Comments on: Hammock Camping Thoughts http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:41:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark Beattie http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149/comment-page-1#comment-50008 Mark Beattie Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:38:43 +0000 http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1149#comment-50008 I agree, condensation is an issue with UL single wall tarp tents. If there are not bugs or raining, sleeping out is always nice. Do know that I really enjoyed your write up Alex and your blog in general. My wife was just asking about hammock options for camping and literally as she asked your post popped up in Google Reader, so well timed I''d say. And nice photos as usual, they do look sort of Endor-esque, if that''s the word. I agree, condensation is an issue with UL single wall tarp tents. If there are not bugs or raining, sleeping out is always nice. Do know that I really enjoyed your write up Alex and your blog in general. My wife was just asking about hammock options for camping and literally as she asked your post popped up in Google Reader, so well timed I”d say. And nice photos as usual, they do look sort of Endor-esque, if that’’s the word.

]]> By: Pat S http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149/comment-page-1#comment-49965 Pat S Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:31:36 +0000 http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1149#comment-49965 Alex, thanks for a great post and analysis. I think the hard truth I come away with is that a good sleeping solution is in the $500-600 range, whether you opt for on-the-ground or hanging. I feel like I''m now at a pretty happy place with my solution (although John recently loaned my his Neo and now I *must* buy one of those, the bastard) and I''m at around $600, so yeah. I also think that a solution that provides a good night of sleep is money very well spent, whether on the trail, or at home, because it so directly affects the quality of the day that follows. (Of course, that is partly my age and being at a place where I have the ability to spend the money speaking. As a younger, poorer man, I''d probably be singing the praises of a more frugal solution.) I have a basic Hennessey and have dabbled with it enough to agree with your statement that it''s not good for anything below 60F without insulation. (I didn''t know you could ever be so cold on such a warm summer night!) But I got the basic feel of sleeping in a hammock and if I had really dug it, I would have gone forward with the investment in under and over quilts. But the two things that stopped me were the limitations in terms of anchors (trees) and more significantly but also just totally me, I am mildly claustrophobic - the hammock was a problem in that respect, whereas an ultralight tent feels royally spacious. (Not sure about a biv, I''d like to try one, but I will definitely borrow one before buying, as they look like a bit scary, claustro-wise.) Alex, thanks for a great post and analysis. I think the hard truth I come away with is that a good sleeping solution is in the $500-600 range, whether you opt for on-the-ground or hanging. I feel like I”m now at a pretty happy place with my solution (although John recently loaned my his Neo and now I *must* buy one of those, the bastard) and I”m at around $600, so yeah. I also think that a solution that provides a good night of sleep is money very well spent, whether on the trail, or at home, because it so directly affects the quality of the day that follows. (Of course, that is partly my age and being at a place where I have the ability to spend the money speaking. As a younger, poorer man, I”d probably be singing the praises of a more frugal solution.)

I have a basic Hennessey and have dabbled with it enough to agree with your statement that it’’s not good for anything below 60F without insulation. (I didn”t know you could ever be so cold on such a warm summer night!) But I got the basic feel of sleeping in a hammock and if I had really dug it, I would have gone forward with the investment in under and over quilts. But the two things that stopped me were the limitations in terms of anchors (trees) and more significantly but also just totally me, I am mildly claustrophobic – the hammock was a problem in that respect, whereas an ultralight tent feels royally spacious. (Not sure about a biv, I”d like to try one, but I will definitely borrow one before buying, as they look like a bit scary, claustro-wise.)

]]> By: Jimmy Livengood http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149/comment-page-1#comment-49482 Jimmy Livengood Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:34:51 +0000 http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1149#comment-49482 Nice write up, it''s great to see the comparison of price/weight put so succinctly. I haven''t used a hammock, and my speculation on some other considerations has held me back. What are your thoughts on 1p tent/bivy/hammock with respect to: comfort in rainstorm, ability to cook in vestibule or while mostly still inside the structure, set-up/dismantle time, covered area for shoes or other gear, ease of changing clothes or putting on contacts, bug protection? I admit jealousy when I watched you and Lee set up your hammocks. Like cool space-age Ewoks or something. Nice write up, it’’s great to see the comparison of price/weight put so succinctly. I haven”t used a hammock, and my speculation on some other considerations has held me back. What are your thoughts on 1p tent/bivy/hammock with respect to: comfort in rainstorm, ability to cook in vestibule or while mostly still inside the structure, set-up/dismantle time, covered area for shoes or other gear, ease of changing clothes or putting on contacts, bug protection?

I admit jealousy when I watched you and Lee set up your hammocks. Like cool space-age Ewoks or something.

]]> By: Alex Wetmore http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149/comment-page-1#comment-49317 Alex Wetmore Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:16:26 +0000 http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1149#comment-49317 I have a Tarp Tent that my wife and I use when we are camping together. For single person use I prefer a bivy to a tiny tent, the little tents develop too much condensation. A large tent doesn''t, but doesn''t pack down as small either. I wasn''t trying to make a comparison of all camping options, just to show how the hammock full setup compares in cost and weight to a similar functionality single person setup. You can substitute any part of the ground camping option with your personal preferences. The end result is pretty similar though. I have a Tarp Tent that my wife and I use when we are camping together. For single person use I prefer a bivy to a tiny tent, the little tents develop too much condensation. A large tent doesn”t, but doesn”t pack down as small either.

I wasn”t trying to make a comparison of all camping options, just to show how the hammock full setup compares in cost and weight to a similar functionality single person setup. You can substitute any part of the ground camping option with your personal preferences. The end result is pretty similar though.

]]> By: Mark Beattie http://alexwetmore.org/archives/1149/comment-page-1#comment-49311 Mark Beattie Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:49:44 +0000 http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1149#comment-49311 Many of Henry Shires'' Tarptents are well received. I own a "Double Rainbow" and my wife and I like it a lot (but we''re not tall) and I know someone who used the "Contrail" on the PCT and the CDT (or an UL version of it, around .5KG weight). Anyhow, compared to the Alpine Bivy, I do think purpose built tents (or tarp tent style combos) are a lot more flexible. Also, I know many people really do like the Neo Airs, but Cascade Designs'' Ridge Rest series (w/ the newest SOLite & Solar models) are pretty comfortable considering weight/cost/warmth. In Alaska I had no issues with ground cold using the Solar full length model. Many of Henry Shires” Tarptents are well received. I own a “Double Rainbow” and my wife and I like it a lot (but we”re not tall) and I know someone who used the “Contrail” on the PCT and the CDT (or an UL version of it, around .5KG weight). Anyhow, compared to the Alpine Bivy, I do think purpose built tents (or tarp tent style combos) are a lot more flexible. Also, I know many people really do like the Neo Airs, but Cascade Designs” Ridge Rest series (w/ the newest SOLite & Solar models) are pretty comfortable considering weight/cost/warmth. In Alaska I had no issues with ground cold using the Solar full length model.

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