I bought a hammock now I have questions

[TheBrownDog]

As my bivvi bag and I have not been getting on lately, and because most of my trips are in woodland with lots of trees and mucky ground because it refuses to stop raining, Ive decided to try swinging (ooo errr ...) and bought a £25 DD Hammocks camping hammock.

How high to pitch it? Ive never slept in one but I imagine it should be quite low so you're not vaulting into it and you can stop yourself swinging if needed. I get shocking motion sickness (can't even use a park swing anymore) so this is a worry for me. And I also imagine they make a nice place to sit.

What is best for insulation? Ive got an Alpkit Cloud Cover that should do the trick as an underquilt, but would I be better off using my Neoair half inflated, or will this just slide around underneath me?

On top, is it best to pitch a tarp diagonally or as an aframe? Mine is a Rig7 so not square, but close enough Id think. Or would I be better off lugging my 3x3 tarp along? How high above the hammock should it go - do people find that if the wind gets up, underneath you at times? Should the ridge line rope holding my tarp go on top or under it? How do you stop water running down the ropes?

And what am I not thinking of because I dont know that dont know. Any and all advice appreciated.

Tim

[darbeze]

My son's hammocking blog has lots of good tips.

http://www.hammocker.co.uk

I use a DD Superlight hammock and find that the tendency is that I usually pick trees that are too close together, which means I end up slumped in the middle with my legs way up higher than my head. I am slowly getting a better eye for it now though.

I use my thermarest mat in the hammock and usually my bivvi bag too. Tarps rigged as a A frame seem to work best in my opinion. Run a ridge line above the hammock between the same two trees and Bob's your uncle...

I have to say, I like sleeping in a hammock. I find it more comfortable than on the ground. It gives you more options if you have it with you on your travels...

Cheers,

Si

[Bearbonesnorm]

This book is well worth buying for anyone interested in hammocks: http://theultimatehang.com/

[LSJ]

As my bivvi bag and I have not been getting on lately, and because most of my trips are in woodland with lots of trees and mucky ground because it refuses to stop raining, Ive decided to try swinging (ooo errr ...) and bought a £25 DD Hammocks camping hammock.

How high to pitch it? Ive never slept in one but I imagine it should be quite low so you're not vaulting into it and you can stop yourself swinging if needed. I get shocking motion sickness (can't even use a park swing anymore) so this is a worry for me. And I also imagine they make a nice place to sit.

Pitch it at a hight where you can sit in it comfortably, I pitch mine so the feet can rest on the ground, while I sit/lean back in it. Trial and error, until you find the right height for the sag of your hammock and ropes. Good for doing chores and taking care of your self.

What is best for insulation? Ive got an Alpkit Cloud Cover that should do the trick as an underquilt, but would I be better off using my Neoair half inflated, or will this just slide around underneath me?
Quilt is nice when you get the right set up. I can't be bothered, so I use my inflatable mat. However I have the DD where I can put the mat in the "double layered" bottom, so it will stay put. Quilt is better IMO, however it has to be put up right (no gaps where air can flow, close enough for the downs to loft, but not to close so you compress them when in the hammock)

On top, is it best to pitch a tarp diagonally or as an aframe? Mine is a Rig7 so not square, but close enough Id think. Or would I be better off lugging my 3x3 tarp along? How high above the hammock should it go - do people find that if the wind gets up, underneath you at times? Should the ridge line rope holding my tarp go on top or under it? How do you stop water running down the ropes?
bicycle 7 I'd put up diagonally, due to the length of 2,8 meters. those 10 cm loss in each end can mean the difference between a wet experience or a good one I would personally use a 3x3 (actually I have 2, and use the 4x4 for winter, so I can close of the head/foot end, almost like a tent. But I do not set them up diagonally.
Height of ridgeline is weather dependant, but generally I set mine up so that I can sit in the hammock and then have about 10 centimeters of headroom. I run my tarps over the ridgeline (my ridgeline also holds the mosquito net). For your model, I'd see if I can run it under the ridgeline, and use the grommets on the tarp to hang it from (grommets , with that I mean the cloth straps/tieout points.) Make sure to use a preuussik knot at each end to hould it taught though). Regards to water. If you use a doublle ring or carabiner to set up your hammock, make sure they are in the dry under the tarp, then the water will drip from those and not reach your hammock. If not do the same as you should do on the ridgeline. That is a preussik not that is under the tarp (so it will be in the dry), but outside the ends of your head and feet. And then let the ends of the just hang down. The will collect the water from the unprotected lines, and act as a drainpipe (it will drip from the dangling ends of the knot)


And what am I not thinking of because I dont know that dont know. Any and all advice appreciated.
Have noting hard under you the first couple of times IE tree stumps, bike, cookware... Just in case you fail in the setup, or you roll out faster than intended
Look up to see if there is any dead branches before you set up your hammock, they can fall pretty hard.Also see if there is a lot of birds above you, they can make a right mess, talking of experience here
Try to set it up (more than once when you have time)...It can be a bad experience if you are tired, wet and hungry......

Tim

[TheBrownDog]

Awesumz. Thanks folks. Im going to have a play with it tomorrow afternoon. May even take pix

[andibs]

I got my first hammock last year, a TW Green Hornet, and absolutely love it. The bit that used to drive me badly was the rigging and taking down, with miles of cord everywhere.

I ended up getting tree huggers, whopper slings and alien loops and the whole things a quick, easy process now.

Andy

[TheBrownDog]

Thanks Andy - will be replacing the heavy webbing on my hammock if I get a taste for it.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Search for ultimatehang and the authors blog is excellent for advice on everything hammock related, buy his book as well, it's the "bible". Hammockforums.net is a comprehensive US site.

Dutchware is also excellent accessory gear to simplify set up, and lots of Ti finery. USA again though so longer delivery times and import taxes.

Ukhammocks.co.uk is also good and, in case not obvious, UK based. Not quite got the range as he used to but great stuff.

[Pat]

One night, late and exhausted, I pitched up in a wood somewhere near Kings Lynn....every time I sat in the hammock, it sagged about 6", and I couldn't work out what the hell was going on!
After about the 3rd re-tightening, I noticed that the big, strong tree at the foot end was actually very dead, and was now leaning towars me at an alarming angle!

I then got the hump, and slung it up really badly, over a massive stinging nettle pile....but at least I didn't die!

[benp1]

Good advice from LSJ, nothing to more to add on that!

I stopped hammocking a while ago as it's too much faff for bikepacking, but it's pretty much the comfiest nights sleep around!

[frogatthefarriers]

And what am I not thinking of because I dont know that dont know. Any and all advice appreciated.

Before you set up your hammock, make sure there are no bits of grass or other vegetation below that can touch it once you're in. It's amazing how much noise a single blade of grass can make when it rubs against the hammock when it gently swings as you try to get to sleep.

As for insulation, I'd stick to your Neoair. This is what I use and although it's not ideal (a bit narrow) I can use it to sleep on the ground if circumstances demand it. I take a piece of CFM to stand on when I get in or out that I can use to slide into any cold spots where I'm pressed against the sides. I've bought an underquilt but I'll be using it for canoe or car camping, not bikepacking. My thinking here is that an UQ will be no use if I have to sleep on the ground so I'll need a mat as well. I don't want to carry both.

My best buy for hammocking is a down three-season top quilt from UKHammocks. It makes it much easier to get in or out of bed because I can lie down first and line up on the mat before sliding my feet into the quilt and pulling it up. Toasty!

I always bicycle my tarp as an A-frame, with the ridge line threaded through the hanging loops above. There's less chance of rain running down and dripping into your bed. I hang spare bits of kit (thermarest bag, tarp bag, odd bits of cordage) from the hammock lines but underneath the tarp to make a drip point as LSJ said.

Happy hanging. I'll only be a ground sleeper again if there 's no possibility of hammocking.

[TheBrownDog]

Thanks again peeps. Froggy - good point re using a mat in case no suitable hanging point are found.

I had a play on the weekend and suspect some better rigging will be coming shortly. The webbing ropes that came with it are ridiculously heavy and would be comically so if they ever got wet.

Now if I can only just find my 3x3 tarp, all would be prepped for this weekend's night out.