Lets talk hammocks

[jbrecon2]

I know there is a hammock forum, dont yell at me!! However it seems relatively new and doesnt look to be visited that often so i thought i would have better luck on here. I'm curious about hammocks? Everyone that uses them love them. Im leaving for a nobo thru hike in april. I was considering a SMD lunar solo or tarp tent, but im curioius about hammocks.
-When i see them in pictures they dont look like they are all that easy to set up?
-How do you tie it off to the tree?
-How do you reach high enough on the tree to set it up?
-How do you get in you sleeping bag while in your hammock?
-If i leave in april do i need and under quilt?
-I am a side sleeper, is a hammock right for me?


I like the idea of having a place to lounge during the day, and the freedom to camp anywhere there are two trees.

[BrianLe]

Not yelling at you (!), but for really basic questions like this it seems a lot more efficient for you to look where so much of this has been well laid out already. A book, in fact, might not be a bad idea; you can perhaps get Ed Speer's book (http://www.hammockcamping.com/) at your local library, or perhaps via interlibrary loan.

Here are some good starting links to consider:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/index.php
http://www.tothewoods.net/
http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock.html
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Links/Links.htm

[Freigeist]

I too would recommend you peruse the links above, but to quickly answer your questions here:

-When i see them in pictures they dont look like they are all that easy to set up?
Once you've set one up a few times it's not at all hard.

It took me a little while to figure everything out the first time, but now it takes me, start to finish, under two minutes or so for the basic setup, and around five if I have to pitch the tarp/supershelter/water else.

-How do you tie it off to the tree?

There are multiple ways to do this. Once I have the tree huggers in place (these big, wide bands that go around the tree to protect the bark), I tend to do a lashing and then a granny knot, but there are far more effective ways, or so I hear.

-How do you reach high enough on the tree to set it up?

Once taught it doesn't need to be tied above, oh, chest height, I think. This shouldn't be a problem.

-How do you get in you sleeping bag while in your hammock?

I usually just lay it off to the side and then alternate where I hold my weight and wiggle into it, though one could easily just bring it under them and zip it up. It's not too difficult. A popular strategy is to use an underquilt and a topquilt and forego the sleeping bag altogether, though.

-If i leave in april do i need and under quilt?

I wouldn't think so, but I dunno. The internets tell me that temps don't drop below 40 in April in GA, and personally I would be fine without an underquilt then (if inside at least a 45 degree sleeping bag), but it's your call.

-I am a side sleeper, is a hammock right for me?

I've managed to lie comfortably inside mine on my side, but I'm a back sleeper so I've never gone a night on my side. See if you can try one out somewhere and see if it works for you?

[Doooglas]

OK.
If it aint a Clark it aint chit.
GooNuff ?

[peanuts]

jbrecon, why do you think hammock forums.net is not a well visited site???i suggest to look again there. you will get the answers you seek without the hostility on this site. that is why it was created by attroll himself. and yes i am a hammocker and has been for 8yrs

[jbrecon2]

I'm sorry I honestly didn't know about that site. I only saw the above thread for hammocking and saw it was void of to much info. I will look at the other site. Thank you