Modified the contents of the tread into a handy list....
1, I use a wool picnic blanket rather than an old tarp on the floor under my tarp, I like having the soft/warm dry area to sit on when cooking, its warmer on my feet etc
2, I tie a ridgeline between the two gathered ends of my hammock to take the tension and keep my hammock "sagging"
3, to this ridgeline I connect a stuff sack to put my "bits" in over night. Phone, headtorch, keys etc
4, I like having my hammock very close to the ground, mainly so I have access to everything underneath me, I can use it as a seat and based on one previous bad experience with my webbing snapping (i'm only 11 stone!) I don't want as far to fall this time!
5, Bath pouf net hammock sleeve :- I saw this on youtube a while ago then another member on here posted a link shortly afterwards Anyway a bath body scrub pouf thing - beware buying from e-bay as they tend to be too small, Tesco IIRC are 75p. You snip the string holding it scrunched up and it opens out into a long net tube, stretchy to easily go around the hammock keeps it in a nice compact tube so once hung can be kept out of the wind to stop it billowing out like a sail. They are pretty fragile though so you do have to be careful with them.
6, prussic on ridgeline :- used to hang a torch on a carabiner on it can slide to where I want it but not slide off on it's own.
7, Velcro loops on a pouch :- Velcro loop a pouch to the ridgeline to use as a dump pouch for wallet, glasses, keys etc.
8, I hang my head torch and car key on the internal ridgeline at night.
9, I take a fabric conditioner bottle in with me for a pee bottle (wide mouth) lol
10, I put a small piece of breathable groundsheet underneath for standing on when getting in and out.
11, 2 sticks in the ground for my boots at night located near the hammock entrance.
12, I use a cheap old string net hammock as a storage space hung within arms reach above the hammock for clothing and other stuff I might need handy
13, Struggling to get comfy...try hanging the foot end higher than the head end
14, Also I like the rocking motion in the hammock so have sometimes tied a line I can pull to start swaying.
15, I use a yoga mat for insulation under me. Although heavier than a foam mat they are larger in all directions, like me
16, Structural ridgeline make it really easy to get rhe sag in your hammock right every time. Especially if hanging between trees that are not the optimum distance apart.
17, I have the TW Green Hornet - the double zip version. I've tied some Grizzly Cub cord to the zip pullers so I don't have to reach far to pull the zips shut.(open the zips fully then tie a piece of cord to each end).
18, Don't wait till you are camping to use the hammock. Take it out set it up in the woods after work and mess around. Even if you think you have it nailed. It gives you much more experience but also you don't have the urgency of needing to sleep in it, or getting it sorted before you run out of light. The bonus is its a great way to relax in the woods.
19, Hot water bottle for pee bottle, it has a lip on it, seals watertight and holds a lot.
20, 2 stakes in ground for boots to be put on upside down, no bugs in morning
21, Short bungee loops where the tarp meets the guylines: keeps it taught and protects the tarp somewhat
22, A short loop of cord on the zipper-pull, makes it possible to open/close the zipper with your toes (I have the Hennesey exped asym *zip*)
23, A piece of shrink-wrap on the main rope on the head end: I can tell which way is which while the hammock is inside the snakeskins
24, I put a loop off red string on the head end of all my hammocks and UQ's.
25, Also i always pack hammocks foot end first.........go in feet first, come out head first
26, So, tie a jumper around your waist at bed time.
27, I make a tripod to hang my pack on.
This keeps your pack off the floor and enables you to reach into your pack whilst still in the hammock. Add a cross-member to the front to stop the pack swinging underneath the tripod.
28, I also use a small key ring torch on my ridgeline to either help me locate my hammock or to help me see while I'm in it.
29, Just thought of one more which has I used so much I think is obvious. Setting up with a marlin spike hitch I use the carabiner on my hammock as the spike instead of carrying a toggle
30, A little Vaseline on the rope, between the knots and the hammock, will keep out pesky ants; discovered this at 4am, 3 bites (stings) too late
1, I use a wool picnic blanket rather than an old tarp on the floor under my tarp, I like having the soft/warm dry area to sit on when cooking, its warmer on my feet etc
2, I tie a ridgeline between the two gathered ends of my hammock to take the tension and keep my hammock "sagging"
3, to this ridgeline I connect a stuff sack to put my "bits" in over night. Phone, headtorch, keys etc
4, I like having my hammock very close to the ground, mainly so I have access to everything underneath me, I can use it as a seat and based on one previous bad experience with my webbing snapping (i'm only 11 stone!) I don't want as far to fall this time!
5, Bath pouf net hammock sleeve :- I saw this on youtube a while ago then another member on here posted a link shortly afterwards Anyway a bath body scrub pouf thing - beware buying from e-bay as they tend to be too small, Tesco IIRC are 75p. You snip the string holding it scrunched up and it opens out into a long net tube, stretchy to easily go around the hammock keeps it in a nice compact tube so once hung can be kept out of the wind to stop it billowing out like a sail. They are pretty fragile though so you do have to be careful with them.
6, prussic on ridgeline :- used to hang a torch on a carabiner on it can slide to where I want it but not slide off on it's own.
7, Velcro loops on a pouch :- Velcro loop a pouch to the ridgeline to use as a dump pouch for wallet, glasses, keys etc.
8, I hang my head torch and car key on the internal ridgeline at night.
9, I take a fabric conditioner bottle in with me for a pee bottle (wide mouth) lol
10, I put a small piece of breathable groundsheet underneath for standing on when getting in and out.
11, 2 sticks in the ground for my boots at night located near the hammock entrance.
12, I use a cheap old string net hammock as a storage space hung within arms reach above the hammock for clothing and other stuff I might need handy
13, Struggling to get comfy...try hanging the foot end higher than the head end
14, Also I like the rocking motion in the hammock so have sometimes tied a line I can pull to start swaying.
15, I use a yoga mat for insulation under me. Although heavier than a foam mat they are larger in all directions, like me
16, Structural ridgeline make it really easy to get rhe sag in your hammock right every time. Especially if hanging between trees that are not the optimum distance apart.
17, I have the TW Green Hornet - the double zip version. I've tied some Grizzly Cub cord to the zip pullers so I don't have to reach far to pull the zips shut.(open the zips fully then tie a piece of cord to each end).
18, Don't wait till you are camping to use the hammock. Take it out set it up in the woods after work and mess around. Even if you think you have it nailed. It gives you much more experience but also you don't have the urgency of needing to sleep in it, or getting it sorted before you run out of light. The bonus is its a great way to relax in the woods.
19, Hot water bottle for pee bottle, it has a lip on it, seals watertight and holds a lot.
20, 2 stakes in ground for boots to be put on upside down, no bugs in morning
21, Short bungee loops where the tarp meets the guylines: keeps it taught and protects the tarp somewhat
22, A short loop of cord on the zipper-pull, makes it possible to open/close the zipper with your toes (I have the Hennesey exped asym *zip*)
23, A piece of shrink-wrap on the main rope on the head end: I can tell which way is which while the hammock is inside the snakeskins
24, I put a loop off red string on the head end of all my hammocks and UQ's.
25, Also i always pack hammocks foot end first.........go in feet first, come out head first
26, So, tie a jumper around your waist at bed time.
27, I make a tripod to hang my pack on.
This keeps your pack off the floor and enables you to reach into your pack whilst still in the hammock. Add a cross-member to the front to stop the pack swinging underneath the tripod.
28, I also use a small key ring torch on my ridgeline to either help me locate my hammock or to help me see while I'm in it.
29, Just thought of one more which has I used so much I think is obvious. Setting up with a marlin spike hitch I use the carabiner on my hammock as the spike instead of carrying a toggle
30, A little Vaseline on the rope, between the knots and the hammock, will keep out pesky ants; discovered this at 4am, 3 bites (stings) too late
