hammock virgin

[danieldwashere]

Hi! just a message to say hello and introduce to the hammock hangers.

here is a pic of my mosquito hammock brand jungle hammock up for the first time in my back yard.

veterans? what do you think, please be brutal.

Is this fly going to handle strong winds? have i got it correct? it does look dangerously sail like to me....
:sun

otherwise im veryexcited about hammocking!!

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Welcome :) There's lots of good info about hammocks here and over at www.hammockforums.net and http://hikinghq.net/forum/?. I'll leave the answer to your question about the fly to the more experienced hangers.

[txulrich]

Hi! just a message to say hello and introduce to the hammock hangers.

here is a pic of my mosquito hammock brand jungle hammock up for the first time in my back yard.

veterans? what do you think, please be brutal.

Is this fly going to handle strong winds? have i got it correct? it does look dangerously sail like to me....
:sun

otherwise im veryexcited about hammocking!!

I can give you three bits of advice to get started.

First, you need to think about bottom insulation. For me, much below 70 degrees and I get chilly. Laying in your sleeping bag won't do it, because you compress the insulation and you will be cold.

Second, in rougher weather you will want to hang the tarp lower (closer to the hammock) to give you better protection. Also, perpendicular to the wind will help as well. You will be pleasantly suprised at how well your tarp will stand up to the weather when pitched correctly.

Third, investigate the various hammock sites, read alot and practice (in a safe place with a bail out plan) alot until you can get comfortable. Camping in a hammock is not difficult, just different than in a tent. There is a learning curve to it but there is plenty of help available.

[danieldwashere]

Hi,

i have been reading about the insulation here and hammockforums, but i bought it for summer camping (this year in spain). im going to do the reading you suggested and probably upgrade the straps and some sort of double ring system that seems to be the way forwards..

[Seeker]

Hi,

i have been reading about the insulation here and hammockforums, but i bought it for summer camping (this year in spain). im going to do the reading you suggested and probably upgrade the straps and some sort of double ring system that seems to be the way forwards..

summer doesn't matter. summer's here in Louisiana are in the high 90s, with lows at night in the high 70s/lower 80s. any breeze in any weather is still cold on my back. ymmv, but i still insulate. during the hottest weather it's only a JRB Rainshield or a poncho liner to act as a windbreak. when it's only 'warm' (60s/80s), i use a JRB underquilt withouth closing the ends up too much. when it's colder, i snug it up against the bottom. but i always insulate.

like Txulrich mentioned, try it out in a safe place, like your back yard. then if you think it's still comfortable without insulation, go for it. same for the tarp... use a lawn sprinkler if Nature won't provide rain. just be prepared for strange looks from your neighbors as you experiment. :D

[txulrich]

like Txulrich mentioned, try it out in a safe place, like your back yard. then if you think it's still comfortable without insulation, go for it. same for the tarp... use a lawn sprinkler if Nature won't provide rain. just be prepared for strange looks from your neighbors as you experiment. :D

Even in the summer the temps can drop in the hills. You just need to have a plan.

Good idea about the sprinkler and I would second the strange looks from the neighbors!!

[RadioFreq]

Hi! just a message to say hello and introduce to the hammock hangers.

here is a pic of my mosquito hammock brand jungle hammock up for the first time in my back yard.

veterans? what do you think, please be brutal.

Is this fly going to handle strong winds? have i got it correct? it does look dangerously sail like to me....
:sun

otherwise im veryexcited about hammocking!!

I have an HH. I can't speak for the Mosquito but I know that the HH does
stretch (sag) when you first get in it. So when I hang mine I strap it as
tight as possible...in most cases it is touching the underside of the tarp
before I get in. Your picture shows you already have quite a bit of sag.
I would tighten it up.

[Nightwalker]

I have an HH. I can't speak for the Mosquito but I know that the HH does
stretch (sag) when you first get in it. So when I hang mine I strap it as
tight as possible...in most cases it is touching the underside of the tarp
before I get in. Your picture shows you already have quite a bit of sag.
I would tighten it up.

Add a ridgeline as well, so that no matter how tight you pull the end straps, your sag is always the same.

[msupple]

Hi! just a message to say hello and introduce to the hammock hangers.

here is a pic of my mosquito hammock brand jungle hammock up for the first time in my back yard.

veterans? what do you think, please be brutal.

Is this fly going to handle strong winds? have i got it correct? it does look dangerously sail like to me....
:sun

otherwise im veryexcited about hammocking!!

I have the same hammock and it holds up very well in the wind. If wind and rain are expected I don't even use the lines attached to the tarp. I stake it down directly to the loops the lines are attached to. Of course in fair weather....hang it out. I just retured from a week of hanging and one day the wind blew so hard a tent ten yards away was flattened. It was also raining. My Jungle Hammock was high, dry and fully intact. A week prior to that we had about two days of torrential rain and my hammock stayed entirely dry.

I use a Wally World 25" cc pad and have been warm down to 32 degres. With regards to a ridge line, I'm not sure it's possible with the Claytor hammock due to the netting configuration....could be wrong.

When I first started I thought a tighter hang was better but found it results in a bit of the dreaded "shoulder squeeze". I've found a looser hang to be more comfortable. I've spent about two of the past three weeks sleeping in my hammock and have consistently slept longer and have far less aches/stiffness than when sleeping in my own bed. No bull!

I'm not 100% sure if you have a Tom Claytor Jungle Hammock, but if you do, you bought yourself one fine hammock. Have fun with it. Any other questions....feel free to fire away.

Miguel

[msupple]

One other thing...
I initially switched to the ring system but have since changed to the self locking buckles. I am much happier with the buckles as they are much more secure. One complaint about the buckles is that they are difficult to release under the tension produced by a structural ridgeline. This is not an issue with your hammock since it doesn't have a rigeline. There is always sufficient slack in the system to easily release the buckles. I use them with 0ne inch polyester straps from www.strapworks.com (http://www.strapworks.com) The straps are rated at about 3500lbs. It is a VERY secure system with zero chance of slippage. Not so with the rings. Some people back up the rings with a half hitch for extra security but what does that tell you. (they are afraid it might slip) If you have to tie a half hitch...you might as well just tie a knot to begin with. Ther are plenty of pics of both systems over on Hammock Forums.

Good luck, Miguel

[peter_pan]

Welcome to the hanging gang.... you'll love the comfort.

Pan