So far only one night in my hammock. Learned a lot.

Got a 2 nighter coming up. Going to test my DIY underquilt that I will build tomorrow just before leaving. Packed pad just in case... And a bag of hardware, rope, and snock chord. 3 tarps, etc.

This may be my only test before my weeklong WCPP trip. Any last minute suggestions?

Be fairly critical in the test run. If you have an issue there it's a good bet the same issue will show up on your trip. Make sure you UQ is set properly so when the trip starts you're not screwing around trying to get the gaps out of the set up.

UQ should be snugged up, but not so tight the loftiness of it compresses upon itself and you. See if you can rid yourself of the gap on the head and foot side that could cause a draft and rob the heat out of it.

Lots of safety pins and some shock cord could help you out?

So i'm back. We left a day early at the last minute. (Yay! An extra night in the hammock!, boo! I'm not done preparing my "tests")

Never got the bonus 3rd night, didn't need it. The combination of young kids, ill wife, and severe weather coming made me sleep indoors on night 3.

Full descriptions to follow, but the gist of it is :
First night was awful, had to bail.
Second night was everything I need to know even with problems.
I'm converted. I'm a hanger.
Had I understood how much this was going to cost, I would never have tried a hammock. So cheers to ignorance!


From here on out, this will read like a trip report...

Monday about noon, I finished my urgent work, called the wife and told her we could go up to her family reunion a day early. I felt confident with the last minute idea I had for converting an old sleeping bag into a budget UQ that I could finish it at the resort.

So off we went to a resort just a bit NW of Alexandria. We departed just in time for evening rush hour, and a 3-4 hour drive became a 6 hour odyssey Now, that really isn't that big a deal until you factor in the 1 year old and 3 year old taking turns first screaming crying fussing etc. while the other slept and then trading. The exception was. Dinner stop in Alexandria where they both were cranky after being cooped in a car for the last 4+ hours. Getting back on track... When I hit the hammock after midnight, I was pooped!

I set up my hammock in the dark.

First my setup for the first night. I have a Hennesy Expedition side zip, and this would be my second night in it. A new (for me) hex rain fly, and Whoopee Slings. Stock Hennesy straps that came with the hammock, and fleet farm heavy duty carabeeners.

The perfect grove of trees were behind the resort cabin, the problem was the trees surrounded a fire pit. Even though it was not being used for any fire, I did not like the thought of having that be what I land on in case of failure! I decided to set up with 2 trees that were a bit too close together, but offered me a good angle to block the breeze coming off the lake, and avoided the fire pit and other trees.

For sleeping gear, I had my 30* (yeah, right!) sleeping bag, an REI sleeping pad (held in reserve) and my BW sleep outfit of a merino wool t-shirt of light to medium thickness, merino wool shorts, and a light pair of merino wool socks. A pair of cotton pajama bottoms added for modesty. I forgot my hat, but had a ball cap and a bandanna in reserve. My pillow was a sweatshirt.

The low that night was 53*f, with a gentle breeze off the lake. Since I was quite comfortable sitting in a chair outside without a chill, I decided to give it a go. Brrr. I could not get to sleep. I added the pad, did some adjusting, was mostly warm but un able to sleep. Fell asleep about 3:45 am, and the birds started their "joyful noise" at 4 am. The noise woke me, and quickly I decided a bathroom break was needed. Returned to hammock, and at about 5:30 am, the sun clearly rising, I went into the cabin and took over the futon in the common area. At about 6am i fell asleep. At 7 I awoke in need of the bathroom only to open my eyes and see the smiling face of my 1 year old standing and smiling at me from his pack and play 2 feet away. "HI!" He yells. 'Oh hell no.' I reply. Disaster however was averted. I got up, returned to the futon, lay down and watched as he quickly and quietly lay back down and went to sleep. Bless him. And thankfully everyone slept late so I got a whole 3 hours sleep.

I was seriously considering ditching the hammock. 2 nights and I could be warm, or I could be comfortable, but not both.

I spent a couple hours the next day first on rehanging my hammock, and second on rigging a DIY underquilt. I selected 2 new trees. I had some difficulty as I was not able to use my first choice because the stock straps were too small to fit the tree. There are ways to make it work, but I had other things to do, so I took my second choice which had a tree in the way of how I wanted to hang my tarp. As I restrung my hammock, I decided that I love woopie slings.

I had decided to string my fly on a continuous loop ridge-line. I had attempted this unsuccessfully the night before because I just couldn't remember how to tie a prusiks knot. Now that I have it set, I love this method! My fly is run nice and tight with no knots to tie and in 30 seconds. i can adjust it later in about 30 seconds. The fly withstood strongish winds and the ridge remained tight the entire time.

I then went to work on modifying a 40* (yeah, in a pig's eye) sleeping bag with rope, shock chord, zip ties, and gorilla tape into an under-quilt. I had to quickly do a couple adjustments before my wife had too much quality time with both babies all to herself.

The low that night was 53*. Wind was strong, but not storming, just a stead strong wind. My fly was again set up (mostly) perpendicular to the wind. My side tie outs were secured to stakes in the ground.

As I lay down in my hammock for the night, I got in and the ropes of the DIY UQ ended up squishing me in the hammock. 'Oh hell no' I uttered. My wife's family was enjoying mocking me for the night 1 failure. So, I got out of the hammock and in the dark I started adjusting rope and shock chord. Too far, adjust again. Not quite right. Adjust shock chord and rope opposite ways. I finally get it 'useable'. Some wiggling and adjusting, and I fall asleep warm and semi comfy.

"Oh hell no." I utter again as a wake to answer the call of nature just before sunrise. I know the birds will be starting soon, and I need more sleep. I noticed that despite my best efforts, my feet keep sliding up, and I'm getting sore. My angle options are limited by the ropes of my DIY under thing, I decide to adjust the height of my foot area. If I were using the stock rope and lashing instead of the slings, I would not have done it. When I crawled back in to the hammock, I found my adjustment of the hammock completely through off the geometry of my under contraption. I was however able to get warm enough and comfortable enough to fall back asleep. The wind kept the birds quiet, gave me white noise to drown out the highway and trains, and gently rocked my hammock.

What I discovered was that I CAN be BOTH warm and comfortable, and that Removes the biggest barrier from spending more money for an under cover. I have much to learn yet, but I now know I can take this hammock into the wilderness with confidence. From here on out I just need experience.

Whoopee slings are a must.
Like to hex fly
The loop ridge-line is the best thing I learned.
Need longer straps
Need carabeeners without burrs that shag the rope.
Need tie out ropes that are not black. Tripped dozens of times. Will rig with the shock chord left over from failed UQ as line tensioners on said bright or even reflective tie outs.
Could be the string on the fly, or it could be I am knot challenged, but my taught line needs work. Over time with wind they all loosened up.

For an undercover, I will be getting a Hennessy super shelter underside. (Anyone know where I can get one cheap?). It may or may not be the best choice in the long run, but given my time, budget, and needs, i believe it is the best choice for now.

The pad is gone.

I learned a lot more, but I have rambled enough.

I tried a pad in my basement for about 5 minutes and hated it. Your dead on with the under quilt. If you know someone who can sew with a sewing machine, or can pick one up used and cheap, you can make one yourself. There are some amazing plans and calculators over at hammock forums. One of them you can punch in length and width and temp rating and it will give you baffle width and total ounces of down needed.

You should be able to make one for about 100-120 bucks. maybe less if you shop around.

Make sure your not allergic to down...

Hang foot end higher than head end. It doesn't look like it would make sense, but it does. Then you won't slide during the night.

Exo, I dropped the UQ idea for the Hennesy unders. After eading reviews and comments, it seemed more plug and play, and I just don't have to luxury of lots of time to dial it in. I have everything I need to make a UQ myself expect time and experience.

Yes, I raised the foot end about 6inches (still not enough).

I'm excited that I think I learned enough to sleep well in the wilderness for this summer's trip. There are other issues to work out, and reading posts and watching video is just not the same as experiencing.

My next skills to work on are gear stowage and changing clothes. I have lots of habits with my tent space. An 'It may look messy, but I know exactly where everything is' kina layout for me. Not possible in the hammock.