Hammocks on the AT?

[OverTheHills]

Hey guys, first post on the forum. I'm getting prepared for my first thru-hike here in about a year, and I was curious if anyone had experience/good results with taking a hammock onto the AT. Any opinions welcome! I'm just really wanting to dial in the gear aspect of this so I can get accustomed to what I'm using before I hit the thru-hike date.

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[ChinMusic]

Hammocks are a very popular and successful shelter on the AT. They do require more skill/experience to deal with cold. Don't just show up in March with one.

[Ricky&Jack]

Go to HammockForums .com

Its the sister site to this. There are a TON of people with hammock experience on the A.T.

I'm not sure what the percentage, but I wouldn't be surprised if 3/10 hikers use hammocks (or more)

[No Directions]

I have no desire to camp in temps this cold but this guy does it comfortably all the time. And in a hammock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTuGJgka1qc&feature=share&list=PLahaAdtfX9ZL-DOvRgYo-W6qquKQdK35e

[Feral Bill]

Welcome to WB

[drew_a_blank]

Hey OTH,

While I haven't yet hiked the AT, though I will be hammocking next year for my thru. As mentioned above, there are some different learning curves that come in to play when using hammocks for your shelter, definitely get your gear tested and dialed in well before you start your thru! Happy hiking, and good luck!

[rhjanes]

Here is a 2008 Trail Journal of a hammock hanger who evangelized about the benefits of hammocks while she thru hiked.
click this (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?ID=256635)

[gunner76]

Many people have used hammocks the whole distance. I have used mine on section hikes.

I was doing a section hike around Springer Mt where I did have one person ask what kind of tent I used and I told him I used a hammock. He said it must be a real problem finding trees to hang from. I looked around at the all the trees at the site where he was at and told yes it was a major problem finding trees along the trail.

[Rain Man]

I began section hiking the AT in '03 with a trusty tent. In '05 attended Trail Days and bought a hammock from Tom Hennessey himself. By that time, I had heard many things from hammock enthusiasts. For a while I switched back-and-forth between tent and hammock. Now I take my hammock almost exclusively. (Sometimes I take only a tarp, if it's not bug season.)

Was on the AT last week in NJ/NY. Here's my set-up at Wawayanda State Park.

I've hammocked every month of the year. Lowest I've gotten on a trail is 16 degress, I believe. In my yard I've gone down to zero, comfortably.

To each his own, of course.

Rain:sunMan

.

[doodles]

I sectioned the trail. I started out in shelters and tenting. About half way thru I learned and became interested in the HH. Since I got into the HH, I have never been without it. I will say that while backpacking in Yosemite finding small trees was a bit of a problem. Never thought of the extremely large tree issue until I was out in the back country. I made it work but it was a bit of a surprise the first night when looking for two trees in an area near good tent sites that my boys were in. You do need to be aware when temp dip down. Back pads or under quilts are needed. I have used mine down to about 25 and woke up in the snow. On the flip side they are nice and cool on those hot steamy nights.

[Foresight]

I began section hiking the AT in '03 with a trusty tent. In '05 attended Trail Days and bought a hammock from Tom Hennessey himself. By that time, I had heard many things from hammock enthusiasts. For a while I switched back-and-forth between tent and hammock. Now I take my hammock almost exclusively. (Sometimes I take only a tarp, if it's not bug season.)

Was on the AT last week in NJ/NY. Here's my set-up at Wawayanda State Park.

I've hammocked every month of the year. Lowest I've gotten on a trail is 16 degress, I believe. In my yard I've gone down to zero, comfortably.

To each his own, of course.

Rain:sunMan

.

That quilt is hideous.....

[Rain Man]

That quilt is hideous.....

LOL... it doubles as part of my incognito outfit for Clemson games in November! I think it's quite lovely! ~wink~

Rain:sunMan

.

[tarpon]

I hike with a Hammock but I also always carry a sleeping pad. A proper sleeping pad is an excellent way to to layer and keep warm in your hammock on those cold and windy March nights. This also allows you to be comfortable in a shelter if you decide not to pitch your tarp and hammock for the night.

Try not to make the same rookie mistake I made on my first Section out. I packed everything but the straps, left those hanging on the trees.

Have fun all !

Have fun

[rocketsocks]

I hike with a Hammock but I also always carry a sleeping pad. A proper sleeping pad is an excellent way to to layer and keep warm in your hammock on those cold and windy March nights. This also allows you to be comfortable in a shelter if you decide not to pitch your tarp and hammock for the night.

Try not to make the same rookie mistake I made on my first Section out. I packed everything but the straps, left those hanging on the trees.

Have fun all !

Have fun
just curious if you also use an under quilt with that set up, or just the pad?

[rocketsocks]

I began section hiking the AT in '03 with a trusty tent. In '05 attended Trail Days and bought a hammock from Tom Hennessey himself. By that time, I had heard many things from hammock enthusiasts. For a while I switched back-and-forth between tent and hammock. Now I take my hammock almost exclusively. (Sometimes I take only a tarp, if it's not bug season.)

Was on the AT last week in NJ/NY. Here's my set-up at Wawayanda State Park.

I've hammocked every month of the year. Lowest I've gotten on a trail is 16 degress, I believe. In my yard I've gone down to zero, comfortably.

To each his own, of course.

Rain:sunMan

.I enjoyed the tutorial you gave me when we hiked together on the construction of the under quilt you built, particularly the baffled construction design, and how it catches and holds the fill to keep it from migrating, but allows for air flow for compression and stowage, and the wetting and weighing of the down to fill a project...that's clever.

[Just Bill]

I enjoyed the tutorial you gave me when we hiked together on the construction of the under quilt you built, particularly the baffled construction design, and how it catches and holds the fill to keep it from migrating, but allows for air flow for compression and stowage, and the wetting and weighing of the down to fill a project...that's clever.

WELL HEY NOW!
you need to share that tip Rain Man, never heard that but it instantly got my wheels spinning. Never done a down quilt- but if you successfully wet and stuff the down- that is sneaky.
Clearly one of the biggest problems is stuffing high fill stuff. The horror stories of mouse farts, isolation rooms, vacuum cleaner modifications and the like are a big turn off-
But duh- just damp up some and drop in a clump- now we're walking,talking and chewing gum.

EXPLAIN!
(Did I just channel WOO?)

[tarpon]

just curious if you also use an under quilt with that set up, or just the pad?

Just an insulated Pad, along with a good bag and liner. The pocket design in my hammock allows the pad to slip off my shoulders and migrate south if I move around too much. So getting settled in the sleeping bag with the pad still high on my shoulders is important.

[Rain Man]

WELL HEY NOW!
you need to share that tip Rain Man, never heard that but it instantly got my wheels spinning. Never done a down quilt- but if you successfully wet and stuff the down- that is sneaky.
Clearly one of the biggest problems is stuffing high fill stuff. The horror stories of mouse farts, isolation rooms, vacuum cleaner modifications and the like are a big turn off-
But duh- just damp up some and drop in a clump- now we're walking,talking and chewing gum.

Sounds like you've got the idea. I soak my down before stuffing it in my DIY projects. Keeps it from floating all over the place. Well, for the most part, that is. Even wet, some gets out. I did learn that plain water won't soak it very well, so I use some "down wash" soap in the water. That helps. And after the DIY project is done, I throw it in the wash anyway.

Rain:sunMan

.

[Ricky&Jack]

does anyone have a guess what the percentage of hammockers attempting a through not he A.T. are? Was I right in my earlier 'guess' that maybe 3 out of 10 A.T. hikers use hammocks?

[SouthMark]

does anyone have a guess what the percentage of hammockers attempting a through not he A.T. are? Was I right in my earlier 'guess' that maybe 3 out of 10 A.T. hikers use hammocks?

I don't have a clue but in 2010 I personally met five thrus in Damascus that were using hammocks.

[Just Bill]

Sounds like you've got the idea. I soak my down before stuffing it in my DIY projects. Keeps it from floating all over the place. Well, for the most part, that is. Even wet, some gets out. I did learn that plain water won't soak it very well, so I use some "down wash" soap in the water. That helps. And after the DIY project is done, I throw it in the wash anyway.

Rain:sunMan

.

EXCELLENT IDEA!
Making gear is tricky enough without getting into a pillow fight with yourself doing it.
Between this tip and the new dri-down maybe it's time...

[Just Bill]

does anyone have a guess what the percentage of hammockers attempting a through not he A.T. are? Was I right in my earlier 'guess' that maybe 3 out of 10 A.T. hikers use hammocks?

zero- hammock hangers are too laid back to thru ;)
However 9/10 people at hammock forums use hammocks.

[ChinMusic]

does anyone have a guess what the percentage of hammockers attempting a through not he A.T. are? Was I right in my earlier 'guess' that maybe 3 out of 10 A.T. hikers use hammocks?

30% might be a bit high from my experience but it probably isn't far off.

I am one that prefers my tent over my hammock but there were a few times I had trouble finding a place to put my tent, not many, but enough to be a bother. Hammockers def have more options to where to end their day. As a tenter there were times I felt forced to stop early since I was uncertain what terain was ahead of me.

[SouthMark]

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=1867

[gbolt]

As long as the thread reads, "Hammocks on the AT" and I hopefully won't be hijacking the thread... I do have a question for those that have spent March through July or have done different section hikes on the AT during that spread of months or maybe temperature range is a better way to put it. I use a Therm-a-rest Z-lite pad (purchased prior to reading all the great things about CCF pads) for my WBBB DL. I have yet to purchase an Underquilt. However, when I do bite the bullet, is it smarter to combo the pad with a higher 30* quilt on a thru or go with a 20* and not use the pad except for shelters? If I do combo to get the use of the pad for the weight of carrying it; can I stretch to a 40* Incubator. I have done a lot of research on here and hammock forums but have not read the answers to this question, yet both sites have got my set-up more versitile and light weight than ever... so thanks.

[Foresight]

LOL... it doubles as part of my incognito outfit for Clemson games in November! I think it's quite lovely! ~wink~

Rain:sunMan

.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one, hahahaha

[fastfoxengineering]

As long as the thread reads, "Hammocks on the AT" and I hopefully won't be hijacking the thread... I do have a question for those that have spent March through July or have done different section hikes on the AT during that spread of months or maybe temperature range is a better way to put it. I use a Therm-a-rest Z-lite pad (purchased prior to reading all the great things about CCF pads) for my WBBB DL. I have yet to purchase an Underquilt. However, when I do bite the bullet, is it smarter to combo the pad with a higher 30* quilt on a thru or go with a 20* and not use the pad except for shelters? If I do combo to get the use of the pad for the weight of carrying it; can I stretch to a 40* Incubator. I have done a lot of research on here and hammock forums but have not read the answers to this question, yet both sites have got my set-up more versitile and light weight than ever... so thanks.

I personally would go with a 20* UQ and not use it in my hammock. Better nights sleep for me anyway. And depending on when you start and how cold of a sleeper your are. You may still want to use your pad with a 20* UQ in the hammock. Some nights deep into the teens depending on your start date. There's not much weight savings between a 30* and a 20*. To be on the safe side I would go with the 20. I'll be using a setup similar to yours. 20* TQ, 20* 3/4 UQ, and a Neoair for when I want to go to ground/shelter. The Neoair also lets me use my hammock into colder temps.

[gbolt]

Thanks fastfox... without an UQ, I have not stretched the Hammock temperature the way I want to in the next couple of years while getting ready for Retirement. Having spent 30 years backpacking, I just recently started to switch out, or better yet, upgrade/modernize my equipment. The Hammock was a big switch and so I am am still trying to get the last bit of life out of a Synthetic 20* bag before purchasing the TQ and UQ. An AT thru is quite a few years away but planning for the typical Mid March Departure. Your thoughts are very sound.

[bigcranky]

I take a 3/4 length CCF pad for my hammock in warm weather. It doubles as a place to take a nap on a mountaintop, or for use in a shelter. (Your Z-lite is CCF, by the way.) For a March AT thru start, I'd get a 20F underquilt and use both the quilt and the pad on colder nights.

[gbolt]

I take a 3/4 length CCF pad for my hammock in warm weather. It doubles as a place to take a nap on a mountaintop, or for use in a shelter. (Your Z-lite is CCF, by the way.) For a March AT thru start, I'd get a 20F underquilt and use both the quilt and the pad on colder nights.


I thought the CCF was just referring to the Gossamergear flat grey pads or the old closed cell green roll pad that I have but cannot get an R-Value to judge it by. But what you say makes sense "duh", the Z - lite is closed cell. One question though, Is the 3/4 pad just to save weight and pack easier with a trade off of just lower body coverage in the hammock? PS Read a lot of your post Bigcranky, thanks for your help with the 50+ age group!

[bigcranky]

Is the 3/4 pad just to save weight and pack easier with a trade off of just lower body coverage in the hammock?

Yes. A full length pad is larger/bulkier to pack, and it's more difficult to use inside the hammock anyway.

The 20-inch wide pads are ok for warmer weather, in my experience, but for cold nights they aren't wide enough to wrap around my shoulders (I'm pretty big.) I have successfully used just a 25x77-inch Ridgerest XL in temps below freezing in my Hennessy Hammock, though it was a real PITA to get in and out of the hammock and the bag with that giant pad inside. Of course, if you get an underquilt that'll be your primary bottom insulation, with the pad for additional torso warmth.

Now that I think about it, on our first section hike, back in June, 2003, I used a 3/4 length, 20 inch wide Ridgerest in my Hennessy, and a low-end 45-F bag, and the overnight lows got down into the 30s, and I lived. It wasn't particularly comfortable, but keeping the torso warm is the most important part anyway.

Some CCF pads come in wider widths - not just the GG pads, but I think the Walmart pad is still 24 inches wide. I cut one down to 3/4 length a couple of years ago for a summer hike and it was great (and cheap!)

[Caddywhompus]

I just saved my money and bought a ENO Blaze Underquilt. I can hang my hammock in the snow and sleep fine. Works great and i'm a straight cry baby when it comes to cold.

[redzombie]

http://www.snowaddiction.org/2014/06/the-best-camping-accessory-you-could-ever-wish-for.html

check this hammock out!

[Wülfgang]

There are a million ways to hammock. Hammocking can EASILY be dont throughout the AT due to the abundance of trees.

As for cold temps, you do lose more heat via convection in a hammock, hence the use of underquilts and inflatable pads. I use a 3.5 R-rating pad with a down bag and find it just as warm as any tent, at least in the rockies. A full-coverage tarp is essential for hammock camping though. The last thing you want is to be d!cking around with your tarp for 30 minutes every night trying to get the perfect pitch; or worse, getting rain drafts in the middle of the night. Spend the extra $$ and get a full coverage sil-nylon tarp. Weighs about 1 lb. Warbonnet Outdoors makes the best hammock tarp on the market, IMO.

[gravitino]

"Loner" did a thru with a hammock. Here's the vid where he shows his rig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sTft2mLI0k

[Hangman]

Hammocks remind me of how snowboarding started out.. Most people were very skeptical at first but once they tried them they were hooked. I thru hiked the AT in 2007 with a hammock and that is the way to go for me. I did use a hubba on the Muier Trail and missed my hammock.