Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

planning on heading up to see my godsons in auguyst, they're based just outside Seahouses. Any one got a nice 2-3 day route up there?

I love my hammock, but I find I need a couple of days to "get used to it" before sleep becomes easy. I used to sleep in it loads more when I had a good tree in the garden and then did a month round Morocco sleeping in it regularly. Now, while I like it, if its the first time in months, I wont get a great nights sleep, although that's not due to comfort, just an odd position.

They can get cold if its cold (under quilt can help) and clearly you need some kind of tarp if its gonna rain, so there can be significantly more faff than just slinging it between a couple of trees and climbing in. You need trees too, obviously.

I've had lovely nights in my hammock, but the people I ride with prefer tents, so that dictates where we pitch up. Less creepy crawlies, and real comfort, and I would use one exclusively if solo.
But, and it's a big un, I've only used tiny bivi tents or cheap Aldi ones..... one mate has a terranova, another a wild country 2man, and another a fucking hilleberg.... so they've had luxury. I can't justify up to £500 in a bit of canvass.....

interesting to hear that about needing a few nights to get used to it. I guess it's the kind of thing you won't know if it works for you until you try it (much like my experience with the sleeping mat).

looking at something like the hennessy hammock explorer ultralite the whole thing will fit inside the snakeskins, tarp included. if you stick some clips/carabiners on the suspension you can hang the whole thing from the tree huggers in a few seconds, then just pull back the snakeskins to unfurl it all, adjust the tension on the straps as desired, stake out the tarp on 4 corners and you're done. from the videos it seems the hardest thing is getting the hammock tension right which would come with practice.

looking at available options I could replace my 2 man tent, pad & mummy bag with a hammock, tarp, top & under quilt and still save weight and ditch the pole bag which is easily the most awkward thing to pack.

having two setups might be handy for getting out with friends who are keen but dont have any kit, there's that tradeoff finding places to pitch both tent and hammock as stedlocks says but if you're the one organising the trip and providing all the equipment the other person is probably going to be less opinionated about where to camp.

That's crazy money, have a look at dd first, the one that's marketed as both hammock and bivvy might suit

https://www.ddhammocks.com/products/hammocks

Looking for a backpack alternative for the commuter (Genesis Equilibrium Disc).

I try to only carry the essentials in my backpack (Underwear, Socks, T-shirt, Phone, Keys, Lunch) so I'm thinking a large frame bag might be the way to go.

Where should I be looking... Restrap /8bar/Blackburn?

it's about the same as the dd ultralight once you add their tarp. that was just an example though. have been looking at the range of options.

Considered a Carradice?

I had but thought the framebag would be less intrusive.

I also have a small saddle bag which I transfer from my road bike to the commuter a lot so would like to still be able to do that.

Carradice SQR.

Bombproof, plenty of capacity depending on model, unhooks in 5 seconds to carry with you.

Super C SQR Tour looks like it could be the trick alright. Like the idea of being able to clip it off and take it with you.

get a pannier, it's easier

I have a front rack on the fixed gear which I love, but doesn't look like that's possible with this bike (carbon fork, thru axels).

I had a look at the Tubus Fly with panniers as an option but I don't think I carry enough stuff to warrant it.

One issue is weight. The bike is fairly hefty as it is, I have to lug it up 4 flights of stairs when I get into work and there's also a fair bit of climbing both ways.

That's why initially I thought a frame bag might be a good, lightweight solution to the sweaty back backpack problem.

yes, true points.
the thing about a frame bag is:

• it's a right faff putting it on and taking it off
  
• when you're off the bike a frame bag is a pain to carry, unlike an ortlieb with a shoulder strap
  
• it only fits small things. what happens if you want to buy a loaf of bread on the way home? or if it might rain and you want to take a waterproof coat? if you have a pannier you just put them in.
  

I like the QR bagman, two little pins to slide and the bag is free. The rack weighs very little and can just be left on the bike. Comes out the back of the saddle so you could probably still get a tool roll under

wildcat

This is the one I thought I was buying.....turns out I got the wrong one. It's a fantastic hammock, and I've used the tarp alone, with the bike as support, but the one that converts to a bivvy with a couple of sticks seems ideal.....you would still probably need a sleeping mat though.
I've done loads of faffing, and a little, light, expensive two man tent is the most convenient, versatile way that I've found......but if I was going solo, it would be the hammock thing, all day!

Damn, that's a really clever design.

Interesting! What bag do you use with it?

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.

Super C Audax but anything you can have two loops on would work

One night in an Iron Age fort moat, the next in a wood.... that's the dilemma!

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Do you reckon it's a better option to the SQR? It's certainly lighter.

I'll just add if anyone else is interested in finding out about hammock camping. This chap on youtube Shug seems to be the sheldon brown of hammocks crossed with Robin Williams.

His style is definitely an acquired taste as he's quite wacky (seems he used to be in the ringling bros circus) but his videos are entertaining and pretty informative.

Having gone through the same, I bought a Blackburn frame bag but the volume was less than satisfactory and meant I couldn't get water bottles mounted in the frame. Sent that back and now use the Carrsdice SQR, it does weight the bike weirdly but so easy to clip /unclip and carry into work. The volume is enough for a change of clothes or just my lunch box as it has a roll closure.

So happy to have ditched the backpack in this heat