Hammock Camping
This is a brand new area for me. One of the things you'll find, though, in researching backpacking is that a lot of backpackers use hammocks instead of tents. This is something that I've had an interest in for a couple reasons. I tend to sleep like crap on the ground, my Big Agnes air pad and my Nemo Fillo go a long way towards helping me sleep better, but I could still sleep better. Hammock camping seemed like it might be a good alternative for me, so when I saw these Yukon Territory bug net hammock on woot for $25+$5 shipping, I ordered one.
My hammock arrived and I found it didn't come with any straps for hanging so the next thing I did was order a set of ENO Atlas straps off Ebay for $30.
$60 spent and I had a fully functional backpacking hammock. I would still need to invest in a rain-fly, which for now, is just a $10 tarp from Job Lot. If I stick with it though, I may eventually invest in a fancy sil-nylon tarp.
Read on for more detail about the setup and to see how I liked my hammock experience.
My hammock arrived and I found it didn't come with any straps for hanging so the next thing I did was order a set of ENO Atlas straps off Ebay for $30.
$60 spent and I had a fully functional backpacking hammock. I would still need to invest in a rain-fly, which for now, is just a $10 tarp from Job Lot. If I stick with it though, I may eventually invest in a fancy sil-nylon tarp.
Read on for more detail about the setup and to see how I liked my hammock experience.
There are definitely cheaper ways to get straps for your hammock, but I liked these quite a lot, just because it's easy. I don't have to make anything, sew anything, tie any knots. They just showed up on my doorstep ready to use.
The ENO Atlas straps won't damage tree bark and they have multiple attachment loops, so you just wrap around a tree, pull it through the loop on the strap, then find the appropriate attachment loops and hammock is up in under 5 mins.
I am seriously lacking in appropriately distanced tree's in the main part of my yard, I'm sure it'd be easy if I went out into the woods, but for my test run I really wanted to just set up near the house. I ended up at the bottom of the yard by the chicken coop, overlooking the pond.
Also, these straps are rated to hold 200lbs each, so 2 straps = 400lbs. My hammock is only rated for 275lbs, so the straps are more than sufficient.
The ENO Atlas straps won't damage tree bark and they have multiple attachment loops, so you just wrap around a tree, pull it through the loop on the strap, then find the appropriate attachment loops and hammock is up in under 5 mins.
I am seriously lacking in appropriately distanced tree's in the main part of my yard, I'm sure it'd be easy if I went out into the woods, but for my test run I really wanted to just set up near the house. I ended up at the bottom of the yard by the chicken coop, overlooking the pond.
Also, these straps are rated to hold 200lbs each, so 2 straps = 400lbs. My hammock is only rated for 275lbs, so the straps are more than sufficient.
Before we move away from strap attachment here's an important note. When you attach your hammock to the loop on the tree straps you want to make sure you make some kind of drip loop. My hammock is knotted to a metal ring and the ring is attached to my atlas strap so there's a gap between the strap and the hammock knot. You'll notice the remaining atlas strap hangs down to the ground. This makes sure water can't run down strap and right into the hammock, the water will instead, be directed towards the ground.
Also, for weight saving purposes, at some point I will replace these metal rings with lighter weight caribiners. If you do this for your hammock be sure and use caribiners rated climbing.
Also, for weight saving purposes, at some point I will replace these metal rings with lighter weight caribiners. If you do this for your hammock be sure and use caribiners rated climbing.
Hammock all set up with my sleeping gear inside. You'll notice there are a lot of vines on the tree visible in this pic. I wasn't sure how that would work, but I gave it a go. I slipped the strap under the small vines, but had to go right over the large vines. I tightened it down and it was perfectly fine. Just make sure the vines are strong, and also make sure they aren't furry vines as furry vines = poison ivy and nobody wants that.
A test lay in the hammock to make sure I'd be comfortable enough to try sleeping in it for the night. :)
I found the hammock pretty comfortable all around. Ultimately, I think I may have had it pulled a little tight. You want a deep dip in the hammock so you can lay diagonally in it to get yourself as flat as possible.
Even though I think it might have been a little tight it was still pretty darn comfortable. The hardest thing was keeping my air pad under my feet, I kept slipped down and ending up with my feet hanging off the pad. I remedied this by turning on my side and pulling my knees up, which yes, you can do in a hammock. I actually slept most of the night on my side, and also kind of half on my side, half on my back. The only thing I didn't like about the hammock was that there's nowhere to put anything. I had a stuff sack full of goodies I might need during the night. My headlamp, sudafed, my phone, my camera, my p-style, a bottle of water. Things I would typically have in the tent all handy and easy to find on a backpacking trip. The bottle of water was easy enough to put outside the hammock on the ground, still within reach. I ended up tossing the bag of goodies behind my knee's. From what I understand the more expensive hammocks have a place to hook a stuff sack like I had. I may be able to make some alterations to give myself a place to hang a bag. The only other minor issue is with the cording that holds the bug net. It could be better, the bug net kind of droops, which I found a little disturbing when I opened my eyes in the middle of the night and right next to my arm on the droopy bug netting was a spider! More expensive hammocks with bug nets have firmer ridge-lines that hold the bug netting up better. If I can figure out how to do something more like that with this one I could probably also use it to hang my stuff sack. There are two small pockets on the inside of the bug netting for putting things. I couldn't put anything I had in it because it just made the bug netting droop more. A firmer ridge-line would help with that too.
All in all I really liked the hammock and I'm dying to get out there and try it again. :)
I found the hammock pretty comfortable all around. Ultimately, I think I may have had it pulled a little tight. You want a deep dip in the hammock so you can lay diagonally in it to get yourself as flat as possible.
Even though I think it might have been a little tight it was still pretty darn comfortable. The hardest thing was keeping my air pad under my feet, I kept slipped down and ending up with my feet hanging off the pad. I remedied this by turning on my side and pulling my knees up, which yes, you can do in a hammock. I actually slept most of the night on my side, and also kind of half on my side, half on my back. The only thing I didn't like about the hammock was that there's nowhere to put anything. I had a stuff sack full of goodies I might need during the night. My headlamp, sudafed, my phone, my camera, my p-style, a bottle of water. Things I would typically have in the tent all handy and easy to find on a backpacking trip. The bottle of water was easy enough to put outside the hammock on the ground, still within reach. I ended up tossing the bag of goodies behind my knee's. From what I understand the more expensive hammocks have a place to hook a stuff sack like I had. I may be able to make some alterations to give myself a place to hang a bag. The only other minor issue is with the cording that holds the bug net. It could be better, the bug net kind of droops, which I found a little disturbing when I opened my eyes in the middle of the night and right next to my arm on the droopy bug netting was a spider! More expensive hammocks with bug nets have firmer ridge-lines that hold the bug netting up better. If I can figure out how to do something more like that with this one I could probably also use it to hang my stuff sack. There are two small pockets on the inside of the bug netting for putting things. I couldn't put anything I had in it because it just made the bug netting droop more. A firmer ridge-line would help with that too.
All in all I really liked the hammock and I'm dying to get out there and try it again. :)