View Full Version : New to hammock camping.
Marmotnj
06-14-2009, 21:34
Okay, I'm super excited to get my Hennessy hammock tomorrow, and i was wondering if i could get some tips on hammock camping. thanks everyone in advanced.
:welcome
You bet.
www.hammockforums.net
What hammock do you have? Have you spent any nights in it yet? Do you have any specific questions. i.e., tarps, huggers, bugs, how-to?
Ranc0r, also new to hanging, and that's what I've learned so far.
.
Oops, missed that you have a Hennessey. Me too.
take-a-knee
06-14-2009, 21:46
Check out:
www.hammockforums.net
reddenbacher
06-14-2009, 21:52
welcome to the hangers.we have the since to live in luxury in the outback
Marmotnj
06-14-2009, 21:54
no i haven't slept in it yet. I'm getting it tomorrow. I'm not sure i have any questions yet (I'm sure i will once i sleep in it) but i was just looking for some tips, like anything drastic you've learned from experience.
Shane's site has excellent video instructions for hanging your HH, esp. tying the HH "knot"
http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/gear/shelter/hthh.htm
It takes a night or two to get used to sleeping in a hammock, but if you like it, you'll never go back.
Just came back from a Boy Scout canoe trip. Hammocked two nights and I slept SO GOOD in my Speer hammock. I didn't even use my mosquito net the first night, but the second night I did hedge my bets a bit and put the net on.;) HAmmock Forums is defenitely the way to get lots of information in all aspects of hammock camping. I took a collapsible hammock stand I made to the campout in case the trees didn't work out. I built it from info I got on hammock forums. Didn't need it but I expect to need it in July when I go to Scout summer camp inthe Davis Mountains in SW Texas.
Two Tents
06-14-2009, 22:04
Here is a tip, hang your hammock high( about shoulder high). Then put your weight across middle. Now redo tension on one end. It will seem too high but, trust me, it won't be. Also,for me, I have the foot end an inch or two higher than the head end. If it's nice weather I use my trekking poles on on side to enjoy the view while still being under the tarp.
Pathfinder
06-14-2009, 22:35
The first time you try it out you'll probably feel like your going to split it in half when you lay back, but it will hold up fine if you do the knots right. The toughest part for me is just centering the hammock between the trees, everything else is pretty easy.
Nasty Dog Virus
06-14-2009, 22:43
alright! another hanger. lots of useful info at www.hammockforums.net (http://www.hammockforums.net).
watch out for widow makers :-)
Marmotnj
06-14-2009, 23:06
Jeeze, I'm going to be a pro before i even get my hammock! Thanks again everyone for your advise and links to the forums.
OutdoorsMan
06-15-2009, 01:05
Just wondering - you hammock hangers seem so enthusiastic about your hammocks and that has got me interested but are there people who try hammocks and don't like them? If so, why?
Marmotnj
06-15-2009, 01:34
well I'm trying mine for the first time tomorrow, so i'll let you know.
Desert Reprobate
06-15-2009, 08:14
Look into the net alteration
http://www.2qzqhammockhanger.com/
Marmotnj
06-15-2009, 20:38
okay, so i got my hammock today. After spending some time hanging in the woods before work, I have decided that this was the best piece of equipment i've ever bought. I'm very anxious to spent a night in i but the weather is really bad by me and i don't want to get my new toy wet and dirty just yet. it was very easy to set up, but i didn't use the tree huggers on accident and just tied it to the tree.
bigcranky
06-15-2009, 20:50
...are there people who try hammocks and don't like them?
No. Don't be silly.
MedicineMan
06-15-2009, 23:41
There will be a time when you hike into a shelter area and off to the left or right you'll see a 6x6 post in the ground and radially spaced at 12 feet 4x4 posts...enough for 4-6 people to hammock from :)
Cannibal
06-16-2009, 17:21
Just wondering - you hammock hangers seem so enthusiastic about your hammocks and that has got me interested but are there people who try hammocks and don't like them? If so, why?
Yes, and for a variety of reasons. I run a meetup.com group for hammock hiking and camping here in Denver and have had a few (like 4) out of about a hundred that did not like it at all. I'd like to say it was just the style of hammock, but I own at least one of every major model out there and still couldn't get them comfortable.
Most of the time I think it is a matter of having already pre-judged them, but not always. I had one guy that wanted to like it so bad he spend over 4 hours just going from one hammock to the next. In the end, he had to say "no thank you". Bummer, but at least he found out before he dropped a wad of cash.