Plan to hike the SHT a bunch this summer - and would rather not hike my heavy tent in....

Besides NOT sheling out more money for a CCS lean...

I was thinking - Target has decent Thermarest hammocks at a decent price... if I got a bug net, popped up a tarp what do you guys think? Is this sufficient for bare bones?

If you plan on doing it a lot why not get good products one at a time as the money comes available? You probably only need the hammock now since you have a pad, tarp and sleeping bag right?

If you know you will be backpacking a lot in your future why not invest in quality gear? You might be able to pick up a used Warbonnet Blackbird or a Clark or Hennesy on E-bay.

I went with Warbonnet in 2009 and am completely satisfied. I'll probably use this setup the rest of my life. Warbonnet Hammocks Best of luck. I only wish I was close enough to hike the SHT. Shug has video trip reports (at his youtube site) of his hanging trips on the SHT. Well worth a look before you go.

Thanks Tom!

quote TomT: "If you plan on doing it a lot why not get good products one at a time as the money comes available? You probably only need the hammock now since you have a pad, tarp and sleeping bag right?


If you know you will be backpacking a lot in your future why not invest in quality gear? You might be able to pick up a used Warbonnet Blackbird or a Clark or Hennesy on E-bay.


I went with Warbonnet in 2009 and am completely satisfied. I'll probably use this setup the rest of my life. Warbonnet Hammocks Best of luck. I only wish I was close enough to hike the SHT. Shug has video trip reports (at his youtube site) of his hanging trips on the SHT. Well worth a look before you go.



"

+1 for Warbonnet's hammocks. Try the HammockForums site and check out their for sale section for good deals on great hammocks. I'm a big fan of the ridgerunner which is a spread-bar hammock to keep you flatter than traditional gathered end hammocks.

Yes, it's sufficient and I'd start with the bare bones. If you're going to buy an XLC Why not just go with a Lean? If you have any sewing skills or are even willing to learn some basic stitches you can make a gathered end hammock fairly cheaply. I'm actually in the process of designing a new one that I'm going to sew up in the next few weeks. If you want to try out my old one on a few trips I'd be willing to lend it out to you. I've found hammocking takes some adjusting to and I stared out with a pad and my Eno Double Nest before I began doing DIY projects and investing $$$.

Here's a pic of it in my messy :) basement.

Lindsey have you ever camped in a hammock?

If you want to go with a very entry level integrated net the Yukon Outfitters hammock is a good beginning. I have used one on several trips with no problems whatsoever. It is a good way to try it out.

I have used a Grand Trunk 'Skeeter Beater' for at least my last four BW trips, as well as probably two dozen nights camping outside the BW. The Skeeter Beater quite similar to the Yukon posted above. Same price range too.

RM

quote brotherbob1958: "Lindsey have you ever camped in a hammock? "

Nope.

quote smokedwhitefish: "I have used a Grand Trunk 'Skeeter Beater' for at least my last four BW trips, as well as probably two dozen nights camping outside the BW. The Skeeter Beater quite similar to the Yukon posted above. Same price range too.


RM"

+1 I love my skeeter beater. I just bought my third one as I slowly transition my family into tree dwellers.

I would try to borrow some gear and try it out in your neighborhood, or even backyard. I started with an ENO Doublenest that I bought for lounging while car camping. I found out that people actually camp in these, so I experimented with it. I used my thermarest basecamp and my sleeping bag, and a Kelty 9 tarp that was given to me by a friend. I also had the Atlas straps that I purchased with the hammock.

Result was, as many have found, the thermarest pad worked, but was a bit fussy, as it moved around. The Kelty 9 was lacking in coverage, and the Atlas straps were unecessarily heavy, and not quite adjustable enough.

My current set-up is the same hammock, with whoopie slings, some dutch clips and tree straps, and a CCS 1.1 oz 12 x 10 tundra tarp. I also have a fronkey style bug net, and Hammock Gear Under and Top quilts. The wife isn't happy ($$$), but I am! I am a belly sleeper at home, or in tent, and toss around enough to wake up twisted in my sleeping bag while camping. In the hammock, I sleep on my back and love it. I wake up without lower back pain, and no stooping and crawling to get in or out of the tent. Swing your feet out of the hammock, shoes on, and stand up!

If you have people near you that will let you try their set-ups, that would be the best thing.

quote Scout64: "If you want to go with a very entry level integrated net the Yukon Outfitters hammock is a good beginning. I have used one on several trips with no problems whatsoever. It is a good way to try it out. "

yep, if you have never done it before, don't go spending big money until you know it is for you, some people simply do not sleep well in a hammock. If it turns out you don't like sleeping an entire night, you'll still have a hammock useful for taking naps or just laying around in

Lindsey

Go into 'Listening forum', someone posted a $30 hammock system, maybe these are something your looking for