On a pure weight discussion- regardless of what folks may claim- you cannot get a hammock rig as light as a ground rig.
Period.
I sell hammocks. I have the one of the lightest GE hammocks, if not the lightest (M10 GE at 4 ounces or less) and the lightest bridge hammock in the world- 9.25 ounces including the poles. I also make the largest weight capacity bridge in the world- up to 365lb user weight and 2lbs 4 oz carry weight.
Off hand bragging for no great reason aside.
Tarp= same.
TQ= same.
foam pad and poly cryo ground sheet= smacks the crap out of any hammock, suspension, and UQ combo you could dream up.
It's just a fact. You need more pieces and those pieces weigh more.
Where it changes if it you aren't 20 anymore and a 1/8" Gossamer gear partial length pad doesn't do it. Once you start looking at a 1lb wide air pad... then things can start getting closer.
Once you start adding a tent, or a net liner, or other creature comforts to make your time on the ground more comfy... things can start to even up... if considering the lightest hammock rigs.
Context being my only point. Your system vs. the alternative. Relative to where you will visit and what you want.
When a certain someone I know moved to FL and was contemplating a FT FKT- there's lots of nasty ground there. Stuff that you might not want crawling over you, things that might shred a SUL ground system and flat out areas of trail that are under water. So the lightest practical system to resolve those issues might be a hammock.
Tipi might recommend you a fine tent you can pitch in a puddle, along with a fine pack to carry it. Course you'll be at 12lbs or more at that point so not relative to the discussion at hand... but an option.
As pointed out- in high summer- an UQ could possibly be left home- changing the equation too and potentially being the better and lighter option.
When you start talking an average free standing UL tent vs a UL hammock... then things get a bit easier.
Keep in mind though... I got into bridges because there are lots of times you might WANT to go to ground. While a cardinal sin amongst some hammock enthusiasts... most backpackers understand that there are open summits worth cowboy camping on, nights in open fields under the stars, occasional overfilled hostels, and even the occasional shelter after a 20 mile day in a down pour that looks damn appealing to slap a pad down and pass out in.
GE hammocks can be harder to get to work with a pad, bridges are easier. That's why I got into those personally- and I find I can do a weekend or so in a GE well enough... but after that I need a bridge. The hardest thing about hammocks is they are pretty close to buying shoes- and we all know how shoe discussions go and how easily we can all find one or two easy options right?
For those not familiar a bridge is a bit like a floating cot when done right.
The simplest answer- if it ain't broke don't fix it.
If you are sleeping well on the ground still at a reasonable weight- call it good.
If you are having some troubles or just plain bored- try a gathered end- better yet go to a group hang.
If you find a GE hammock you like- you win- stop there. It's the lightest simplest hammock you will find.
If all else fails- try a bridge. They are the heaviest option, often require a tarp- and there are not many to pick from.
I'm working on a better hammock- but my Big Guy Bridge is filling a bit of a void at the moment and taking up my time.
My goal though is to come up with a 1lb bridge for backpackers around 200lbs or less in weight. Being a big floating cot- you can just slap your pad in there for trips that require one, or eventually bring an UQ for about 8-10 ounces. Even my big bridges are fairly compact- but they need about a 12' RL tarp- which again is bigger than any ground tarp you would take. So even my UL version of a Luxury bridge would still clock in at a decent weight due to parts and pieces needed to flush it out.
At one point Matt and I were trying hard to crack the 2lb problem for a total sleep system. That's where the Micro Bridge came from.
At the time- a fella at BPL was about 26 ounces all in for sleep, insulation, bugs, and weather. (Tarp, micro net, ground sheet, foamie, Top quilt)
We were cracking about 36/37 ounces... so getting there but not there yet. But a clear comfort advantage for where we camped vs where he camped (lots of soft forest duff and easier site selection). Hell you find the perfect site and you don't need a pad in some areas of the country.
The goal was an acceptable hammock system for 45* or so that could keep you dry and allow you to go to ground when needed.
Micro bridge- 9.25+2oz legal suspension (or a hair less) (as in 1" straps not rope)
Thermarest small- 8oz
Town's End Just a Quilt XUL- 11 oz.
Cuben Poncho tarp+headnet- 6 oz.
Pack under heels/calves- already carried.
If I remember correctly that's where we left off... I suppose we could swap the bridge for the SUL GE's I now have and shave 5 oz. And that was before Kevlar straps came out too...
So maybe cracking 2lbs is already possible with a complete hammock sleep system... hopefully we can revisit that at some point soon.
Is that light enough to get off the ground?
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Originally Posted by Akela
