocks due to the poles,
but I bought it as a purely winter system for extremes, which it does a superb job of by the looks. I had no bag compression anywhere other than the underside I was lying on.
Using an Alpkit skyhigh 800 I was stupidly warm. Too warm in fact.
As a side note,
you can ditch the poles and use locking walking poles, the type that have camera attachments. I'm not personally a gram counter though.
It is a little 'tippier' than a standard end gathered hammock, but pitching the support straps slightly steeper than I normally would seems to reduce this.
Overall, I really like it. the only way I can describe the lay is like lying in the middle of a trampoline, I had no problems nodding off shortly after climbing in.
Mental note, switch the phone off next time I go out for some 'me' time
A big thanks go's to Mat at UKhammocks for swift delivery. One pole was the wrong size on arrival and these things happen.
Quick ring and it was resolved in less than 24 hours with calls to confirm postage ect. now that's customer service!
The chicken you ask? spatchcock poussin fire roasted and served with Ainsleys spicy cous cous. Humble but darn tastey!
Live well, al.
Having spent a year or so using a Warbonnet Blackbird style hammock, which I really like, it got me thinking about having a dedicated hammock for winter, another for summer.
Toying with the idea one day of hitting foreign shores where they really do get below -10, I mulled over a solution (for me) on down bag compression in asymmetrical
style hammocks. Enter the Warbonnet Ridgerunner.
Its a bridge style hammock, meaning it uses support poles top/bottom to give the user a flat, wide lay. I've been reading up on this style of hammock for a few months
and all the reviews for the WB have been positive. Not as 'tippy' as others and no shoulder pinch issues that I could find, a design problem in bridge style hammocks due to the U shape of the fabric.
I have no experience of other bridge hammocks and this is not so much a review as a simple detailed look with an honest opinion. My summary so far comes from two hours kip.
The hammock-
I opted for the double layer, simply because sometimes I like to use a mat in the gap (as per other hammock) and I generally feel its worth the
extra weight. The RR material, poles and general lay out have been well thought of and are of the highest standard including stitching.
One feature I really liked was the fact that the bug netting can be unzipped around the head and sides and stows in a neat little pouch in the foot area.
Useful in winter when you are fighting with bag liners, bivis ect and there is no real need for netting due to lack of insects.
I would have personally preferred loops and toggles rather than flat tape, as tying bows with cold hands can be interesting. I can live with it though.
One concern being the actual maximum user height of the hammock (so this will count for very few) was possible compression issues of down in the footbox/head area.
When you set it up it looks a fair size smaller than an end gathered hammock and I thought 'Jeez, this is going to be close'. It appears that even this has been taken in to account
and purpose build pockets/bellows have been fitted top and tail to accommodate. I thought this was a superb feature being how many people will actually use, or even notice this!
Another clever feature on the hammock is something Warbonnet call 'saddlebags'. They are fitted on both sides at the head end and are basically two pockes to keep all your junk in~ headtorch, phone ect.
They can be accessed from the inside with the netting zipped up. I managed a phone, set of keys, Silva alpha headlamp (not small) and a sheathed bark rived bravo 1 with loads of room to put more stuff.
It would have been nice to see these double layer possibly (with the negligible weight penalty) but they look sturdy enough if you bear sharp objects in mind.
It seems that this has been a very well thought out hammock. The bridge/pole system has been smoothed on all edges to reduce/remove damage to your tarp if contacted
and not all tarps due to the wider nature of the bridge will be suitable if you prefer a standard A frame. If you like to have porch open style, no bother.
I opted for the WB Superfly which worked well in a standard A frame, even without the pullouts being used although it was a still night. There's a couple of videos
on the tube of U showing the RR/Superfly to give you an idea.
Pulleys on the bug net cables-
I opted for the flat tape and buckles system as I've used this before briefly and liked it.
The straps shown are non standard from Dutchware, although the WB straps are no different really, just plain black.
Overall impression!? Well, its been with me for less than 48 hours and I was planning to be still in it now, but a phone call dictated otherwise.
Build quality is superb and lots of time has been put into the little things to make a great complete package. Its possibly marginally heavier than some hammocks due to the poles,
but I bought it as a purely winter system for extremes, which it does a superb job of by the looks. I had no bag compression anywhere other than the underside I was lying on.
Using an Alpkit skyhigh 800 I was stupidly warm. Too warm in fact.
As a side note,
you can ditch the poles and use locking walking poles, the type that have camera attachments. I'm not personally a gram counter though.
It is a little 'tippier' than a standard end gathered hammock, but pitching the support straps slightly steeper than I normally would seems to reduce this.
Overall, I really like it. the only way I can describe the lay is like lying in the middle of a trampoline, I had no problems nodding off shortly after climbing in.
Mental note, switch the phone off next time I go out for some 'me' time
A big thanks go's to Mat at UKhammocks for swift delivery. One pole was the wrong size on arrival and these things happen.
Quick ring and it was resolved in less than 24 hours with calls to confirm postage ect. now that's customer service!
The chicken you ask? spatchcock poussin fire roasted and served with Ainsleys spicy cous cous. Humble but darn tastey!
Live well, al.
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