Hammock, poncho, ...

[gunnix]

Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a while and found that many are very experienced and have some good advice.

So here I am to ask some advice about what equipment I'd buy.

I've slept in a hammock in the Danish sailboat "Danmark" for 3 months and found it very comfortable. Actually when I returned from the ship I said I'd want to sleep in a hammock for the rest of my life.

So I'd like to have a hammock set to sleep in the woods.
Currently I own nothing but a cheap sleeping bag...

I saw the jungle hammock of http://www.mosquitohammock.com/, which looks good and at a reasonable price. Does anyone have experience with this hammock? Is it a good deal?

Would it be better to just buy a normal hammock, a tarp (or even a poncho?) and a mosquito net instead? I'd like to have no problems with mosquitos, and it seems to me that a built in mosquito net like the jungle hammock has is superior, am I right?

....

What do you suggest as a good hammock set for sleeping in colder climates like Denmark or Sweden? Or would it be better to sleep on the ground besides of a fire there (it seems hard to warm you with a fire in a hammock)

.................
Secondly, I'd like to buy a poncho which you can use as a tarp too. I saw one of 50 euro in a surplus army shop here, but that seemed just a bit too much. Are there any good cheap poncho's which you recommend?


Thanks for reading,
gunnix

 

[redflex]

I find the built in net much better as is much easy to use, it also means it is easy to keep things out when it is not in use.

The tarps are very quick to use and it all packs down together very hassle free.

Must poinrt that I have ordered just order a hammock from http://www.mosquitohammock.com/ but this is as I use them in rainforests as well as Uk so the net is very important.
With http://www.mosquitohammock.com/ you can also ways order different tarp depending on your need.

This true of Hennessy Hammocks (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/) aswell they are also very good hammocks. Hennessy also are doing system for sleeping out in winter http://www.hennessyhammock.com/new-products.htm.

have a look at these threads aswell

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=9729

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=9677

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=10593

 

[gunnix]

Thanks redflex!

I saw some people here have a DD hammock (http://www.ddhammocks.com)
Are you protected from mosquitos inside, or do you need an extra mosquito net?

EDIT: Well I now read so much about hammocks here and on other pages, I really don't know what to choose anymore . I guess I'll just buy the jungle hammock

 

[gunnix]

Just saw the cotton tarp in MagiKelly's group buy. Now I thought of this:
Do there exist any kind of cotton poncho's (or made of other natural fibers) or cloaks, which you can use as a tarp as well? I realise they probably wouldn't be waterproof as clothing, but they could be good as a tarp.

I'd rather buy stuff in natural fibers because I think they are more easily repaired, and I don't like synthetic stuff in general.

 

[capacious]

Hey,

I have one of the mosquito hammocks (the expedition version) and it is utterly beautiful. I love it. If you buy one of these you will not regret it - it is a touch bulky, but that is not a problem for me, and a small price to pay for such a great quality hammock. I have the rain fly he makes as well, and that is perfectly adequate, but nothing special.

Personally I think it is better to have the mosquito net attached to the hammock, but this really is a matter of personal preference, and I'm sure that many would disagree.

As for cotton ponchos, I've never heard of one, but 'Westinds' make clothing in ventile to order, but I'd imagine this would be horrendously expensive. You can get woolen ponchos, but they are not the hooded type, but like the one Clint Eastwood wore in 'Fistful of Dollars', so they wouldn't be all that good as a tarp. Or even remotely, come to think of it.

And for cold weather, you would just need a warmer sleeping bag, but if you want a fire just stick to sleeping on ground, as a hammock would be a hindrance rather than a benefit.

A poncho for using above a hammock would be a little too short, 3m is really the shortest I would like to use with a hammock, but I have used my Aussie Hootchie and that was ok at a pinch. The best poncho is the U.S. Army version - much better than the British one, and you can pick them up here brand new at about £15. Or, there a plenty of cheap, rubberised nylon ponchos which cost little more than £5.

I hope that helps,

Jake.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Just saw the cotton tarp in MagiKelly's group buy. Now I thought of this:
Do there exist any kind of cotton poncho's (or made of other natural fibers) or cloaks, which you can use as a tarp as well? I realise they probably wouldn't be waterproof as clothing, but they could be good as a tarp.

I'd rather buy stuff in natural fibers because I think they are more easily repaired, and I don't like synthetic stuff in general.

IKEA do a nice linen fabric on the roll at £3.50 a metre. If you make up a tarp from it and paint it with Thompson's Water Seal it'll do the job well enough.

Eric