Seconds that is...

I have slept only 3 nights in my hammock. This is what I wanted to and should have known before I bought a hammock. This cuts through the technical BS and gets to what I needed to know.

My setup is complete for my WCPP trip. Got my Hennessy Expedition side zip, the hex fly, and the Hennessy Super Shelter on the bottom. Plus my optimistically rated 30* bag and a Mypillow travel pillow.

First thing I did was replace the lashings with whoopie slings. This is one of the 3 things I think every new hammock person should know going in. Whoopie slings. You need them.

I added 96 inch webbing. In my limited experience I already found places I couldn't hang because the stock straps are only big enough for smaller trunks. Having the extra straps means I could daisy chain for some extra distance, giving me more options.

I attached the Hennessy Super shelter. The space blanket is in a nylon bag attached to the line between the shelter and hammock. Ready if I need it. I left the under-shelter attached to the hammock. This by the way is item #2. You need something under you, and don't count on it being your pad. Pads work for some, but you should go into it expecting to spend $150+ on an under quilt or equivalent. I chose the Hennessy shelter. As me in 5 weeks if it was a wise choice. But based on my experience and comments I read, it was the simplest and most economical choice. There were other considerations, but it has to do with my ways of camping.

I upgraded to a hex fly. The stock fly, I am confident will keep my hammock and only my hammock dry. I added the hex fly so I have a bit more dry space around me, and to cut off the teeny tiny chance of exactly the right wind/rain combo to get under the fly.

Item #3 is the "infinite ridge line" for the tarp. I have my nylon rope with a beener tied to one end. I wrap the rope around the tree and clip the beener to the end of my fly. I run the rope under the center of the fly, around the other tree, and have a prussic loop tied somewhere along the rope with a beener in the loop. Slide the prussic, clip the beaner to the other end of the fly, and slide to tension. Fly is up in just a few seconds. Guy-lines are yellow mason line, shock chord tensioners tied on, and little plastic thingies to replace doing a taut-line hitch. This gives me a dry space before opening my hammoc, and no knots to tie in the rain on the trail.

Tarp is up.

Wrap the straps, feed one end through the loop on the other end. Attach beener to the loop hanging free. Run the whoopie sling loop into the beener, and adjust. Done. I noticed some snagging of the slings on my hardware store beeners. I added a chain link connecter to the whoopie sling to make it a quick snap with no damage to the rope.

In my garage where everything is the same, I am up in less than 60 seconds.

Teardown takes longer because of coiling all the ropes. I stuffed it all in a 10x20 bag. I've cut 2# at least from my backpacking load even with the heavy hardware. I also figure I cut about the volume of my sleeping bag. An advantage for backpacking is it is one unit I can strap on my pack, but for canoeing, the disadvantage is I liked framing my pack wit the tent and pad, now I have one big lump.

Next...dutchware...you know you want those titanium stingerz and flyz...


I'm evil...I know... ;)