(A similar version of this article has been posted over at the HF site)
Last Saturday I ordered myself an Exped Scout Combi hammock and tarp set.
Exped is a Swiss company known better for their "EXPED Downmats" - inflatable sleeping mats which are filled with down. They have a reputation for high quality products (I believe they offer a 5 year warranty), but they are not very well known in the hammock arena, and are certainly less know in the US than in Europe.
The "Exped Scout Combi" retails about £110 but is currently discounted by 50% in one particular on-line shop - this makes it a bargain at £55 inclusive of next day delivery.
I ordered it on Saturday morning and received it today (Monday morning).
This is a brief "first impressions" article, concentrating on a visual inspection of the contents; I will play with it next weekend and might add to this report.
So - first things first: the whole package (heavy duty cylindrical stuff sack 16in (40cm) tall x 5in (13cm) diameter containing tarp, tarp guy-lines, hammock, no-see-um net, tarp suspension) weights 1.9kg (4lb 3oz) - so it's a bit on the heavy side.
My first reaction was that there was attention to detail there - and I like that!
These are the contents of the stuff sack: The tarp, the hammock with a fine no-see-um cover and some heavy duty webbing lines:-
So, let's look at the tarp first: I think it's a bit small at 3m x 1.5m (128in x 59in) but it looks very well made. It's made of PU coated taffeta nylon with a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm - that's *really* waterproof (I think most waterproof tents are in the 2,000 to 4,000 mm H2O range). By the way, "10,000mm hydrostatic head" means that you need a column of water 10,000mm = 10meters high to achieve the pressure needed to make water go through the material.
There are some nice touches there: The guy lines are in little mesh pouches to avoid tangling
and when you get them out of the pouches, the pouches stay attached to the lines via 2 small loops:
The loops for the ridge line are re-enforced nicely (triple layer) and have an additional strong elastic attached - this connects to the ridge line of the mosquito net to keep it nice and taught under the tarp:
There are 3 guy lines on each long side of the tarp.
Next, the hammock itself:
It comes with a built-in no-see-um cover made of grey mesh and 4 webbing lines (thick flat rope), each 2.5m /98in long, which have buttonholes-like openings every 10cm (4 in). (does anyone know how you use these?):
Two of these lines are lose while the other two go through the channels at the end of the hammock:
The width of the hammock is 145cm (58in) while the length is 300cm (about 120in)
The hammock is re-enforced with canvas type webbing at each end:
There is an elastic ridge line that runs through the middle of the no-see-um netting to keep it off your face - this can connect to the elastic that comes off the tarp ridge line. There are also 3 fabric sleeves that can be used to hold a stick or trekking pole segments, in order to keep the net away from your body:
There is a zip that runs the whole length of the hammock, to allow side entry:
Once you open the zip, you see that the bottom is double and there is an opening to allow you to put a mat in between the layers. The edges of the opening are reinforced with a red thread - just visible in the pic but a nice little touch nevertheless.
There four loops (2 one each side) you can attach shock cord to and pull the sides of the hammock in HH fashion.
At each end of the hammock there is a very strong 1.5inch (or perhaps 2in) webbing with 2 very strong loops at each end - you can use that to attach a stretcher (e.g. your hiking poles) and make it into a bridge hammock:
Now, re the weight: The hammock cannot be separated from the no-see-um net; they advise you to turn it upside down if you do not need the net and sleep on the "other side" - if you see what I mean.
So the Hammock + cord + no-see-um weights 1200g / 42oz.
The 4 webbing/ropes that come with it weight 50g/1 3/4oz each - so about 200g/7oz for all 4. You could replace them, e.g. by using lines from Opie - so there is some scope for weight reduction of perhaps 150grams.
First impressions are of high quality, strong, durable product with well thought out features. There are interior pockets for small personal items such as books, headlamps, glasses etc.
I love the quality of the tarp, but I think it's too small (width-wise) to be used in rainy weather.
I will add to this report when I set the tarp/hammock up and have a trial snooze in it.
Hope this will be of use to someone,
seg
Last Saturday I ordered myself an Exped Scout Combi hammock and tarp set.
Exped is a Swiss company known better for their "EXPED Downmats" - inflatable sleeping mats which are filled with down. They have a reputation for high quality products (I believe they offer a 5 year warranty), but they are not very well known in the hammock arena, and are certainly less know in the US than in Europe.
The "Exped Scout Combi" retails about £110 but is currently discounted by 50% in one particular on-line shop - this makes it a bargain at £55 inclusive of next day delivery.
I ordered it on Saturday morning and received it today (Monday morning).
This is a brief "first impressions" article, concentrating on a visual inspection of the contents; I will play with it next weekend and might add to this report.
So - first things first: the whole package (heavy duty cylindrical stuff sack 16in (40cm) tall x 5in (13cm) diameter containing tarp, tarp guy-lines, hammock, no-see-um net, tarp suspension) weights 1.9kg (4lb 3oz) - so it's a bit on the heavy side.
My first reaction was that there was attention to detail there - and I like that!
These are the contents of the stuff sack: The tarp, the hammock with a fine no-see-um cover and some heavy duty webbing lines:-
So, let's look at the tarp first: I think it's a bit small at 3m x 1.5m (128in x 59in) but it looks very well made. It's made of PU coated taffeta nylon with a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm - that's *really* waterproof (I think most waterproof tents are in the 2,000 to 4,000 mm H2O range). By the way, "10,000mm hydrostatic head" means that you need a column of water 10,000mm = 10meters high to achieve the pressure needed to make water go through the material.
There are some nice touches there: The guy lines are in little mesh pouches to avoid tangling
and when you get them out of the pouches, the pouches stay attached to the lines via 2 small loops:
The loops for the ridge line are re-enforced nicely (triple layer) and have an additional strong elastic attached - this connects to the ridge line of the mosquito net to keep it nice and taught under the tarp:
There are 3 guy lines on each long side of the tarp.
Next, the hammock itself:
It comes with a built-in no-see-um cover made of grey mesh and 4 webbing lines (thick flat rope), each 2.5m /98in long, which have buttonholes-like openings every 10cm (4 in). (does anyone know how you use these?):
Two of these lines are lose while the other two go through the channels at the end of the hammock:
The width of the hammock is 145cm (58in) while the length is 300cm (about 120in)
The hammock is re-enforced with canvas type webbing at each end:
There is an elastic ridge line that runs through the middle of the no-see-um netting to keep it off your face - this can connect to the elastic that comes off the tarp ridge line. There are also 3 fabric sleeves that can be used to hold a stick or trekking pole segments, in order to keep the net away from your body:
There is a zip that runs the whole length of the hammock, to allow side entry:
Once you open the zip, you see that the bottom is double and there is an opening to allow you to put a mat in between the layers. The edges of the opening are reinforced with a red thread - just visible in the pic but a nice little touch nevertheless.
There four loops (2 one each side) you can attach shock cord to and pull the sides of the hammock in HH fashion.
At each end of the hammock there is a very strong 1.5inch (or perhaps 2in) webbing with 2 very strong loops at each end - you can use that to attach a stretcher (e.g. your hiking poles) and make it into a bridge hammock:
Now, re the weight: The hammock cannot be separated from the no-see-um net; they advise you to turn it upside down if you do not need the net and sleep on the "other side" - if you see what I mean.
So the Hammock + cord + no-see-um weights 1200g / 42oz.
The 4 webbing/ropes that come with it weight 50g/1 3/4oz each - so about 200g/7oz for all 4. You could replace them, e.g. by using lines from Opie - so there is some scope for weight reduction of perhaps 150grams.
First impressions are of high quality, strong, durable product with well thought out features. There are interior pockets for small personal items such as books, headlamps, glasses etc.
I love the quality of the tarp, but I think it's too small (width-wise) to be used in rainy weather.
I will add to this report when I set the tarp/hammock up and have a trial snooze in it.
Hope this will be of use to someone,
seg
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Now i feel guilty every time SWMBO asks if i've used it 
