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=CTuGJ...o-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

[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.

RainMan

.

[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.

RainMan

.

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~

RainMan

.

[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.

RainMan

.

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.

RainMan

.

[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.