{"id":9655,"date":"2023-04-29T18:48:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T23:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=9655"},"modified":"2023-09-16T08:30:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T13:30:40","slug":"new-hammock-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2023\/new-hammock-2023","title":{"rendered":"New Hammock 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the height of this sort of deliciousness is to have nothing but the blanket between you and your snugness and the cold of the outer air. – Herman Melville (Moby Dick)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\nI became aware of Hammock Camping<\/em> back in 2016.\nLuckily my first hammock<\/a>\nwas reasonably well designed and built.\nSeven years later that hammock has taken me many places and taught me a lot!<\/em>\nUnfortunately it is showing some wear and I’ve been looking for a possible replacement.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"My
My Original Hammock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

One of the things I learned is to keep things as simple as possible<\/em>. That first hammock was unusual–having a short tent pole spreader<\/em> at the shoulder (vertical orange bar in photo above). This eliminated the need for tying the hammock out when no rain threatened, and eliminated two extraneous lines to trip over! The rainfly was a standard 10×10 foot diamond with the ridge on the long axis. It also served as the de facto ridge-line<\/em> when hanging the hammock up. Deploying it took only two stakes and I added some shock-cord<\/a> to help keep it taut. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Four
Four Point Suspension<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nI call this the “four point suspension rule” and it works!\nMinimal trip hazard–most nights you just hang up and jump in.\nEven with the fly fully deployed it is easy to enter from any quadrant.\nI carry a few lengths of lightweight rope to solve minor problems as they come up.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had to search hard to find a hammock with a single aluminum spreader pole<\/em> similar to the above. Most “spreader” hammocks have non-removable, self-deploying wands at both ends. This makes them harder to pack up, since you have to fold them in a very precise way. I bought one of these a few years ago and found that it made a better bugnet tent on the ground. It works when hung, but not very well. The spreaders don’t spread, they just support the netting. Newer models appear to have wands closer to the ends and that arrangement might work better. (?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting Up the New Hammock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spreader and Netting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nThis “TravelBird” hammock looked promising and was not very expensive.\nThe first thing you’ll notice is the spreader pole on the outside<\/em>\n(my original had the pole inside<\/em> the netting).\nWhen empty the whole thing tends to tip over in the wind. Not so much with gear in it.\n(The video instructions tell you to stake it out, but there really is no need to do this.)\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"New
New Hammock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here’s a closeup of the spreader in action. You can also see the standard carabiner suspension and entry zipper. Note that these are not<\/em> the supplied straps, which are two feet shorter<\/em> and could not span the distance between my “hammock testing” trees.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hammock
Hammock Spreader<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nNote that you can enter from either side<\/em>, and the netting folds away<\/em>\ninto a pocket at the foot when you don’t want it. (Nice!)\nThe dark netting<\/em> is also better for stargazing at night.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hammock
Hammock Netting Folded<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When you lay down in the hammock the spreader bends and keeps quite a bit of tension under your shoulders. I’m still experimenting with proper pitch for the most comfortable effect. My only major complaint–at only 100 inches it’s too short. It should be 104-106 inches IMO. I’m 6 foot 2, so if it works for me it will probably work well for anyone who is shorter. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Inside
Inside Hammock Pano<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rainfly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nThe rainfly is a custom shape and the spreader supports it just like a modern tent.\nThe problem is the inadequate ridge-line tension<\/em> using the weak elastic tabs on the ends.\nI re-engineered this with some shock-cords that tighten the fly and allow it to\nrise above<\/em> the netting for better airflow.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Weak
Weak Fly Attachment<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nI added a six inch shock-cord loop and hook.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Better
Better Fly Attachment<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nAs you can see there is more tension<\/em> on the fly.\nAnd when the hammock is loaded the fly can better maintain both height and tension<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Fly
Fly Under Tension<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe fly can be tucked on both ends to keep out blowing rain. This works very well!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Fly
Fly Tucked Under<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nI’ve found that in many situations the foot can be left lightly tied or loose.\nThe side pull-out tabs can be tied to each other as shown below (black tabs near the ground).\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Loose
Loose Footed Fly<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nIf more wind is anticipated you can stake out the fly as shown below.\nThe hammock came with thin elastic cords that I replaced with heavier shock-cords and lightweight rope.\n(The knots are an adjustable Taut-Line Hitch<\/em> and a Zeppelin Bend<\/em> to connect cord to rope.)\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hammock
Hammock Knots<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe final result meets the four point rule<\/em> outlined above, and keeps the head and sides clear of ropes!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Staked
Staked Out Fly<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you want to hedge your bet you can reef<\/em> the fly along the ridge-line. This also makes it easy to pack up when you’re breaking camp. Note that one of the reef points was not sealed properly and caused a minor leak<\/em>. I will be adding some seam sealer to address this.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Fly
Fly Reefed at Ridge-Line<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nNote that this is the first hammock I’ve seen where you can\naccess and deploy part of the rain-fly from the inside!<\/em>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Fly
Fly Access from within the Hammock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThere are two pockets<\/em>, one at the foot and one along the right side.\nAs always, I wish there were more pockets and larger.\nA “loft” near the head would also be helpful.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hammock
Hammock Pockets<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Recommendations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n