Using a DD Travel Hammock as a bivi

[petunia]

Hi, first post on this great forum

I'm interested in trying the 'wonder' of hammock camping, as well as becoming generally interested in more lightweight setups than lugging a tent everywhere.

The DD Travel Hammock looks to be a great deal and I'll probably get one soon. However, the downside to hammock camping is the question of what to do when trees are lacking...

The Travel hammock seems like a nice solution, as it's advertised as being usable as a bivi when there are no trees available.

So I'd like to ask - does anyone have any experience of using this model as a bivi? I assume it's not going to provide an 'ideal' bivi, but is it a workable option? I'd love not to have to buy a separate bivi bag right now...

Thanks for your help,

Tom

 

[andybysea]

It doesnt work as a bivi bag more a ground sheet with insect net,you would need to put a tarp over it to keep the rain off im going to try mine in the ground role next time i go away for a weekend but thats not till the first week in August.

I suppose you could get in between the two layers(where roll matt would go) but not sure that would be effective, if you pin the four corners down use a guy line to keep up the mossy netting then put a tarp over the top you have a nice one man shelter.

 

[Elines]

does anyone have any experience of using this model as a bivi? I assume it's not going to provide an 'ideal' bivi, but is it a workable option?

Welcome Petunia/Tom - good question - I would be interested in other peoples' experience too.

I have used it as a bivi twice:

First time - in the back garden - I put the hammock on a folded up tarp to protect the bivi base. I put a blanket, non-inflatable camping mat etc in between bottom two layers for padding. For me there were two problems:

- not enough padding - I gave up at about 3am and went to a proper bed

- I found the netting very close to my face - not the 'no where near' of when you use the DD as a hammock. Not exactly claustrophobic but not comfortable while awake.


Second time I bought a cheapo plastic lilo type airbed which I put on top of a folded ground sheet. I then put theDD on top of the lilo. The idea was to see if:

- I could actually sleep on the ground if I had better padding

- avoiding putting anything between the bottom two layers helped get the netting further away from my face

I slept ok but the netting was still closer than I would have liked. Also the DD slipped partly off the lilo - but I was on a bit of a slope:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/christopherleeland/ButtertonJuly2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCJvshO3LjcilbQ

Pablo has done a video on using the DD as a bivi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKHFupZjmZo

The bit about using the DD as a bivi starts at about 5 minutes 15.

He also shows how you might use the DD for protection if you get caught in bad weather and have no Tarp or trees