anyboby ever go hammock camping? im looking into getting a nice hennesy hammock and wanting to camp with it instead of a tent. interested on how it would be i think it looks like it would be pretty comfy sleeping in one of those guys at night and it would save a ton of wieght

I have always brought a hammock for relaxing in after a long day. I spent last year talking to people and asking questions on Hammockforums.net. I took my ENO hammock with this past June trip and left the tent at home. It was great, no regrets. I bought a underquilt, whoppie slings, tree straps, drip lines, caribiner, and a whoppie sling ridgeline. I cannot think of sleeping on the ground again. I was the last one up every morning and no sore back, hip or shoulders. Spend you time learning the system, you will not regret it. I cut about 2.5 lbs from my tent weight.

i have a warbonnet blackbird and love it. covered with a good tarp you will sleep high and dry. great way to go! hammockforums.net is a gerat place to do research before you buy.

tg

I agree, I have a HH Ultralight Explorer and would NEVER dream of sleeping on the ground again! I wake up in the morning ready to go, not sore like when I slept in a tent.
You also stay much dryer being off the ground, and don't have to worry about sleeping on roots or rocks.

just got a HH backpacker. used it in August. went through 2 storms, no problem. been hanging for about 5 years. Hennessy is having their demo sale. usually pretty good pricing i got mine from ebay with the 4 season option.

One of the biggest benefits is that you can avoid roots/rocks and for me...the slope of the ground. I was always sliding. I am enjoying hammocking.

I will say that your weight savings may be minimal. You need a hammock, tarp, sleeping bag/top quilt and an underquilt/pad. The underquilt hangs under the hammock but will cinch tight against it. This is for insulation as any bottom insulation in a sleeping bag becomes useless as it is compressed by your body weight.


I also have a warbonnet blackbird and consider it a top notch hammock.

I just spent the weekend with 7 other campers with hammocks. Not just lightweight but also swell sleeping. After 6 years of sleeping on pads I just switched to an underquilt. Great way to sleep.

I just purchased my first hammock, a Warbonnet Blackbird too. I researched them all on hammockforums first. They have tons of great info there. Can't afford the bottom quilt yet, and not sure I'll invest in a top quilt for some time. I can't wait to bust it out next spring.

How hard are the underquilts to get on? They look like it would be a PIA?

I would go to Warbonnet's website and under setup you will find an under quilt video. Decide for yourself if it's a pain. I know with bottom opening hammocks an under quilt is a problem.

quote whiteh20: "How hard are the underquilts to get on? They look like it would be a PIA?"

Easy to get on. There is two clips that attach on each side of the hammock, three seconds tops. Once it is on thats it. Here is the one that I have... Underquilt

Thanks SV, I have a ENO hammock so that would work for me.

I have a bottom opening and it takes about 10 seconds actually. 11 seconds might qualify as a PIA.

The ground is for peeing on.
Hammocks allow you to set up your site it the coolest places imaginable. Especially if you don't need your tarp for the night. 2 trees on top of a bluff? No problem. Rocky shoreline? No problem.
Your sleep system could weigh more and it would not matter because you sleep so much better, you're more rested and ready to haul stuff.
I don't like the bottom entry, but that's me. Warbonnet or the new Switchback Lite Hiker are amazing hammocks.
Also, I prefer CCF pads to underquilts.

I love the Warbonnet Blackbird. It's simplicity of design is simply elegant.

underquilts are external insulation that is uncompressed since your not laying directly on it. may still need some sort of back inside the hammock

I used my Warbonnet Blackbird in 2009 on a trip and loved it. You can easily use a pad with these because there is a seperate sleeve under you where the pad fits.

I would suggest the extra wide pad from Gossamer Gear at 1/4 inch closed cell foam. This should be good for most seasons in the BW. Gossamer Gear

quote gacoleman: "underquilts are external insulation that is uncompressed since your not laying directly on it. may still need some sort of back inside the hammock"

You install the underquilt loose so when you get into the hammock it will stretch the shock cord to make a tight fit. If it is loose when you are in it tighten it more. No need to install some sort of back inside the hammock. Mine is good to about 25 degrees. At that time I would switch to a warmer bag to get lower but I could not see that happen in the BWCA.

I got a warbonnet blackbird this summer. Only used it one trip but I loved it. Simple set-up- 2 minutes w/ rainfly. Only complaint is there ain't room for the dog. But, he didn't fit in my kayak, either.