Hammock or Tarp or tent

[stretche]

Ok so as the new guy i have question on shelters, which one is the best for a early thru-hike, like early march. I really have no idea what to start with, Im tall (6'3''ish), i would love to have a light shelter. so any ideas?

thanks for the help :)

ps. this site is an amazing help tool.

[mountain squid]

Unless you already know whether or not you'll be comfortable in a hammock I'd stay away from hammocks (not to mention the staying warm factor).

Although not a problem early on, during the summer you will likely want some bug protection which a tarp does not readily provide.

Check these options out: Tarptent (http://tarptent.com/) or SixMoonDesigns (http://sixmoondesigns.com/tents.html)

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs087.gifto WB.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[Raul Perez]

For a thru hike in a hammock you will need some good insulation which can be costly especially if you go the under quilt/over quilt route which I recommend. Plus you will need both the winter versions of the quilt and the 3 season versions when the weather gets into late spring. Thats about $1,000.00 right there not including the hammock and tarp.

Hammocks (in my opinon) are the most comfortable way to sleep. But to get them trail worthy and ultra light will cost some money.

[johnnybgood]

I think that before you spend hundreds of $$ on anything , try out different shelters for size (pun intended), and comfort.

Some outfitters such as REI will allow you to rent specific tents . Not sure about hammocks though.
If you go the hammock route, which is most excellent way to relax after a long day on the trail, make sure to get a cold weather quilt for insulation

[Wags]

bug net with bathtub floor + a tarp is the most flexible system i can think of (i hammock) and would think it would excel for a thru. that way you can set up your little netting if you decide to just sleep in shelters...

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=55

+

any number of tarps...
including mld or:
www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com (http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com)
www.warbonnetoutdoors.com (http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com)
http://arrowheadequipment.webs
http://gargoylegear.webs

[ec.hiker]

I am tent guy basicly I like having my own little space and head cove rain cove I think of it as my little hose on the trail. I really like tents thats just my thing though. Hammocks are mad comfortable but you cant sit in your hammock with a buddy and play cards

[gunner76]

I own a hammock ( Warbonnet Black Bird ) and I use a 40 year old down sleeping bag for cold weather and a 40 degree sythenic bag for warmer weather and a Wallyword blue pad and I am good and warm in the 30's. I am sure I can go lower with my set up, just have not had the weather to test it in. (I have used the down sleeping bag with a blue pad in sub 0 weather back in my tenting days). My hammock and tarp are comparable in weight to many of the light weight tents on the market and are a lot faster to set up.

If there is no rain, I do not set up a tarp so I can watch the starts at night.

On a recent camping trip of a week, I had to spend one night in a tent and it was the most uncomfortable night of the trip.

Picture is my wife setting up my hammock while I got dinner ready. From the picture it looks like I am over the gully but I was actualy over level ground.

[stretche]

Ok cool thanks guys, im leaning toward a hammock but you have a point you can't play cards in a hammock. I really like the idea of relaxing in a hammock though...if you have any other ideas please tell me

[Raul Perez]

Here are some vids I put together:

Sleep systems:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB_XA4H5gJ4

Shelters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NCNIWlqQKI

for more on hammocks check out shug's videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NZVqpBUV0

[Wags]

an early start in a hammock wil be rough for you. just saying. it'll be easier to stay warmer and lighter on the ground...

[tammons]

Build a 5x10 hammock and try it out over the holidays and it does not have to cost 1G to set up, although if you go all top of the line Eq it will ++.

Probably almost too late though unless you set up everything now and do a lot of shake down runs.

Go to walmart and buy 10-11' of $1.50 nylon ripstop and try it out. Get 2 harbor freight 1200# 12' tie downs, and take the straps off and you have your suspension.
thats about $20 total.

Here is a link to Risks site that has some how to info on it.
http://www.imrisk.com/

All you have to do to build a gathered end hammock is hem the edges, whip the ends
and larkhead the straps on and add some drip strings. One it is cut out, it takes about an hour to hem one.

I also found some .6oz bug net at walmart too. If you are not going to envelop the entire hammock then treat it with Permithrin, so they wont bite you through the bottom of the hammock.

If you dont have a tarp, go get yourself a 8x10 tarp of some sort for a test run.

If poly that costs about $8 from lowes. Simple and cheap for a trial run.
10x12 if you want an enclosed setup with doors for winter.
Sil is a lot lighter and stretches.

You can use 2 crossed CCF pads, IE one long and 2 short, but you need good pads not cheapos and its not as comfortable as an underquilt. That will take you down fairly low. Add a garlington taco and you can go a good bit lower.
I would also recommend a down quilt like at least a golite ultra 20 although you can use a bag.

I have slept comfortably down to 14dF with with the above setup.
IE 10x12 in tent mode, MYOG hammock hung close to the ground, CCF crossed pads, Garlington taco, Ultra 20 quilt, heavy johns.

That said if I were going on a thru, I would want better bottom insulation.

The key to staying warm in a hammock is the under insulation.

For very cold weather a 7.5 oz of climashield XP 4' x 5' UQ should be a good one and with CCF pads would be warm way down.

With 1oz fabric that would weigh about 21.
The XP insulation would cost about $30



Right now I am working on a new setup which will be a...

Cuben tarp which should weigh about - 7 oz
Lighter hammock that should come in at about - 18oz
More like 14 oz if I do an amsteel suspension.

Bug net that will convert for ground sleeping - 6 oz
A 1.25 oz tyvek bivy sack that will be multipurpose, IE a bivy, bottom underquilt shell/garlington type hybrid. Also thinking about a pea pod option if I can work that out.

That way I can go to the ground or shelter in the bivy sack, or just under a bug net, or I can use it as under insulation/shield.

IMO it is lighter to go with SUL sleeping bag and something like a contrail or a subsil, but a hammock is a lot more comfortable to me.

My big 4 mild 3 season weight for above will be about 6.25#.
For winter with a climashield quilt topper and climashield under insulation, less bug net, about 7#

[alverhootzt]

RP and Wags -- would a Winter Phoenix + backup pad and Superfly get someone through a March 15 start?

[Raul Perez]

And a winter top quilt I would believe so

[jesse]

Tarp....... Its the lightest of the options. Reduced condensation.

[Rocket Jones]

Not often a consideration for a thru hike, but some state parks do not allow you to hang a hammock (or anything else) from the trees.

[stretche]

i meant march next year lol sorry for the confusion. How long do you need the underquilts for, until april or later?

[Doc Mike]

imo you need underquilt until temps at night above 50.
some would probably say even warmer.

Doc Mike
Is way more comfy then sleeping on the ground but winter setup is heavier than ground sleeping.

[Raul Perez]

Underquilts I'd say lows above 70*F you wouldn't need it. Everyone is different but I've always needed one

[stretche]

should i look for a 3 season quilt or a winter quilt for starting in march?

[Raul Perez]

3 season will generally get you down to 30*F maybe 10* lower if your a hot sleeper. Winter will get you down to about 0*F. In my video I discuss different sizes and the weight bulk penalty of it as well.

[Raul Perez]

For lows in the 25*F or below I switch out to my winter quilts and tarp with doors fwiw

[Red Hat]

i meant march next year lol sorry for the confusion. How long do you need the underquilts for, until april or later?

I loved my Warbonnet Blackbird hammock and stayed warm with a yeti 3/4 underquilt and my WM 20 degree bag. I started out using a landau pad too, but didn't really need it and threw it away pretty soon. I used the yeti until mid summer (july) and had it with me "in case". Then when it started getting cool again in August I needed it again.

PS I started March 13 and used a Speer winter tarp after the first week.

[Boothill]

Not often a consideration for a thru hike, but some state parks do not allow you to hang a hammock (or anything else) from the trees.

how much of the AT is like this?

boot

[Wags]

And a winter top quilt I would believe so

agreed... maybe take a torso length ccf in case you'd have to go to the ground for some reason. then you could just pile both quilts on top of you

[Red Hat]

how much of the AT is like this?

boot

The only place I had a problem was outside West Cornwall, CT when the State Park informed me that I couldn't hang my hammock. It had been a long day and I was willing to pay their exhorbitant fee for a campsite. When informed that I couldn't hang there, I simply hiked up to the AT and found a great spot to hang for the night that was free.

[BJStuart]

Build a 5x10 hammock and try it out over the holidays and it does not have to cost 1G to set up, although if you go all top of the line Eq it will ++.

Go to walmart and buy 10-11' of $1.50 nylon ripstop and try it out. Get 2 harbor freight 1200# 12' tie downs, and take the straps off and you have your suspension.
thats about $20 total.

All you have to do to build a gathered end hammock is hem the edges, whip the ends
and larkhead the straps on and add some drip strings. One it is cut out, it takes about an hour to hem one.


And if you just want to easily try it out, I have one of the Grand Trunk Ultralight hammocks (http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Trunk-Ultralight-Hammock-Forest/dp/B001AIHB76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292278419&sr=8-1) which I got from Amazon - for under $20 I think it's great. I'm working on the suspension a little, but when I first got it I set it up out back & had a good night's sleep.

[HeartFire]

Make sure you check out the LightHeart Tents, especially the new Awning Solo, for less than 2 lbs, lots of room, double wall tent, cook under the awning. Get all your gear inside the tent with you, even if you are 6'3" tall.
Judy - of LightHeart Gear
http://www.lightheartgear.com (http://www.lightheartgear.com/)

[SunnyWalker]

Just imagine yourself trying to sleep or cook with bugs and etc., all buzzing you. Really buzzing you. I MEAN REALLY BUZZING AND LIGHTING ON YOU-YOUR EYES, YOUR MOUTH, YOUR EARS, YOUR . . . ..

[Jim Adams]

Just imagine yourself trying to sleep or cook with bugs and etc., all buzzing you. Really buzzing you. I MEAN REALLY BUZZING AND LIGHTING ON YOU-YOUR EYES, YOUR MOUTH, YOUR EARS, YOUR . . . ..

Did 2 thru hikes, both NOBO and never had bugs like that.

geek

[Grinder]

I have tried all three versions you ask about. but there's a fourth: Shelters
My opinions re. each:

Tent: Often hard to find a flat open spot. Best for really bad weather. Nicest in the morning, when it's cold and blowy/rainy. The most work setting up.

Hammock: Best sleep. usually an easier set up. but some times efficient trees are hard to locate. Harder to "hang around" on bad weather days.

Tarp: a good fair weather option. I couldn't get used to the openess of it. I can't imagine a really bad weather situation that would be comfortable. Those who prefer it always stress "location! Location! Location!!" Probably a satisfactory occasional backup option when shelters are the main overnight.

Shelters: Pretty dang efficient. You have to have tolerance for snoring. A real territorial person in a shelter can be a real pain.Plus, at the end of a hard day, just throw out the pad, unroll the bag and you're set!

Hope this helps

[TheYoungOne]

I have tried all three versions you ask about. but there's a fourth: Shelters
My opinions re. each:

Tent: Often hard to find a flat open spot. Best for really bad weather. Nicest in the morning, when it's cold and blowy/rainy. The most work setting up.

Hammock: Best sleep. usually an easier set up. but some times efficient trees are hard to locate. Harder to "hang around" on bad weather days.

Tarp: a good fair weather option. I couldn't get used to the openess of it. I can't imagine a really bad weather situation that would be comfortable. Those who prefer it always stress "location! Location! Location!!" Probably a satisfactory occasional backup option when shelters are the main overnight.

Shelters: Pretty dang efficient. You have to have tolerance for snoring. A real territorial person in a shelter can be a real pain.Plus, at the end of a hard day, just throw out the pad, unroll the bag and you're set!

Hope this helps

I would consider shelters a backup plan. Sometimes shelters get filled up, sometimes you simply just want to be alone. I think a good lightweight tent is the way to go. I give hammocks a close 2nd, and I really want to love them, but things get complicated in cold weather with hammocks, in the end you wind up taking more stuff and carrying just as much weight as a tent if not more.

One thing I like about a tent is the privacy. You want to check yourself for ticks, check your money supply, or just chill and read a book alone, you can do it in a tent. Hammock and Tarps leave you kind of exposed.

[Tinker]

Hammocking is not nearly as complicated nor expensive as ground dwellers would have you to believe. If you sleep in your belly, hammocking is not for you. If you sleep on your back, it's a natural. If you find a sleeping bag which will insulate all the way around whatever basic hammock you choose, and doesn't sag below the hammock fabric itself, you will find a working, insulated hammock. True, mine is not the traditional "lay flat" style, but I string it pretty tightly and it's flat enough. It hugs me like a burrito, and I can't toss and turn like I do on my flat bed at home, but I find I don't need to because I sleep better in the hammock. Look at my pictures, especially the "basic idea" below.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=38616&catid=member&imageuser=2502

[maybe clem]

I love hammocks and started my thru with one but I could never get warm enough in it . I sent the Hennessy home from Neels' Gap, bought a Hubba and hiked the rest of the trail with it. Still have it and love it.