Anyone do it? I got one today on an impulse buy (heading to South America for some backpacking in a month and a half) and need to hear about it! It seems like a really kickass idea
On a canoe trip last year, one of my buds took a hammock. She really loved it. Easy set up and very comfortable.
I sleep in a Hennessy Hammock quite often and it does quite good. Something one often overlooks is how cold you can get from underneath when you are sleeping in a hammock. You've got to put some sort of insulation between you and the hammock if you are sleeping on an even moderately cold night. I guess if you going to be in the tropics that won't be an issue, but it's something to consider. How much do you move at night? A hammock is pretty difficult to change positions in and can take some getting used to. Make sure to do some practice sleeps close to home so you aren't exhausted from lack of sleep in the middle of an expedition. Also, for me, a week sleeping in the hammock and I am longing for one night on my stomach on the ground. Hope that helps. -- Eddie http://www.alcazarmountain.com
hi sunburst et all.... i have a few of the old school, double wide hammocks that do not travel too easily, but am starting to look at camping hammocks too! here is a great hammock thread i found on an appalacian trail forum.... lot's of tips, info and other links....enjoy http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=104 you might also try this forum dedicated to hammock hanging: http://www.hammockforums.net/
Hammocks are great, Hennesey is tops (next to homemade knock-offs with improvements, of course) but the problem I have with hammocks is, if you're a heavy sleeper (I am) and you do a lot of east coast or midwest hiking (I do) and you happen to sleep through a thunderstorm (I have) bad things can happen. At least two hikers I know of have been killed by lightning strikes while hammocking. The most recent, last June a hiker hammocking near Round Rover Reservoir in New Jersey was killed by a strike. I like living on the edge but I like living to hike another day more. I'll stick to my tarptent.
hennesey hammocks are awsome I love mine. If its supposed to be below 60 or windy you will definantly want something between you and the hammock though. Those things you stick in your car windshield to block the sun work pretty well for insulation.
They make a down underquilt that velcro sticks to the outside of the hammock. That way your weight doesn't compress it and cause it to lose loft. Works great, I have friends who hang and they are comfy to -15F.
