Ok you convinced me, Now a few questions

[Ridge Rat]

So, I picked up the HH ULB-Asym. Haven't had a chance to take it out on the trail until this weekend, but I am having trouble with a few things in my backyard test.
1) How do you control or possibly eliminate Major "Altitude" Drop?
I set the thing up at a little above head hieght and pull the knots as hard as I can on the tree huggers and get the ridgeline to about the same hieght leaving bottom about 3' off the ground. When I get in it I drop almost 2' and fear rubbing my butt on the ground which defeats the purpose of the hammock. I did buy it to get off the rocks of sleeping under just a tarptent.
2) How do you fold the thing?
When I bought it, it was all nicely folded and rolled and now I cant figure out how to get back to that point. I dont care much about the tarp since I am using my old tarp for a cover and just use the grab and stuff technique that is so great about silnylon, but doesnt work so well with the hammock leaving it all bulky. Maybe someone has a useful link or something.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I was hesitant to get one, but REI had a big sale on them and I figured what the hell, it's only 1/2 pound heavier then what I carry anyhow, and maybe I will sleep better at night.:)

[BigToe]

Welcome to hanging, Ridge Rat!

I use the "official" figure 8 lashing and tighten them up pretty well. Then I get in the hammock and the lashings tighten a little more. I get out and re-lash one of the sides. Then it seems to hold very well. Like you, I start out with the huggers just above head height.

I use HH snakeskins which remove the need for folding. They are awesome. The #4 size let me leave my JRB underquilt on and roll the whole shebang up neatly. I store my JRB tarp separately so it can be set up first in the rain or during day breaks.

Hammocking is sure nice on my 50 year old creaky bones!

[Just Jeff]

Altitude drop - hang the hammock, get in, then retie one side. The hammock stretches when new, so after several uses this won't be such an issue.

Don't fold - stuff. When I used a stuff sack, I untied one end, rolled up the cord so it wouldn't get tangled (as I was holding the hammock off the ground), then stuffed my way to the other end, then untied the cord and put everything back in the bag. Careful - it's easy to forget the other tree hugger that way.

But like Catfish said, snakeskins are much easier - just make a tube fold it a few times, and stick it in your pack.

[hammock engineer]

See Jeff's post above for your answers.

Happy 400th post to me!

[Just Jeff]

Haha - WOOHOO - Congrats to hammock engineer! It's like a new milestone in your addiction...

[hammock engineer]

Haha - WOOHOO - Congrats to hammock engineer! It's like a new milestone in your addiction...

Thanks, I was going to say something more meaningful, but you beat me to the punch.

[Patrick]

I roll mine. Untie one end, walk toward the other end, rolling it up as you go. You'll find yourself adjusting side to side slightly to keep it even, which also means you're not really rolling it up exactly the same each time, which they used to say would wear your tent faster.

I always untie the foot end first, meaning that, when I set up the next time, I know that the "loose" end is the head.

Like Jeff's method, doing it like this also means your hammock never touches the ground. Also, leaving it tied as you roll it up means you can do so very snugly if you like.

Welcome to hammocking.

[Just Jeff]

I've been rolling this Crazy Creek I'm testing - just seems to work better that way b/c of the material it's made from and the design. Snakeskins wouldn't really fit b/c the end is so wide - I'd have to make some with a ~6" opening at the narrow end.

I'll probably stick with skins for my HH and Speers, though.

[peter_pan]

Welcome to the hanging crowd.

Pan

[Ridge Rat]

Sorry for not posting before, I have been reading and taking the advice you have given and I do appreciate it. It still scares the crap out of me the first drop when you get in before you retie it. But, I am getting used to it. Only been out on the trail twice since purchase But I love the 2 lb. decrease in weight and not having to avoid the inevitable rock under the back problem. Thanks again for the advice.
~Ridge Rat