New toys!

The UPS man delivered my brand new Katadyn Hiker Pro filter today! Tomorrow I'm expecting the mailman to deliver my new hammock! I can't wait. It's only a Travel Hammock Ultralight...but I'm still excited. Looking forward to using them both in the near future.

Congrats on going to a hammock... have you camped in one before?

Congrats on the hammock, if you need any pointers the Butterfield is not very far from us, and I do not need any excuses to get out of the house

Dwight

congrats, I have that filter... it's great!

Thanks guys!
No...I've not yet camped in a hammock. On my recent trip to Colorado, all the other guys with me were in hammocks except me. I was in a light weight tent but it still weighed in at 3-5 lbs. In addition to my (overweight) sleeping bag and my inflatable pad. After the trip, I was browsing in the Lewis and Clark store in Rogers and tried out a hammock for a few minutes....I was sold!

I'm hoping to get out on the Butterfield soon...I'll let you know Dwight.

TNFrontier wrote:congrats, I have that filter... it's great!

Sweet! glad to hear good reviews. Backpacker mag rated it really good too.
Thanks TNF

I spent a good hour just tinkering with it to set it up and reading the directions (yes I read the directions!)

Just a word for you though... look into some type of under insulation... QUICK... as the temps there start droping, your bottom side will get cold when you least expect it. Under 70 degrees you have to have some type. Start by looking into some type of pad. From there I like Fleece. Then you start getting into under quilts and top quilts... lol... just trying to save you a very cold nights sleep hahahaha

Hey Monkey...thanks for the advise. I do plan on doing something along those lines. I've been lurking on Hammock Forums quite a bit as well.

I was reading about making your own down quilt and I'm kicking myself for throwing away a down comforter back in August! Actually my wife threw it out I hung on to it for as long as I could (not knowing at that point about MYOG down quilts) because I just hate to throw things away that still have life left in 'em.

My wife is about to make me a new down set, she just doesn't know it yet . After this storm and the night temps getting into the high 40's, you will have to have some kind of under insulation. I have enough Climashield XP that I will make me an underquilt that will work until she finishes with my down set. Good luck Commando, let me know if I can help with anything.

Dwight

Dwight...Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that some time in the future.

I think to myself, "I could learn to sew, and make me a tarp and quilt." But then the daydream dissapates and reality sets in! My mom is a sewer and she gave her old (but still very good) sewing machine to my daughters to learn on. I may try at some point in the but right now, I'm just too busy.

Yea well commandokanak.. just a word of warning.. if you ever start "making gear" you wont stop and the tally keeps adding up.. lol. I cant drive by a wally world without wondering if they have any ripstop hahahaha

ripstop isn't so hard as the silnylon is to find. If I ever find some of that again. I'll go broke buying all of it!

Well I finally got my hammock! It came on Monday rather than last week, like it was supposed to. I've been too busy to hang it though. I was in KC all day yesterday. I don't really have anything to hang it on either. We have no mature trees at my house. I may try it on the kids swing set. We'll see.

Just remember that with the sag of the hammock, a normal man exerts around 500 pounds of force on each end of the tree/support. Just make sure that whatever you tie up to will hold you. Although, you are not really a hammock hanger until you have fallen on your butt . Hope it works out for ya

Dwight

Thanks for the info Dwight! I'll keep that in mind and expect my first fall soon!

Just make sure your hanging over some pillows or something cause its not fun falling on your butt. I bought a hammock stand from Sportsmans Warhouse for $100. I tried the build that was on Hammock Forums but I like this one much better. Loads lighter and much easier to put together and haul around.... not that you would EVER pack it hahhaha