View Full Version : HH: experience so far and a few questions
First post here. After reading about the comforts of hanging (and after >20 years tenting) I bought a HH Explorer Asym with the larger hex fly. I also bought Jeff's gear holder, JRB undernest, and a few other things I"m forgetting. I've spent about 12 nights in it so far, all incredibly comfortable, except for the first night when I learned that a 70 degree night in a hammock can be quite chilly underneath!
I've had no problems hanging (OK, except for a few weekends ago we were in a 'formal' campsite that had only one tree in our spot and I hung the second line from the kayak rack on my car).
Here are my questions:
First, the hammock still seems to be stretching. Is this normal? I have to hang the kayak well over my head to keep my butt off the ground. I weigh 160lbs.
Second, I'm going to BC soon and most of the camping will be on the beach so I'm bringing my tent, but will also carry the hammock because we're using the tarp anyway and there's not that much extra space needed. I use a Big Agnes sleeping bag with a thermarest that inserts into the bottom of the bag. I haven't used any sleeping pad in the hammock yet, but the air will likely be cooler than I've been in (50s most likely but maybe 40s). The bag is rated to 20 but I"m a cold sleeper. Has anyone slept with this system? I really don't want to carry the undernest.
Third, there is a knot in the ridgeline just above where my head is that keeps the flashlight/eyeglass holder from sliding over my head. When I go to sleep I need to push it down towards my feet, and I always end up getting my hair caught in it when I get back inside. I've read many times here that you can slide this over your head, but for my ridgeline, it's not possible. Is this a mfg. error? Is there a way of adjusting this?
Thanks for your help...what a wonderful group.
Lyn
Just Jeff
08-16-2006, 00:02
Use your pad in the hammock and see if the hammock wraps around the sides of the pads and squishes the sleeping bag at your shoulders and hips. Try to lay however you sleep (i.e. on your side if that's how you sleep, and see if it squishes the bag at your knees and butt). If so, those spots will be cold.
FWIW, the Nest by itself will probably keep you warm at 40F. Still need something for when you're on the ground, though.
Not sure what you mean with the knot. How do you slide the knot if it's in the ridgeline? I don't have any knots in my ridgeline except for where they attach to the hammock, and certainly nothing that slides.
Thanks for the gear hammock purchase, btw.
Jeff
generoll
08-16-2006, 00:08
You've just discovered the Achilles heel of hammocks. A cold butt. I'm convinced that some people just sleep warmer and aren't troubled by the cold. I've slept quite nicely everytime I tried a hammock until a few hours before daybreak. Invariably I wake up with my whole backside cold. It is possible to insulate the bottom of the hammock, but it remains to be seen if I can do so to my requirements without being overloaded with the necessary insulation.
Not sure what you mean with the knot. How do you slide the knot ...
I guess I was unclear. The knot doesn't slide, I'm talking about the small gear holder for glasses, flashlight,etc. The knot in the ridgeline is tied just over my head so I can't slide the thing up and over my head. It hangs just in my face, so I need to slide it down. Where is the ridgeline knot genereally tied?
Lyn
StarLyte
08-16-2006, 08:29
Lyn-
Beach camping? OMG that's sweet. I love to hear water at night. Good luck---HAVE FUN ! :)
peter_pan
08-16-2006, 09:41
You've just discovered the Achilles heel of hammocks. A cold butt. I'm convinced that some people just sleep warmer and aren't troubled by the cold. I've slept quite nicely everytime I tried a hammock until a few hours before daybreak. Invariably I wake up with my whole backside cold. It is possible to insulate the bottom of the hammock, but it remains to be seen if I can do so to my requirements without being overloaded with the necessary insulation.
Generoll, et al,
I really don't get your comments on "being overloaded with insulation". The average down under quilt packs to less than 7x7x7... this is half the cube of of a rolled or folded full length pad, never mind that for a pad to be effective it will need wings or extra width....and as to weight, quilts are lighter than the self inflating or bag inflating mattresses, summer quilts good to 40-45* are even lighter than than the classic blue pad alternative, and pack even smaller at 7x7x5.
FWIW, I have packed a three quilt winter system, good to single digits, if not 0, clothing, remainining gear and food for a weekend in a sub 2,000cu in pack that weighed 19 pounds full up incl food and water....Oh, and nothing tied on the outside.
Here is a comparative picture http://216.83.168.206/index_files/DSC00257%20-%20SUB%202.JPG
Pan
hammock engineer
08-16-2006, 11:32
One thing that might help with the cold butt is to add a small pad, or your normal pad only under the cold areas. I was playing around with this a couple times last spring. There was not much condensation b/c the pad was only under around 1.5 sq ft of me.
When I go on trips that are going to get below 40 I usually bring a pad along just in case. The pad does not have to be very thick. It only needs to block the wind, not cushion.
Big Dawg
08-16-2006, 11:36
First post here.
Lyn
:welcome to Whiteblaze!!!!
Just Jeff
08-16-2006, 19:02
Lyn, they only way I can see any knots in my ridgeline is if I spread the fabric apart at the very ends. There are no knots anywhere near my head, and certainly nothing that would affect the mesh pocket from sliding anywhere. Might be a manufacturing defect...if it bothers you, you might consider calling HH and see if they can help you out.
and thank you everyone else for the advice or the warm welcome. :sun
Lyn
generoll
08-16-2006, 20:17
Generoll, et al,
I really don't get your comments on "being overloaded with insulation".
Here is a comparative picture http://216.83.168.206/index_files/DSC00257%20-%20SUB%202.JPG
Pan
I guess what I was trying to say was that the VOLUME of all that extra insulation was too much for my pack. I am using a Big Agnes mattress which I am going to try with my Eagles Nest in October and see how that works. I rarely go backpacking in the warmer months so a 40 degree pad wouldn't mean much to me. Having an underquilt certainly makes good sense, but it's like carrying an extra sleeping bag as far as VOLUME is concerned.
Hana_Hanger
08-16-2006, 21:40
Aloha Lyn,
Welcome to the hanging crowd.
To address your questions stated above.
1. Yes, my HH Explorer stretch just a little the first few times out.
2. I use the Big Anges system and find if it drops to around 55 to 60 degrees or if I am hanging right in the path of the tradewinds...I will get cold spots. Because I always roll off of the 20" padding below me. I toss and turn a lot!!! (I am not cold IF inside the sleeping bag and manage to stay on the 20" by the way)
I use both my Therm-A-Rest Pro 3 pad and the Big Anges pad together in the BA sleeping bag when it is below 45 here or when I am up in the mountains.
If you are active in your sleep and you do not want to carry the underquilt?(wondering why though)
Well you could try a large pad...like 40" wide min which of course will not fit in the BA bag...but under it with no problem.
I would say or be prepared to have cold spots without the large pad.
At times I have placed all my extra clothing including rain gear by my sides to help solve this...but its a pain and uncomfortable as much as I toss and turn.
I would say ...bring your underquilt.
3. There is no knot in mine either....but I hear ya on the catching my hair in the two little clips...I solved this by removing them and use a light weight carainber instead.
Hana_Hanger
08-16-2006, 21:43
OKay I now I need to get that donation sent in...:D
So I can edit...
that is suppose to be carabiner
Just Jeff
08-17-2006, 04:13
Hey generoll - check out the 2nd pic down on this page. The Exped Downmat 7 is compared with the JRB for packed volume.
http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html
generoll
08-17-2006, 07:18
Hello Jeff and thanks for the link. I've got a KAQ which I may try when the weather turns colder. I've just been reluctant to add anymore bulk to my pack unless I am absolutely certain that it's worth the space. I didn't get my KAQ in time to test it before my March trip so while the concept seems good, I didn't want to find out after a night of misery that it wasn't adequate for the low 20s. There's a limit to how much gear I can buy and test out. I'll probably go with what I have and if it doesn't work then there's always my tent and my BA mattress.
I have an Insul Mat Max Pad. I have learned that you don't roll it up and put in the pouch. If you fold it up and stand it upright in your pack it takes up less room. I put mine in my pack so it is against my back. You should be able to do that with the other blow up pads also
Just Jeff
08-17-2006, 12:13
Gene,
I sleep cold, so low 20s might be uncomfortable in the standard KAQ I have. Adding some fleece might get me though. Haven't been able to test it that low yet.
If you're talking about packing the underquilt AND the pad, then I agree - it's extra bulk. If you find the UQ works for you, though, leaving the pad and taking the underquilt wouldn't be much of a change...the JRB is much smaller than the Downmat, and the KAQ is a bit bigger when stuffed but not compressed. Not sure how your airmat compares to the Downmat.
There's a pic in one of these threads of the KAQ and JRB side by side. The thread is called "KAQ vs JRB" or something like that. Not that you're going to buy more gear but it'll give you some insight into Pan's comments above.
Thanks so much for your reply. The underquilt is just one too many bags, as small as it is. I know on the beaches I'll use the tent, bag and pad, and we're bringing the tarp as our kitchen and hanging out tarp, which will be well away from our sleeping area (bears). Where we're going we'll need to be self sufficient for 2 weeks so one extra bag can really make a difference. It's not likely I'll end up using the hammock at all...I just like it so much that I want to bring it on the off chance that there is a site that will make it work.
As far as the ridgeline knot, I"ll just say that the reputation that HH has for good customer service is well deserved.
Lyn