And so it begins - hammock in the house

[Ticklebelly]

One week exactly, despite a missed delivery last Friday, from order to playing with the device. Just received a Hennessy hammock and am having all that fun that comes with playing with the new stuff. First serious use will be an overnighter down the Brissy river in the kayak. So hard to find level/flat spot to put up the tent on the river bank, hence the idea of the hammock.

Have the device hanging between a couple of suitable trees and will try it out tonight. If things work out as anticipated, I'll lose as much as a kilo off the current pack weight (tent and sleeping mat/s).

Ticklebelly

[taswegian]

sounds fun

and will try it out tonight

You got a couple of Christmas trees to try out on?

[Chas66]

I got one recently as well and am very pleased with it... Stayed very dry in the rain at the weekend on the Conondale NP great walk. It's super easy to setup, and breaking camp under the tarp meant all my gear stayed dry in the morning. Very comfortable, can't fault it, although there was an incident with a possum trying to climb the tree I was hanging from which scared me half to death one night about 2am
Chas66

[tasadam]

although there was an incident with a possum trying to climb the tree I was hanging from which scared me half to death one night about 2am

[hikin_jim]

May I ask what version you got? And which rain "fly" did you get?

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

I've been sleeping more in my hammock during December than in my own bed. This Saturday I'll be one week in the sunshine coast hinterland. Last week I let a camper try out my hammock, he ordered one this week. I own a Warbonnet blackbird.

[Ticklebelly]

First light and we all survived, including the sugar glider that landed on the tree closest to the head end of the hammock (just a bit of oneupmanship on Chas66 there). Coupla things - I gots lots of trees, a couple of hectares worth. My hammock needs at least 9 foot (say 2.7metres) between hanging points as a function of its length. The fly I intend to use most, needs 12 foot between attachment points. I will try a few different opportunities around here because it seems that the distance between trees, height above ground, central hang between trees, and sag all have an effect on getting in and out and flatness of lay. Interesting thought on trees came on initial setup. Might be best to use the smaller trees, if possible, on the grounds that they will shed twigs rather than full size branches on to the campers below. Only incidental that the ground immediately under the hammock is uneven and would be a nightmare to try to set up a tent there. Just confirming a major plus for a hammock on the track.

What I got - Hennessy Hammock, Expedition model, asymetrical, with a zip. Upgraded the fly to the larger "Hex" fly. As a happy accident of the current promotion, I (we, double order for mate and I) also got a kiddie size hammock that came with a standard size tarp. Standard tarp weighs about 250 grams and the larger one, about 600. For hiking when the forcast is good, I'll take the standard tarp but when I'm less concerned about weight, the larger fly will provide shade and better rain protection. All bought online, $60 international postage. Interesting delivery route too; via NZ. Postage to NZ is $20 then it seems another $40 to get it the extra distance to AU. But I'm off track. Why online? Could not find anything for sale in AU, although 10 minutes after ordering, I did find that Kelly's Base Camp has a limited range of HH. Why HH? Mainly value for money. Originally wanted a Blackbird after following Phillip's posts featuring his. Then wanted a bottom-of-the-line "something" to try. ENO single nest got a good look but postage plus insect net plus fly added up to exceed the HH cost. HH also came with snake skins and tree straps. Little extras but did add to the decision matrix outcomes.

The device - Quality seems pretty good. Finish is good but don't have anything to compare with so the just reporting that the materials are blemish free, stitching is straight and even, and fittings are of sufficient size. Spectra cord to tree strap is good size to hold and handle. Through the tree strap loops and lash does away with any complications of knots and buckles and clips or stuff; works well. Zip entry works well, slides smooth and one handed. Little ditty bag and a couple of clips on the ridge line is brilliant for phone and torch. Snake skins work much better than anticipated. Makes the pack up easy and efficient and coils into the stuff sack neatly. The big fly folds multiple time on the ridgeline then rolls down to a neat sausage that does fit into the stuff sack with the hammock. Did not hang the small fly but did unpack for a look. This trap also folds and rolls to a nice neat sausage. Very happy that the flys do fold up nicely because my tent fly is a disaster trying to achieve a neat package for efficient packing in the back pack. Nice touch on the flys. Tie out cords can be rolled up and stuffed into little pockets on the corners. Arrangement works well and is a great way of storing the cords, ready for use.

But how does it work in use? The cut on these things is asymentrical and intended to allow the user to lie a little offline and achieve a near flat situation. I need this because I cannot get to sleep on my back and need to get on my side a little. Yeah, it works, mostly. I did get comfortable and on my side but did have the feeling of the sides coming up around me and that the hammock was taking on a general banana shape. The insect netting does cut down air movement a lot and might be a problem on a hot night. The minimum here last night was pretty high and I only needed my polar fleece quilt over me in the early hours. Even more interesting when I realised that I was lying on the bare ripstop with no insulation under me. I figure if will get interesting when it is cold enough to try wrestling a sleeping bag in there as my weight pulls the sides up and the lack of solid support under the body to roll around on brings its own problems. All in all, my first night was an 80% positive experience. I figure there is a lot to learn and the details of sag and height and a few other variables are yet to be tested.

One little point on why we bought zip versions of the hammock (rather than the bottom entry style). Will be doing a 7 week trip to NT in the new year. We anticipate several instances where trees will be few and far between. We usually take a stretcher and put the inner (mossy dome) of the tent on the stretcher for insect protection, bug bivvy style. We will take stretchers to the NT but will use the hammocks for insect protection and did not want to be trying to get into the things through the bottom.

I think that covers it.

Ticklebelly

[cams]

Great write up. Needs more photo's.

Not sure if you're in Brisbane but for future reference for others K2 Basecamp stock some Hennessy Hammocks in the Valley if people are looking to buy locally. Not sure what the pricing is like.

[ofuros]

Ticklebelly, Welcome to the hammocking brotherhood...........
May your hanging tree's always be the right distance apart.