Any little tricks you've picked up during your time hanging?

One I picked up is to tie your extra, hanging loose, suspension to the suspension going out to the tree for a few water knots. Water your suspension carries won't make it past all those knots. It helps out in a down pour but only if your trap covers them.

I took a pair of large cotton shoe laces and tie them on each end of my suspension to divert the rain down the shoe lace. This prevents me from getting WBS, (wet butt syndrome).

I also picked up a tip from Bishop on Hammockforums.com. It is the BBB or black bishop bag. It is a stuff sack that has two openings, one on each side. Leave the ends of your suspension hanging out each side of the BBB. Then when you find you spot to hang pull out one end of the suspension and hook to a tree. Leave the bag on the hammock and hook up the other line to the tree. Fast, easy and keeps everything together.

I use the shoelace drip line and bishop bag. Another trick I picked up is to run a ridge line over the tarp. The position of the tarp is adjusted with prusiks. I have five (or is it seven?) pieces of cord tied to the ridgeline spread out over the tarp.

When it's time to pack up I just roll the tarp up and reef it using the cords. This keeps it nicely controlled taking it down and putting it back up. I toss it around my neck until one end is attached. Never hits the ground. I stuff it in a sack, middle first.

I tried snakeskins but didn't care for the slithering around in my pack. This is not quite a fast but meets the same objectives...

quote Merganser: "I use the shoelace drip line and bishop bag. Another trick I picked up is to run a ridge line over the tarp. The position of the tarp is adjusted with prusiks. I have five (or is it seven?) pieces of cord tied to the ridgeline spread out over the tarp.


When it's time to pack up I just roll the tarp up and reef it using the cords. This keeps it nicely controlled taking it down and putting it back up. I toss it around my neck until one end is attached. Never hits the ground. I stuff it in a sack, middle first.


I tried snakeskins but didn't care for the slithering around in my pack. This is not quite a fast but meets the same objectives... "

I use the tarp line with prusiks as well. Works slick. I stumbled across this but I'm not sure if it would work for me War bonnet zipper mod

Might get in the way. I usually just keep the zippers by my head. If you can't tell, I am bored and rambling.

Another trick that I have learned on Hammockforums.com is to heat some water in a nalgene bottle and take it in your hammock at night. If you place it between your legs the warm water will hit your femoral artery's carrying the heat to your body core.

Technically arteries carry blood away from your heart. That would be good news for your toes in this case. I suppose there are some substantial veins in that same area that would move that heat north.

It's a good idea though in a pinch. I've never heard that specific placement before but it makes sense.

Anybody use rappel rings on their ropes so you don't have to tie any knots? I think I'm going to give it a try this year

McSweem, if you are planning to do the Garda hitch with the stock Hennessy spectra I would strongly advise against it. There have been a lot of issues with the rings causing damage to the rope. It was once very popular.

You could rig it so the spectra is tied in a fixed knot to the rings and the webbing is adjustable, though. I have also seen it that way.

I have a Clark, I was going to try it at home first

Does the pinching between the rings. Weaken the rope? I know my Clark has thicker diameter rope then my friends hennessy's. Good thing to know. Hate to be in the woods and have my ropes break

quote mcsweem: "Anybody use rappel rings on their ropes so you don't have to tie any knots? I think I'm going to give it a try this year"

I use a single sliding ring in my suspension. It works better than using the two ring system in my opinion. I did try that. I've also tried webbing. You have to tie a buntline hitch and a marline spike hitch, that's it. Better range than a woopie system and negligibly heavier.

here as a video that explains the setup if you are not familiar with it.

There is too many to mention but one gadget that I have grown fond of are my . Dutch clips
They make set up fast and you can hang from off to one side of a larger tree. This can move the hammock over under the tarp providing more room on the side you get out on. Note in the picture the camera is under the tarp ridge line but the hammock strap is coming off the right hand side of the tree. This is a Warbonnet suspension system plus Dutch clips.