Set-up questions for hammock users

[hungryhowie]

Edit: More questions added. Please see http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...ed=1#post87205

Hi gang,

I’m trying to see how hammock users feel about the complexity or lack of complexity regarding deploying their hammocks, and whether one type or brand of hammock is inherently easier to setup than another. I’d really appreciate it if you find time to answer the following short questions. If you frequently use more than one type of hammock, I’d also appreciate your feedback on all hammocks that you use/ have used.

What brand and model hammock do you use?

How long does it take for you to set up your hammock and rain fly?

Note: this is from the time you pull your hammock out of your pack to the time it is suspended and the rain fly is staked down. Please do not include any additional variables such as attaching an under quilt.

Have you ever wished there was an easier and quicker method of deploying your hammock?

Thanks, gang!

Jeremy Padgett
Hungry Howie & The New Sushi

[Footslogger]

I made a modification a long time ago to my Hennessy Hammock to simplify set up and take down. I can have it fully up and ready to use in 3 - 4 minutes.

I don't fuss with the knots any more, which was (at least for me) the most time consuming part of the process. I found two long 1" wide nylon straps with plastic buckles at the ends and slid metal (250 lbs test) rings over them. The line from the hammock is tied (and stays tied) to those rings. I find 2 suitable trees and attach the straps ...loosely at first. Then I adjust the tension of the straps at both ends until I get it centered and tight. In the morning all I do is lift up on the buckle tabs and take the straps off the trees.

'Slogger
AT 2003

[UCONNMike]

I would love to see a few pics of this rig you set up for you hennessey hammock, ive been practicing setting it up, but your way seems much easier.

[Kerosene]

I find 2 suitable trees...

This is by far the most time-consuming part of setup!

[flyfisher]

Hi gang,

I’m trying to see how hammock users feel about the complexity or lack of complexity regarding deploying their hammocks, and whether one type or brand of hammock is inherently easier to setup than another. I’d really appreciate it if you find time to answer the following short questions. If you frequently use more than one type of hammock, I’d also appreciate your feedback on all hammocks that you use/ have used.

What brand and model hammock do you use?

How long does it take for you to set up your hammock and rain fly?

Note: this is from the time you pull your hammock out of your pack to the time it is suspended and the rain fly is staked down. Please do not include any additional variables such as attaching an under quilt.

Have you ever wished there was an easier and quicker method of deploying your hammock?

Thanks, gang!

Jeremy Padgett
Hungry Howie & The New Sushi

It's been a couple months since I tried, and I have never timed myself before.

Homemade ZHammock, with 1 inch web straps. Fly is 5x10 ft silnylon, held down at 8 points by 4 stakes. Fly guidelines are pulse cord.

1 min 45 sec (without running or rushing) from pack to hammock suspended and rain fly staked down.

Details: Weather: 10 mph breeze that whipped the fly around a fair amount. Hammock and rain fly started in separate hammock tubes. Hammock and fly tied to trees with modified Speer 4 wrap knot.

Teardown (both items in hammock tubes and in pack) took 1 min 30 seconds.

[Footslogger]

This is by far the most time-consuming part of setup!

==================================
With the longer nylon straps I don't have to be quite as picky when it comes to trees ...but yeah, that is definitely the challenge at times.

'Slogger

[Footslogger]

I would love to see a few pics of this rig you set up for you hennessey hammock, ive been practicing setting it up, but your way seems much easier.

=================================
Don't have any pics at the moment but I'll see what I can do.

'Slogger

[SGT Rock]

I had an e-mail from some scouts that were having contests to set Hennessy Hammocks up, I think some had got it down below 30 seconds for an un-modified hammock.

[WhiteMtns]

My Hennessy, standard diamond tarp, two tie outs, usually two and a half to three minutes.

But unless there's a sudden squall...I have all the time in the world to complete it, so I can't say how much faster I'd be if I was rushing.

I have an Idea I want to try on my homemade hammock that should make set up in the 30 seconds to a minute range...but that's yet to be seen. It requires the purchase of a piece of climbing gear that will do away with any knots or wrapping the suspension line at all. That's that most time consuming part...

[UCONNMike]

This is by far the most time-consuming part of setup!

I hear that, when i first got my hammock i went outside to set it up, and i walked around in the woods behind my house and searched for two trees that were strong enough and the right distance apart. I just hope this isn't a problem when I'm out on the AT.

[SGT Rock]

It won't be. You get real good at spotting them. 5 to 6 paces is my standard pace to get some good trees, but I have gone a little closer and sometimes even a little further apart.

[UCONNMike]

It won't be. You get real good at spotting them. 5 to 6 paces is my standard pace to get some good trees, but I have gone a little closer and sometimes even a little further apart.

hey Sgt. how do yo uset your's up? with the knot they show on the HH site or do you have a rig set up to get it set up faster, cause i have a feeling i'm gonna get real sick of doing that knot every nite...and suggestions

[orangebug]

You will get so used to that knot that you will throw it with your eyes shut. It doesn't matter which brand of hammock you use, it gets to be an embedded skill. At least that was my sectioning experience after a few nights.

[SGT Rock]

I agree with Orangebug. The knot was a bogger to get especially with the description on the bag, but once you understand how it works it is like trying your shoelaces.

[rpettit]

It takes me about 10 minutes to set the hammock correctly. I use a line level on the hinge line and space the hammock evenly end to end. Then lay it it for a few minutes and move around, which pulls slack out of the lashings and tree huggers, then after double checking the level and spacing, re-tension on one side. If I attach my 10X12 tarp, thats another 10 minutes. Why is time such and issue? Relax, lay back and enjoy it.

[orangebug]

It's raining cats and dogs! You wanna get everything wet?

[peter_pan]

Routinely takes about 3 minutes to set my hennessy up but I 'm picky...can do it in under two if I hustle....Like other said, it can be done virtually witheyes closed once you are experienced...this includes deploying the Nest under quilt which stays attached and is rolled up with the hammock in the Python Skins.

[rpettit]

No, I don't want to get everything wet. If it were raining, I would set my tarp first. Which would provide ample rain protection, then hang my hammock. It actually took me 30 minutes to set my hammock once. I laid back in it to test the position, my brother-in-law woke me up 30 minutes later.

[SGT Rock]

Well my set up style has the tarp not inside the snakeskins. When it rains Ijust put up the ridgeline with the snakeskins still over the hammock and then spread the tarpout while the hammock stays in the skins. When I am ready for bed I open up the hammock. Tear down is basically a reversal, I pack my backpack up then close up the hammock under the tarp, finally I'll finish by taking down the tarp and packing the coiled snakeskins inside my pack and the tarp in an mesh pouch outside the pack so the hammock itself is never exposed to the rain.

[flyfisher]

It won't be. You get real good at spotting them. 5 to 6 paces is my standard pace to get some good trees, but I have gone a little closer and sometimes even a little further apart.

I've also taken to using Ray Garlington's method of holding my hiking sticks out to my sides. If I can touch the trees with the ends of the poles, they are close enough. If I can touch one tree with the end of a pole and the other with my hand, they are almost too close.