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Set mine up at work the other day, I’m a noob really so I haven’t got it practiced yet, I also don’t have snake skins (yet) and I reckon it still only took 3 minutes to rig and same to derig. I genuinely think with the right suspension system and with practice/experience you could rig it in under 1 minute, admitadly that’s just the hammock, you’d have to add time for tarp etc.
Re: what to buy;
My 2 cents, I went a bit mad and ordered a posh one from ‘simply light designs’, it was speedy but I’ve no regrets, it’s amazing. I think if you’re dipping you’re toe maybe go for something cheaper but still half decent just to prove the concept - or do a bit of DIY, get a cheap parachute hammock (bigger the better-see below) and added a ridge line / bug net yourself etc.Suspension;
I’ve got a cinch buckle style suspension and I really rate it as it’s an all in one system. No separate slings/ties/tree huggers. It’s just one long webbing strap with a carabiner on one end to go round the tree and the buckle on the other end that attaches to the hammock and tensions the suspension. It’s very quick, very easy and very adjustable. Whoopie slings are lighter but they look a lot more fiddly to me and you still have to carry ‘tree huggers’ as well.Size; bigger is better. Most camping hammocks are 8/9/10’, I went for 12’. It’s massive especially considering I’m small BUT I’ve been advised the bigger the hammock the flatter the lay generally speaking and that theory does seem to hold water. I can lay completely flat, no calf ridge, no shoulder squeeze, it’s insanely comfy.
The other option is a bivvy, I very much doubt it’s as comfy, but you can go to ground anywhere and it’s most likely lighter, although hammocks can be crazy light. Obviously with a hammock you’re largely tied to trees and even then they need to be the right configuration etc.
FWIW; my mate has a Hennessy, he absolutely loves it and it’s his raving about it that got me onto the idea of getting a hammock in the first place.
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ThePeginator
I'm curious, how many of you bike packers, if any, use hammocks? having had a few terrible nights on the ground I'm planning to switch out to another pad come pay day (the new big agnes axl insulated regular/wide probably as I'm a side sleeping fatty) but the more I read up on hammocks the more i want to have it as an option for some trips. I'm a bit of a pussy when it comes to the idea of wild camping in farmers fields using stealth. but if i could just wander off into some woods and be able to hang up hidden among the trees away from any passers by i think it'd be a bit easier.
also setup and tear down using snake skins seems to take literally 3 minutes so the whole get in, get out unnoticed thing would be much easier.