View Full Version : Convince me to hammock... or tent on my thru
I'm a fairly experienced backpacker, but I'm having trouble deciding if I want to start with a tent or hammock on my AT thru next year. I switched to a hammock three years ago, I've tried many different setups, but I never went back to a tent.
My trail hammock would be a Grand Trunk U.L. with whoopie sling suspension and poly straps with toggles. I'd probably pick up a cuben fiber tarp if I went with a hammock.
My ground setup is a tarptent Notch minus the supplied mesh net. I have my own bug net(for when I need it) and ground cloth.. this setup weighs less.
I feel like the ground setup is more versatile because If I'm tired and just want to sleep in a shelter, floor, etc.. I have this option. Even though I can setup the hammock and tarp fast, The notch seems to be less of a PITA..
I'm sure the answer will be obvious to me after about a week on the trail.. but for you experienced guys, do you have any advice? or will all be personal preference? For those of you who hammocked, did you ever find yourself missing out on things because of the hammock?
Tuckahoe
11-21-2013, 01:19
I have not thru'ed so take this for what it's worth, but personally I would go with the hammock. I get much better sleep in the hammock and that makes it easy to deal with any other issues. I also enjoy the bigger foot print of the tarp compared to what I had in the tent -- its nice to have standing and moving room under the tarp during foul weather. And camp selection is a little more flexible.
I think that the Smokies might be an issue with the need to sleep in shelters.
In the end though you have to answer this for yourself.
If you are concerned about sleeping In a shelter when using a hammock, simply bring a pad for your bottom insulation. Then you have the option of going to ground or shelter. I used an uq on my hike but would take an inflatable pad if I did it again.
ChinMusic
11-21-2013, 02:19
If you like both systems then tent down south and hammock up north. Once I got further north the good tenting sites became harder to find. In the south tenting is easy.
Last Call
11-21-2013, 02:26
Just break down & get a Big Agnes Fly Creek or Copper Spur.....hammock hangers are sooooo annoying,....always fiddling & fussing with lines & things with their headlamps after dark while folks are already in their tents trying to sleep.....puh-leeze, gag me with a spork....
Last Call
11-21-2013, 02:38
Another end of this pea vine is; I have had to "rescue" 2 hammockers already this Fall because apparently they were too corpulent for the straps on their set-ups.....on both occasions I heard them hit the ground, one of them was slightly dazed but otherwise okay, the other gentleman could barely stand up after a nasty strike to his tailbone from a root underneath. Never had that happen o me in a tent....why is that?
Dr. Professor
11-21-2013, 07:52
To me, hammock is better on the AT due to the far greater range of campable sites and due to hammock superiority in the rain. That said, hammocks can be colder depending on an individual's setup.
i think you have a valid concern-- although i only sleep in my hammock (similar setup, too...). a short neoair would give you the flexibility you probably will want, and you could couple it with a lighter summer weight underquilt for even more setup flexibility. there is a bit of a loss in comfort with any pad in the hammock, as you probably know, so i would mostly suggest you use an uq when not crazy cold and bring along a neoair for cold hammock night backup as well as sleep in the shelter backup -- accepting the small weight penalty for the flexibility. Just leave something else at home to make your pack weight right!
I like this idea and will look into it.
I'm not quite a UL guy, but I'm pushing it as close as I can on the weight stuff. I have all the gear for either setup. I will admit that using a pad in the hammock sounds like the best plan of them all, I even have a 3/4th neo air. One night I set up my hammock on the porch with the pad and tried it out. It was way less comfortable than using my UQ. Maybe I will give it another try.
I've also had the crazy idea of attaching the pad to the OUTSIDE of the hammock underneath me. Using some Grommet tabs and shock cord.
And thanks for the ideas and suggestions guys.
I like this idea and will look into it.
I'm not quite a UL guy, but I'm pushing it as close as I can on the weight stuff. I have all the gear for either setup. I will admit that using a pad in the hammock sounds like the best plan of them all, I even have a 3/4th neo air. One night I set up my hammock on the porch with the pad and tried it out. It was way less comfortable than using my UQ. Maybe I will give it another try.
I've also had the crazy idea of attaching the pad to the OUTSIDE of the hammock underneath me. Using some Grommet tabs and shock cord.
good luck with that idea... not too hopeful myself.
i do suggest you experiment with how much you inflate the neoair. should not be fully inflated, i think...
I like this idea and will look into it.
I'm not quite a UL guy, but I'm pushing it as close as I can on the weight stuff. I have all the gear for either setup. I will admit that using a pad in the hammock sounds like the best plan of them all, I even have a 3/4th neo air. One night I set up my hammock on the porch with the pad and tried it out. It was way less comfortable than using my UQ. Maybe I will give it another try.
I've also had the crazy idea of attaching the pad to the OUTSIDE of the hammock underneath me. Using some Grommet tabs and shock cord.
One thing about inflatable pads in hammock...they are considerably more comfortable when only partially inflated. Try it....you'll be surprised. Less is more.
Cat in the Hat
Last month I got the wider 25" Neoair, which works great in my hammock, where a 20" didn't. Still lightweight, and I can use it on a floor, bunk, or shelter next year as needed. Some interesting videos out there of people cutting it down to save weight, but not for me.
Personally a tent person, but had a conversation with a thru this summer who usually used a hammock, but brought a tarp tent for his AT Thru Hike instead due to the weight.
SouthMark
11-21-2013, 12:08
When I got to New England I was so glad that I had a hammock. I did not worry about finding a flat spot, or roots or rocks, etc. In spite of and above posters remark, I always set up my hammock faster than tent campers.I do not have to fool with it and in seven years I have never fallen. I have also slept in my hammock at 1º and was warm and cozy. Also the weight of my hammock set up is about the same as my previous Tarptent Contrail. But maybe you should try a hammock a few times before you start your thru. Hammocks are not for everyone. I am one that can no longer sleep on the ground and cannot crawl in and out of a small tent. Hammocks and ultralight gear have extended my hiking years.
MDSection12
11-21-2013, 12:22
Depending on your height, you should consider a longer hammock. At 6' I never could get a good night's sleep in the GTUL. I switched to a GT Single and couldn't be happier.
Tuckahoe
11-21-2013, 12:33
Just break down & get a Big Agnes Fly Creek or Copper Spur.....hammock hangers are sooooo annoying,....always fiddling & fussing with lines & things with their headlamps after dark while folks are already in their tents trying to sleep.....puh-leeze, gag me with a spork....
Meh... all tents and hammocks have some sort of fiddle factor, which is compounded by lack of experience. I am sure every tenter has set up their tent perfectly everytime.
Depending on your height, you should consider a longer hammock. At 6' I never could get a good night's sleep in the GTUL. I switched to a GT Single and couldn't be happier.
Im right at 6' with no shoes on. I have mutilple hammocks, but my GTUL is the lightest. I've slept in it a few times, no problem. I do prefer the double for the room, but I have the GTUL for weight savings. I also like the polyester fabric instead of nylon.
Personally a tent person, but had a conversation with a thru this summer who usually used a hammock, but brought a tarp tent for his AT Thru Hike instead due to the weight.
My hammock setup is slightly heavier, especially for cold weather. This is one of the reasons I'm leaning toward going to the ground. The only time I've ever fallen out of a hammock was when I was trying to get in after drinking way too much.
Tuckahoe
11-21-2013, 12:59
My hammock setup is slightly heavier, especially for cold weather. This is one of the reasons I'm leaning toward going to the ground. The only time I've ever fallen out of a hammock was when I was trying to get in after drinking way too much.
There was an 8 ounce difference between what I had for my tent and my current bridge hammock; a weight difference I didnt think was all that significant, but that I have been able to make up for elsewhere.
RichardD
11-21-2013, 14:35
I used my hammock on my 2011 thru. I carried a NEO mat from Fontana North as I correctly assumed I would have to use shelters in GSMNP. I carried the mat the rest of the hike, I used it a couple of nights when I chose to camp with friends rather than hike on a little, a couple of work for stays in the Whites and a few shelter nights in Maine. For me, the great comfort of the hammock, the superior weather resistance and the generally much bigger choice of camp spots made the hammock well worthwhile. In my case there is a weight penalty since I carry a mat for ground use and an under quilt for comfort in the hammock. I plan on taking a hammock on my 2014 pct hike and am looking to lighten up a bit with a new hammock, Cuben tarp and perhaps a small size inflatable for times I have to go to ground. That said, I know I can be lighter with tarptent but I like the hammock too much to do that.
SouthMark
11-21-2013, 14:36
My WB Traveler with suspension and tree huggers weighs 9.11 oz, my rain fly with ridge line and guy lines weighs 12 oz, my 0º winter under quilt weighs 17 oz and my 0º winter top quilt weighs 26 oz for a grand total of 4 lbs 0.11 oz". My GG The One weighs 18 oz, my Neoair weighs 14 oz, my foam pad for winter weighs 5 oz and my winter 15º bag weighs 37 oz for a grand total of 4 lbs 10 oz.
My WB Traveler with suspension and tree huggers weighs 9.11 oz, my rain fly with ridge line and guy lines weighs 12 oz, my 0º winter under quilt weighs 17 oz and my 0º winter top quilt weighs 26 oz for a grand total of 4 lbs 0.11 oz". My GG The One weighs 18 oz, my Neoair weighs 14 oz, my foam pad for winter weighs 5 oz and my winter 15º bag weighs 37 oz for a grand total of 4 lbs 10 oz.
What underquilt and top quilt are you using?
HooKooDooKu
11-21-2013, 18:08
It sounds to me like you're wanting to use the hammock...
I think that the Smokies might be an issue with the need to sleep in shelters.
...and since you're already experienced with both tents and hammocks, I think Tuckahoe's point is your only concern.
The GSMNP rules and regulations require you to stay in the shelters, and hammocks are treated the same as a tents. That means the only time you'll be allowed to hang your hammock in GSMNP is if a shelter is already full.
So as long as you've got some sort of sleeping pad you can use in the GSMNP shelters, it sounds like you'll be golden to sleep in your method of choise.
SouthMark
11-21-2013, 19:44
What underquilt and top quilt are you using?
The under quilt is a Warbonnet Winter Yeti. The top quilt is a Hammock Gear 0º Burrow. My lightest under quilt, a LeighLo summer quilt, weighs 8 oz and my lights top quilt, a JRB Stealth, weighs 15 oz. Also my lightest rain fly weighs 5.4 oz with all lines.
T.S.Kobzol
11-21-2013, 20:18
I would find the widest foam mattress I could find
warbonnet blackbird double hammock
hammockgear winter palace cuben fiber tarp
sleeping bag
cold months:
hammocking
mattress into the double sleeve wide enough to cover your shoulders
hammockgar tarp pitched low, with the doors closed
sleeping bag partially open used as top quilt
to ground:
hammockgear tarp pitched all the way to ground with doors closed
foam mattress on the ground
hammock spread out on foam mattress
sleeping in bag
in warm months to deal with bugs:
hammock has integrated bug net
on the ground crawl into the hammock like into a bivy
you can still go to shelter...got mattress and a sleeping bag
mystery solved
Tri-Pod Bob
11-21-2013, 22:11
I would find the widest foam mattress I could find
warbonnet blackbird double hammock
hammockgear winter palace cuben fiber tarp
sleeping bag
cold months:
hammocking
mattress into the double sleeve wide enough to cover your shoulders
hammockgar tarp pitched low, with the doors closed
sleeping bag partially open used as top quilt
to ground:
hammockgear tarp pitched all the way to ground with doors closed
foam mattress on the ground
hammock spread out on foam mattress
sleeping in bag
in warm months to deal with bugs:
hammock has integrated bug net
on the ground crawl into the hammock like into a bivy
you can still go to shelter...got mattress and a sleeping bag
mystery solved
+1 on this. I just got into using a hammock kit in late June after 50 years of tent use. No fussing or fiddling that I've experienced. I did that stuff BEFORE I hit the bush with it. Pretty easy to get it right after a few set-ups. I'll never go to ground again unless forced to for personal safety, parkland regulations or my girlfriend wants to go camping.....which happens rarely. The quality of sleep, level of comfort & waking up feeling restored trumps all else for me. YMMV
Wise Old Owl
11-21-2013, 22:40
Honest Nuggz - convince yourself - Make a decision and live.
Tuckahoe
11-21-2013, 22:48
If I am remembering correctly Dennis Blanchard, who wrote Three Hundred Zeros -- Lessons of the Heart on the Appalachian Trail, did his thru with a hammock.
SouthMark
11-21-2013, 23:57
If I am remembering correctly Dennis Blanchard, who wrote Three Hundred Zeros -- Lessons of the Heart on the Appalachian Trail, did his thru with a hammock.
Yes he did and so have a number of others. Leah Sparktofire Knapp is finishing up her thru now with a hammock. Susan Hammock Hanger Turner use a hammock for the AT, the Florida Trail, the JMT and others, the Long Trail, the BMT, the GET, the WT and more.
I'm leaning toward the hammock. I tried out last night with my 3/4th neoair and didn't think it was that bad until I took the pad out and realized that I might as well sleep on the ground if I'm going to put a pad in the hammock.
I have a leighlo 20 degree UQ, but no need to carry it in the summer. That warbonnet traveller looks interesting. Weighs the same as my GTUL and is about a foot wider and longer.
Wise Old Owl
11-22-2013, 10:38
The pad adds insulation and wind block Nuggz and in case you hadn't noticed you can pitch a hammock on the ground. The older ya get the Hammock is far more comfy and you are not on the ground with the critters.
SouthMark
11-22-2013, 14:22
That warbonnet traveller looks interesting. Weighs the same as my GTUL and is about a foot wider and longer.
The Traveler's weight listed on Warbonnet's web site is with the suspension supplied with it. My traveler refitted with whoopie slings weighs 7.7 oz and the tree huggers weigh 2.4 oz.
I used my hammock on my 2011 thru. I carried a NEO mat from Fontana North as I correctly assumed I would have to use shelters in GSMNP. I carried the mat the rest of the hike, I used it a couple of nights when I chose to camp with friends rather than hike on a little, a couple of work for stays in the Whites and a few shelter nights in Maine. For me, the great comfort of the hammock, the superior weather resistance and the generally much bigger choice of camp spots made the hammock well worthwhile. In my case there is a weight penalty since I carry a mat for ground use and an under quilt for comfort in the hammock. I plan on taking a hammock on my 2014 pct hike and am looking to lighten up a bit with a new hammock, Cuben tarp and perhaps a small size inflatable for times I have to go to ground. That said, I know I can be lighter with tarptent but I like the hammock too much to do that.
it is remarkable how smart we older guys are. perfect advice.
SouthMark
11-22-2013, 15:45
it is remarkable how smart we older guys are. Perfect advice.
...."like"....
Tri-Pod Bob
11-23-2013, 00:46
it is remarkable how smart we older guys are. perfect advice.
+++1.............
Im a dedicated hammocker. I think I've finally got my system dialed in. My tarp is completely separate and independent of the hammock, so theoretically I could rig the tarp in the rain, then hang the hammock. I have taken it all down in the rain, just never set up in the rain. I like the fact I don't really have to worry about what's under me, or level spots. Usually it seems here are always several briars right under two great trees, though. Ive been on two hikes where tenters woke up to wet floors, while I was high and dry. I know my system is probably a little heavier and bulkier than a tent, but comfort and convenience are nice.
I have a friend with a tarp tent Contrail. He's insanely fast… he can set up his whole tent before I can get my tarp and its four tie outs rigged. So it all comes down to how well you know your gear.
Wise Old Owl
11-24-2013, 01:44
I feel slighted.... somewhat.
T.S.Kobzol
11-24-2013, 08:06
Few bullet points:
Inflatable matts are not as warm as old fashioned foam
A matt that is not wide enough to reach up to where your shoulders are will leave you cold at night
A hammock without bugnet will make it miserable when the bugs come out
Single layer hammock allows mosquitoes to bite through...double layer does not
You got to solve these little issues as they will compound on a thru hike to make life miserable
Sent from my vivid imagination and delusions of grandeur
SouthMark
11-24-2013, 09:51
Few bullet points:
Inflatable matts are not as warm as old fashioned foam
A matt that is not wide enough to reach up to where your shoulders are will leave you cold at night
A hammock without bugnet will make it miserable when the bugs come out
Single layer hammock allows mosquitoes to bite through...double layer does not
You got to solve these little issues as they will compound on a thru hike to make life miserable
Sent from my vivid imagination and delusions of grandeur
I have a separate removable bugnet so I do not have to carry it during non bug season. I have a single layer and have never been bitten through the hammock.
T.S.Kobzol
11-24-2013, 10:00
The Maine mosquitoes have titanium needles :) I sometimes worry they bite through my double :P
This is not really a concern when I use an underquilt though...
Sent from my vivid imagination and delusions of grandeur
A hammock treated with permethrin keeps skeeters away.
SouthMark
11-24-2013, 12:20
The Maine mosquitoes have titanium needles :) I sometimes worry they bite through my double :P
This is not really a concern when I use an underquilt though...
Sent from my vivid imagination and delusions of grandeur
I have hiked sections of Maine three different years and I have yet to be bitten by a mosquito or black fly. I'm beginning to think the stories about them in Maine are a lot like the Bigfoot stories :)
T.S.Kobzol
11-24-2013, 12:56
I wish ;-)
Sent from my vivid imagination and delusions of grandeur
Pressure D
11-24-2013, 21:20
I thru hiked this year and hammocked every night for the first 1750 miles. I loved it. My wife joined me for the last 450 miles or so and I sent my hammock home. We went to ground and used the rain fly to my hammock. I much preferred the hammock.
I did some testing last night. I have a 15 degree UQ from leighlo and right now I'm using a 30 degree down sleeping bag as a TQ. Instead of using my 30 bag, I brought out a light weight 40 synthetic bag. It was 27 degrees out and I was just as warm in one as I was the other. I'm pretty sure that UQ is doing all the work of keeping the heat in anyway. I think I'm going to go with my hammock setup and maybe carrying a small Z pad for sitting around or the few times I have to stay on the ground.. Alright.. time to purchased the 40 degree TQ.
Sacchoromyces
01-02-2014, 19:55
So: 1) In the south there are bugs and creepy crawlies. Hammocks get one up off of their runways. 2) Shelters are replete with vermin. Four-legged and two. Avoid them. 3) Once one is north of the Carolinas the trail gets really rocky & camping gets less comfy for older spines/hips. 4) Run-off from rain WILL find a way in to your tent/tarp.
Sacchoromyces
01-02-2014, 20:02
"Alright.. time to purchased the 40 degree TQ."
Make one instead. I like my Ray-Way quilt. Synthetics rule for the east, IMHO.
These 2 guys make it look easy as long as you have the right equipment;)
I like the little alcohol stove Shug depends on for his morning coffee:D
-40 degrees, now that's crazy!!!!!!:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTuGJgka1qc
larkspur
01-06-2014, 21:54
everyone seems to be talking about how well ground pads work in hammocks. I personaly like using a thick wool blanket underneath my sleeping bag, the biggest one you can find. it might weigh a bit, but it's worth it
Wise Old Owl
01-07-2014, 01:14
I have hiked sections of Maine three different years and I have yet to be bitten by a mosquito or black fly. I'm beginning to think the stories about them in Maine are a lot like the Bigfoot stories :)
One of the few posts Southmark ... Hey I like you & and your posts. This was way out of touch! Serious.
G2outdoors
02-02-2014, 20:43
So: 1) In the south there are bugs and creepy crawlies. Hammocks get one up off of their runways. 2) Shelters are replete with vermin. Four-legged and two. Avoid them. 3) Once one is north of the Carolinas the trail gets really rocky & camping gets less comfy for older spines/hips. 4) Run-off from rain WILL find a way in to your tent/tarp.
Yup. You're exactly right!
Drybones
02-02-2014, 21:29
They each have thier pros and cons. I recently made two hammocks and started toying with using them in the back yard, tried using a pad with them but that hasn't worked out too well. I'll make an under quilt to take care of the cold but I believe I'll still use a tent for long hikes and the hammocks for weekend trips.
WILLIAM HAYES
02-03-2014, 19:48
I dont have to fiddle with my hammock snap snap up in under a minute most experienced hammockers dont have to fiddle around once their system is dialed in -you have more options with a hammock besides its the best sleep I have had compared to a tent or bivy I have tried all of them tent, tarp bivy and a hammock wins hands down for me. carry a pad if you need to go to ground or sleep in a shelter
gunner76
02-03-2014, 21:25
hammock hangers are sooooo annoying,....always fiddling & fussing with lines & things
gee...sounds like a young couple camping next to me and my wife ( we were using hammocks) that spent an hour trying to set up their tent. After watching them for 30 minutes I asked if they need any help. They said no and spent anouther 30 minutes setting up their tent. Takes me about 5 minutes or less to set up my hammock, tarp ect depending of which rig I am using. I own and use about 20+ hammocks ( not all at once )
have had to "rescue" 2 hammockers already this Fall because apparently they were too corpulent for the straps on their set-ups.
Sounds like they did not test their set up before using it. One should always test new gear under controlled hammock hangers are sooooo annoying,....always fiddling & fussing with lines & things
gee...sounds like a young couple camping next to me and my wife ( we were using hammocks ) that spent an hour trying to set up their tent. After watching them for 30 minutes I asked if they needed any help. They said no and spent another 30 minutes setting up their tent. Then they tried to start a fire..... Takes me about 5 minutes or less to set up my hammock, tarp ect depending of which rig I am using.
have had to "rescue" 2 hammockers already this Fall because apparently they were too corpulent for the straps on their set-ups.
Sounds like they did not test their set up before using it. One should always test new gear under controlled conditions before using it in on the trail. before using it in on the trail.
I was at a group hammock hang about 2 years ago where we rescued two hikers who got lost at Mt Rogers and could not find a shelter ( they did not have a tent or hammock). We had enough extra hammock gear to set them up for the night.
I dont have to fiddle with my hammock snap snap up in under a minute most experienced hammockers dont have to fiddle around once their system is dialed in
Very true. I can slap my tree straps on, pull the whoopies through, set the toggles and I'm done. I won't say getting EVERYTHING done is faster than say, a tent. The under quilt might take a few minutes, and the tarp I use is a hex tarp, so their are two tree lines and four tie-outs, so it CAN be a bit fiddly, but once set up you don't have to "fiddle with" the lines.
Much like tents with removable rain flys, hammockers may readjust later. I started one night with my rain fly wide open, flat, but tilted slightly to one side so I could see out. About 1am the breeze started blowing through pretty good, and I got out and moved the lines and closed in the sides, but had I started out that way it wouldn't have been an issue.
MDSection12
02-07-2014, 22:45
I'm in my hammock before my buddy's tents are up. Not saying that will always be the case, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a disadvantage for me.
Meriadoc
02-07-2014, 23:49
I'm in my hammock before my buddy's tents are up. Not saying that will always be the case, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a disadvantage for me.
I think this mostly depends on the person setting up. Tents, tarps, and hammocks are all pretty simple if you know what you are doing. Yet I'm still one of the slow ones no matter what I use. :P
G2, AWESOME avatar! GREAT pic with the kids. Obviously, siblings and they look like you. All of you look like you're having a ball which is what the outdoors is about!
G2outdoors
02-08-2014, 09:45
Thanks! They are definitely all me... Flaws and all.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
To me the setup between a hammock and tent is six of one, half dozen of the other. The real difference is the morning that you wake up and its raining and have to break camp. It is so nice to be able to get up cook, pack your gear under the tarp, put on your rain gear and the last thing take your tarp down.
SunnyWalker
02-10-2014, 00:24
T..........
G2outdoors
02-11-2014, 12:18
Why are you yelling at me?
Sent from my Hammock.
Well.. I asked this back in November. I have my setup ready to go. I'm starting out with my hammock and a 15 degree UQ. I am torn on what to use for my TQ. I tested my setup in 18 degree windy weather. The 40 TQ was cold. I wasn't using a tarp and wind was blowing in near my feet and hitting the bottom of my legs. When I switched to my 30 degree down bag, I was very cozy.
If I drop the 30 degree bag and use the 40 TQ, it will take a full pound off my pack. I know this 40 TQ and 15 degree UQ is warm in 25 degree weather with no wind.
Perhaps the tarp will keep much of the wind out. It's going to be 21 tonight with a little wind, I'll set it up and the back porch and see how it plays out.
turtle fast
02-11-2014, 19:44
Hard to hang on a grassy bald, or above treeline...if that was not enough finding the right spot with the right trees is not always easy.
Starting off with the 30 degree bag for sure...
swales142
03-07-2014, 04:47
Hard to hang on a grassy bald, or above treeline...if that was not enough finding the right spot with the right trees is not always easy.
Most hammock setups can be moved to the ground if that's the case. It's the same as people who just use tarps except we hang.
Do what you wanna do...
Drybones
03-07-2014, 13:53
everyone seems to be talking about how well ground pads work in hammocks. I personaly like using a thick wool blanket underneath my sleeping bag, the biggest one you can find. it might weigh a bit, but it's worth it
Didn't work for me, couldn't stay on it, even with a two layer hammock.
Convince me to hammock... or tent on my thru.
Sorry, I'm busy convincing myself to brush my teeth after every meal and snack.
jonbobshinigin
03-10-2014, 02:26
As many have already stated...a hammock can do much more than a tent. It is MUCH more versatile BUT, one must learn how to do it properly. Yeh, lots of people screw around with adjustments on tarps and tie downs because of lacking in experience. I have done exactly that myself. A proper tarp, and a proper UQ are necessary for sure in cold weather. Imagine a rain storm where you have to set up for the night. Put up a tarp and bam, do everything you need to do UNDER the tarp.
Full camp site and no flat spot? No problem!
Then cooking and "sitting". You can SIT in a hammock and not have to sit on the ground! Get a hammock and learn to use it properly and you will never look back.
Im doing the Springer to standing bear section in March and I have had the hammock vs tent debate as well. I decided to park at Fontana, shuttle to the north side of GSMNP and hike south with my pad and tent then when I get to Fontana, switch out to my hammock stashed in my car and resupply at the same time. Problem solved. =)
Sacchoromyces
01-02-2015, 14:34
FWIW: tent systems are generally lighter if grams matter to you. Others have hung the entire way (incl. GSMNP). It's entirely doable, and one never wakes up in a puddle.
Nylon hammocks stretch after use. Especially the UL versions, so be ready to replace it at least once. And the GTUL is short. There are longer & wider hammocks.
...if that was not enough finding the right spot with the right trees is not always easy.
Spoken like a dedicated ground dweller! Yessir, finding two trees on the AT is such a chore!
Get a hammock and learn to use it properly and you will never look back.
I looked back. Hammocks are great and all, but by no means everyone's cup of tea. For me, I like the simplicity of sleeping of sleeping on the ground, especially on a thru. Over 240 nights outside last year and I never wished for my hammock, although I did see some great places to hang.
[QUOTE=Nuggz;1819715]I'm leaning toward the hammock. I tried out last night with my 3/4th neoair and didn't think it was that bad until I took the pad out and realized that I might as well sleep on the ground if I'm going to put a pad in the hammock.
I have a leighlo 20 degree UQ, but no need to carry it in the summer. That warbonnet traveller looks interesting. Weighs the same as my GTUL and is about a foot wider and longer.[/QUOTE
My strong guess is you had the pad overinflated. Try it at about half or even less. I think you'll be surprised. An UQ is always more comfy but if going to ground is ever a concern a pad is a must. I think you have your gear temperature ratings spot on. I used the same for my bike with an early April start. Good luck.
kayak karl
01-05-2015, 22:11
Spoken like a dedicated ground dweller! Yessir, finding two trees on the AT is such a chore! LOL reminds me of a time i was walking around a bunch of tree. someone asked a friend "What is he doing?" friend said "looking for the perfect trees" then he asked "What? he just can't pee anywhere!! ;)
I am a long time tenter, but got a hammock about 6 months ago and have used it a number of times. They each have their pluses, but right now I intend to use a hammock for a thru hike. I am still playing with learning different ways to set up, including going to ground if necessary. Easier to pee in a bottle in the middle of the night in a tent and a tent does give you a since of personal space that is bigger than the hammock does (for me) but, the hammock is easier to put up in the rain and keep things dry as you can put the tarp up first, easier to keep clean, especially in wet/muddy conditions. I have had my current tent for about 4 years and used it a lot but I can still put up my hammock and take it down far quicker. Especially taking it down. I use snake skins and it literally takes me about a minute each for the tarp and tent without even trying to rush, and I have far less experience with a hammock. I don't spend any more time, and usually less time, looking for a place to hang as I did looking for a flat spot. But that brings up another difference. When I find trees I want to use, I start setting up the hammock. When I find a flat spot for the tent, I start clearing out brush, branches, and sharp things which gets more fun the darker it is. On the tent side, it is easier to sit up and get something out of your backpack and it is easier to get/stay warm. On the other side, when it is hot a slight breeze in a hammock almost feels like you have AC. I enjoy sitting on my hammock, under the tarp fixing my first cup of coffee and looking at the world if I have raised the front side of the tarp. When I camp with my wife, since I am still learning with a hammock we bring both so I can practice. I find that I have to look for a place to put the tent because there are almost always trees close by that will work fine. Just one last point. I personally do sleep better in a hammock. I am a back and side sleeper so works great. If I was a stomach sleeper, I would have to get a different type of hammock or got to ground. Both are good ways to go and I am not pushing one over the other and certainly not bad mouthing one or the other. Just what seems to work for me though I still have a bit more to learn with hammocks, mostly staying warm.
Abatis1948
01-11-2015, 10:15
I just bought my hammock last year and have used it a couple times up on the AT and BMT. Still learning all the in and outs. I have learned how to stay warm and currently I am looking for the lightest equipment I can find. It is an individual decision as to what a person may use on the AT, but I plan to hammock.
My Hennesy has worked very well from the NC coast to the mountains since 2008. It has kept me cool while stealth camping on the coast, and kept me above a full moon high tide:-) Always a great nights sleep.
If you're in a crowded campsite or shelter, no problem. Just find two trees about 15' apart. Although I haven't hiked or camped north of Front Royal Va, unless you're restricted or on a bald somewhere, you're good to go.
As for a mat or underquilt, I used my Thermarest and a windshield reflector pad to create wings at the shoulders. I understand now Hennesy has a custom reflector pad for hammocks. Might have to splurge...
BTW, I'm gonna do my hike in 2017 with a NOBO flip at near Harpers Ferry. Very easy connections and easier start for these ol bones
Get a hammock!