Hey folks,
Last weekend I went for my first hammock overnighter and I thought I'd just share some of my impressions with you guys.

Temperatures at the beginning of the trip where around 4C/ 39F and it's been raining continuously. The ground was frozen and mostly covered with ice.
At the beginning of dusk I had a look around for some site to hang my hammock. Normally I would have looked for a flat and sheltered spot to pitch my tarp. The hammock offered totally new options. As I had only a rather small tarp I decided to pitch on a slope with the headend of my tarp (and hammock) facing upwards. This way I wanted to use the steep slope as a kind of third wall to my tarp.

The place I finally found wasn't that steep but it was on the lee side of a hill which keeped the wind at bay. The trees where at the right place and distance and there where no widow makers above me. I used a continuos ridge line with two s-biners to create a V at both ends to give the hammock suspension more room. But have a look at my campsite yourself:


The tarp I was using was a tadpole tarp by Wilderness Logics. The hammock was a snipe hammock.
Unfortunately I don't own a proper under quilt yet. I tried several options at home before I went on this hike. Finally I settled on an old army poncho liner. Not really lightweight (31.7oz) but ok for a first test run. On top I used a 30F Revelation quilt by Enlightened Equipment. I covered myself up in rain clothing, an R1 hoody, down sweater, and a blackrockgear hat. This keeped me quite toasty until 3 o'clock.
Temperature has dropped down to -5C/ 23F and the rain switched to light snow. I wasn't cold, but the lightweight snow was blown under my tarp and onto my face. Not that what I prefer while sleeping.
That made me get up and drape my poncho over the headend of my tarp. I used some XS S-Biners to secure the poncho to the tarp. That worked amazingly well and fast. And it closed the complete headend like a door.

After that I had a pleasant sleep.

In the morning I decided to prepare myself a coffee while staying in the hammock. Unfortunately I forgot that I had pitched above a slope (instead on flat ground as usual). My Caldera Keg was rolling down and finally stopped by a tree... Another one of those minor challenges when switching from ground dwelling to hammock hanging.

The tarp and hammock both worked amazingly well for me. I don't think that I need a bigger tarp as my poncho solution worked out quite well. I'll probably get a proper under quilt for my next outing with the hammock. The poncho liner worked quite well for a first test but is just way too heavy for regular use. One thing that really amazed me was how well the Woopie Slings worked. I used a simple toggle to attach them to the tree huggers.

Note that the weight is on the knot, not on the toggle. ;-) The green line is my tarp ridge line which forms a V on the head and foot end.

I carried some XS S-Biners with me which have proven themselves as a reliable tool for quick adjustments and for hanging stuff on the ridge line.

My first hammock overnighter has been an interesting and quite pleasant experience.
I tracked my hike using the online service of Socialhiking where you can find some more pictures and tweets:

http://www.shareyouradventure.com/map/google/Beuteltiere/Hammock-overnighter

Edited by racoon-on-tour on 02/22/2012 07:42:38 MST.

Welcome to life above the ground and thanks for posting. An underquilt will save you a lot of weight - but you'll need to decide on a full-length UQ or perhaps you'll save some weight with a 3/4 length model.

I have both but if I'm expecting temperatures like you experienced I use my PeaPod.

I was laughing at your Caldera cone rolling downhill...I don't trust myself enough to try cooking from the hammock.

Thanks again for sharing.

Sebastian,

Thank you for this post. Loved the photos and your write up. I started using a hammock a little while back and I really enjoy it, though setting everything up takes some time to learn. I think it's well worth it in the long run. Thanks, again.

Michael

Great start!

Check out using a marlin spike hitch with toggles. As you noted, the knot should bear the weight rather than the toggle. I made some toggles from a carbon fiber golf club shaft; some use aluminum arrow shafts. I prefer carabiners and use Camp Nano 'biners with MYOG 1/8" Amsteel Blue whoopie slings and 1"x8' polyester webbing tree straps from Arrowhead Equipment.

Making Garlington Insulators is a great way to insulate the bottom side of a hammock for light and cheap. See http://www.garlington.biz/Ray/HammockInsulator/Insulator.htm.

A Garlington Insulator is basically a light garbage bag with some sort of crumpled insulation inside and supported under the hammock with a fabric undercover. The undercover traps air as well and provides a wind break. The Insulators are simply placed in the undercover.

I made Insulators using cheap mylar space blankets and double stick tape to create a bag and then took more space blankets, crumpled them, and folded them loosely inside the space blanket bag. that gives me 2"+ loft and a couple ounces each. You can also crumple space blankets and put them inside a low density poly garbage bag.

I had a hoodless silnylon poncho made with drawstring channels on all four sides to use as an undercover with 1/8" shock cord in the channels. This pretty much clones the Hennessy SuperShelter concept and I use the Hennessy foam insulator with the poncho for warmer weather (I have a Hennessy Expedition). The poncho provides a wind break and protects from any side spray or bouncing rain that make it past my tarp. The poncho works well with an underquilt for extra warmth and weather protection. I get the weight back from multiple use as rain hear.

An undercover can be a simple rectangle of cloth with drawstring channels at each end. A cheap light hammock could be used as well. For testing and experimentation, you can just gather the ends of a painter's drop cloth or some polycryro window film with some light cord. The suspended weight is just a few ounces, so you don't need a lot of engineering. I do prefer having shock cord drawstrings in the sides as well as the ends to get the best seal. If you have a long backpacking style poncho, try it. It should be about the same length as your hammock-- at least past your head and feet. My hammock is asymmetrical and I added a couple toggles to tie it out to the asym spreaders. I didn't need any more tailoring than that.







2QZQ makes undercovers in silnylon or breathable ripstop for $35, which I think is a bargain. http://www.2qzqhammockhanger.com/hammockaccessories.html.

Edited by dwambaugh on 03/10/2012 08:37:25 MST.

Very Nice! I have the same rig.You might look at hammockgear.com they have reasonable prices for under quilts. I have the 40deg and 20deg phoenix and they are top notch. I'm a warm sleeper but I feel the 40deg UQ is very conservative.

My insight to the snow and pushing the limits of my gear. I recomen the full under quilt it is just as light as most pad setups and it does not shift under your feet. Secondly if I know its going into the teens I add a z-rest the knobs grip the hammock and it doesnt move arround as much. I have an Idea for a hammock sock to go even colder using an emegency blanket or two. Hammocking wont always save you weight but most definitley increases the comfort for a very little extra weight. I laugh at the guys who have a pack 1.5 less than me but spend the whole morning working out the kinks, when I wake up ready to go.