Staying Warm In A Hammock

After we kinda hijaked a thread, I thought it best to talk about hammocks here on a new thread.

Hammocks really are a wonderful way to sleep on the trail, and once you learn how to use them they are really easy to use. Like all things though there is a learning curve. In another thread it was mentioned how to stay warm in a hammock. There is a website by Just Jeff, on hammock camping here. He really helped me before I found HF.

I will try to have an underquilt ready before our next get together, so that those of you interested will be able to see how to use one. If you don't want to make your own quilts, or convert an old bag like I discussed at the Clinic, then here are some great sellers of down quilts.

Ed Speer's Hammocks

Jacks R Better

Currently there is no one that makes synthetic quilts. There is one company called KAQ, they make the Potomac Underquilt., but they are very hard to get a hold of. Other than that you will have to sweet talk my wife to make you one, and then its all on her time schedule .

I hope that this helps a little, be sure to ask questions.

Dwight

So what is the number one hammock you would recommend? I have heard great things about Hennessy.

They all have their pros and cons. Hennessys are fine (I have 2), but their weight is more than I want to carry, and they have a tiny tarp. I make my own hammocks and tarps, they fit me, and weigh a lot less. The most comfortable commercial hammock that I have is my Claytor Jungle Hammock (http://www.mosquitohammock.com/), but it is bulky and weighs a little more than the Hennesseys (it has a lot better tarp though). If you are interested in hammocks, and want to buy one, the best thing to do is try them out first to see which would be best for you. Scott has a Hammock Bliss with bug net that looked really light and comfortable, I really liked its size.

Dwight

Uh.. Preacha.. uh don't kill me but I had to have me one of the Hammock Bliss mainly because of the bug net... I like it ALOT. Though I think yours may sleep better but it just needs the netting and I could not find the netting that I like other than the Bliss. Your Tarp ROCKS though lol. Question about the mod on the sleep bag though. Do you find any heat loss from the zipper in the foot? I was thinking of it but maybe adding shock cord rather than a zipper... what do you think? My only concern is that with most bags if they don't have the draft tube with the zip then its usually a huge heat loss. I "think" shock cord may keep the bag closed tigher around the hammock.
Colt... Preacha Man tarps are absolutely great, as well as his hammocks. They are some of the best put together and well thought out that I have seen.

Eddie,

When I did the sleeping bag mod, I put my rain jacket at my feet to "plug" up the hole. That way I didn't experience any heat lose. The shock cord would work great as well, it is what we use on our underquilts so that they stay snug against the hammock ends.

Ohhh....... Here I am about to start on a green hammock with bugnet for you tonight, I have everything laid out and ready to go, and then you go off and buy the Hammock Bliss. Its ok, I really liked the Hammock Bliss too

Dwight

Actually I would buy yours if you build it.. I like yours better. The texture is much nicer and I would fully support you hahaha. I just needed a bug net for this weekend.. looks like Scott and I may do a local trail at the local lake here this weekend.... NO MORE BUG NIGHTS I can tell you that hahaha.

Which Hammock Bliss did you get, Eddie?

And what local trail are you guys hitting this weekend?

www.hammockbliss.com.... and its the one with the black bug net.... Sportsman Warehouse sells them for $59 I think. But like I said before I do like the ones Preacha sells better but this one has the bug net made onto it. It can be fliped over for winter time but I prob will just use the first one I bought from Preacha for winter. Save a few oz. on the bug net.
Scott another freind of mine and I are talking about hitting Arkabutla (yea I know its not spelled correct) down by the Dam. Stay in the campground but bushwhack a little in the back of the emergency Spillway.

Actually, you did spell it correctly. I haven't been to Arkabutla in years. Anytime you want to do some more hiking in our area, let me know. I am always up for it (when my wife says it is ok, anyway).

well your welcome to come out this weekend. I am hoping it will rain like heck to try this tarp out. Give it a good run through hahahhaha.

This weekend is date weekend for Jess and I. The boys are going to her parent's house for the weekend, so I would be in BIG trouble if I went hiking. Keep me in mind next time though.

Dwight, sorry for hijacking the thread that you moved in here to keep from hijacking the other thread. Back to the basics of this thread:

How much do you charge for your hammocks?

Yea well show her who is the man in the family and TELL her you are going hiking... Thats what I do.. er wait... I am no longer married... still a win win hahahahahaha

seekingfun209 wrote:Yea well show her who is the man in the family and TELL her you are going hiking...

And that is EXACTLY why I am on marriage number 4! Thankfully, I found a good woman this time... and I learned a lot from the first three.

As the Rev. Billy C Wirtz said... I went back with my 4th wife for the 3rd time to give her a 2nd chance to make a #1 FOOL out of me hahaha

I just finished posting and it didn't show up, so let me now remember what I said.

Colt,

The hammocks themselves are cheap to make, just the time to sew them. The webbing is what costs a little, so we charge $30 for each hammock with webbing. I will have to figure up another price for the hammocks with bug netting.

Eddie,

Have you seam sealed your tarp yet? You might not want to test out your tarp until you do that. The ridge line does have 3 set of stitches in it though, so it should repel water for a little while before it begins to leak, but it will begin to leak (I learned this the hard way ).

Dwight

lol yes we got it taken care of today...

$30? That is nothing! Why is it that Hennessy charges so darn much? I would love to buy a system with hammock, tarp, bug net, and quilt. What would you guys recommend for a full system like this?

Colt you need to see Preacha's set up... I got the Cat Tarp... Is that a 10x12 Preacha? and the Hammock. I like the mod that he does to his sleep bag better than a quilt but I think I am going to try shock cord other than a zipper.. But other than the bug net (and he said he is working on that) I like his set up the best.

Well darn. Now I REALLY hate that I missed the clinic! Next time there is a get-together, Precha, you are required to bring your setup.

Ok, I will bring my stuff again next time, but my tarp is $120. THe one that I sold Eddie is 10X12 and my wife calls it her Cathedral Cat Tarp. She also makes a 8X10 that she calls her Sanctuary Cat Tarp.

When you add the etire setup Hammock, Bugnet, and Tarp, Hennessey is a little up there, for what they offer, but it takes a while to sew them all. My wives 10X12 tarp has a lot of Cat Curves in it, and it takes her about 3 hours straight to sew one. Also she makes hers out of Silnylon instead of Urethane Coated Polyester, and the Silnylon costs more.

The only companies that are offerring total setups with insulation and all are JacksRbetter (Great people and Gear A+++++++), and then Hennessey (you can buy their supershelter). My wife use to make everything, and still will if you sweet talk her, beg, and offer her large sums of money. She can make down quilts and synthetic (She likes to work with Climashield XP). Oh well, there really is a lot of options for all of this.

Dwight

P.S. Eddie, if you like the sleeping bag mod, you might like the Speer Pea Pod. It is a little pricey, but has recieved great reviews. I know Ed Speers and he makes great stuff.

I have seen the Pod stuff... I think I like this better though... Also like the simple insulated bottom coats that tie to the hammock. They seem well worth it as well.

They are, they are called under quilts, and they can be used as regular quilts as well. They are what I use now.

DWight

Yea I think thats what I am going to explore. I think that $335 is a little pricey though. I am going to explore that in combo with a sleep bag for when its really cold out I think though. Looking at a fleece liner for this time of the year that can maybe be easily added or removed as needed in the middle of the night.

I made a fleece liner out of 2 yards fleece folded in half. IT is really warm, and very easy to make. Amanda has to make me a new quilt set using Ed Spers 900+fp down. She made one with 2" baffles and the loft came to about 3.5". This would work great for me, but I need to get the final dimensions down first before I order $200 worth of down. If a person can live with the space restriction of the sleeping bag mod, it is a really easy,good way to go.

Dwight

Thats what I am hoping for.. I think that the bag with maybe a fleece added to the bottom would be the warmest combo for the way I could go. Going to try a old Serria Designs bag mod before I cut up a MontBell lol