hammock touring

I have recently got myself a camping hammock with a bug net. I intended to just get it for my garden, but ive now fallen in love having slept quite a few nights in it. Its much more comfortable than sleeping on the floor!

Has anyone used one for touring, and what were your experiences?

How was finding suitable locations?

what type and shape tarp roof did you use?

did you use any insulation or pads, or did you just use a thicker than normal sleeping bag?

Id like to make the hammock even lighter by removing the metal S-hooks, but i dont want to have to tie knots every time i put it up/down. is there a neat solution?

Which one did you get? I got mildly obsessed with the idea a while back. Nearly bought the one you slip into from underneath. I forget its name now.

I really want one of these:

http://hennessyhammock.com/

cycling:
http://hennessyhammock.com/articles/cycling/

That's the one.

I looked into getting one of these a couple of years back, (but it got no further than thinking).
Price was the main consideration over Hennessy

http://www.ddhammocks.com/

Been thinking about getting a new camping set up for my Saint-Malo to Santander trip this summer, but had completely neglected thinking about a hammock... This is definitely on the cards.

Hammocks work really well for cycling. Me and a mate took a pair of Hennessy jobs around the coast of Scotland last summer. Having something that has no poles, is exceptionally light (for the cost) and can be rigged up in about 30 seconds to create a shelter big enough to cook under was excellent.

In answer to the above...

How was finding suitable locations? Bit of a faff in the far north where trees are limited. Some tactical google satellite mapping beforehand to find trees was useful. It's also possible to pitch without trees on the ground using the bike as a support at one end and a support at the other (hidden down the seat tube when in transit)

what type and shape tarp roof did you use? Built in one, so asymmetric kite shaped.

did you use any insulation or pads, or did you just use a thicker than normal sleeping bag? Roll mat was necessary, even in August. When it got breezy pitching closer to the ground was helpful, but chilly without a rollmat.

Ta

Rob

Useful knowledge, ta

It's also possible to pitch without trees on the ground using the bike as a support at one end and a support at the other (hidden down the seat tube when in transit)

How low from the ground is this? And how stable? I.e. high enough to still function as a hammock or are we talking just using the cover as a rain cover and then a roll matt straight on the floor?

On the ground sadly. So you lose the benefits of the hammock, but still end up with a perfectly servicable tent. With the hennessey one the hammock and mozzie net form a unit and the tarp goes over the top, so there's still a layer of material to stop the roll mat getting wet.

Only had to do that once in 8 nights, and even then only because the place we'd planned on using was infested with midges.

Thanks very much!

I'm slowing leaning more and more towards this as a touring set up. In terms of practicality I reckon it's a winner. Just stick to the woods :)

I was in a store the other day picking up a few things for a trip next week and saw/had a play with the Hennessy. Very nice indeed..

Useful knowledge, ta

How low from the ground is this? And how stable? I.e. high enough to still function as a hammock or are we talking just using the cover as a rain cover and then a roll matt straight on the floor?

this shows an image of no tree hammocking:

http://hennessyhammock.com/articles/cycling/

(3rd image down)

'no tree hammocking'

You should copyright that phrase.

old thread but i'm getting into this idea at the mo, anyone have anything else to add? anyone know any good wild camping woods in yorkshire you can get away with?

Nothing to add but I've also been thinking of a hammock as an alternative to a tent mainly for weight and space reasons.

I'm going away in the next couple of days but can't seem to find any London based sellers for hammocks.
Anyone know of a shop that I can just pop over to (thinking DD otherwise something cheap from an army surplus store)? If not, has anyone got something I could rent for about a week?

I got mine from tenth wonder.... They sell on eBay, but have a website too. You can contact him through that and he gets back to you really quickly. I paid about £40 for a double skinned jobby that you can put some insulation in between and a sargasso tarp. It's an excellent set up and I haven't had any hassle finding a couple of trees in random woods. The best bit about them is that no bugs drop from above, or climb in from below, and nothing seems to buzz about inside! Triple win!
And when you get the 'hang' of pitching it, and sleeping on the diagonal, it's massively comfy :0)

If you can get to me at Stortford, promise to look after it, and replace it if you lose/break it, you're welcome to use it for a couple of days.

I've just sent them a message asking for them to call me back for a chat. If it can't be done then it looks like I'll be schlepping to Bishops to borrow yours. Of course any damage done then I'll cover it 100%- unless someone knows of a London seller of hammocks (crazy to think no one in this city does…)

It's gonna be warm at nights but I'll be near water. I already have a mosquito net.

i just bought a dd frontline hammock, just need to get a tarp now - any recommendations for online lightweight jobs?

No worries mate ;0)

Thanks for the PMs/offers of help.
Ended up getting a DD frontline delivered to mate that flew out here a day after myself. Interesting walking around with a hastily packed blue package...untold requests for drugs.

I had a really nice sleep in it. I was told that is it had been biblical so ordered DD'd lightweight waterproof covering. If you don't mind wieght, go for the heavier version as it's much cheaper. Not had reason to use it but may get it up anyway.

so last night was first go, my setup was pretty shoddy but worked fine and gives me room for improvement next time :)

i could get really into this!

This looks really cool. I might have to invest and get myself down to the New Forest :)

looks awesome!
Any idea how good it is during heavy rain and wind ?
My cheap tent did pretty well during serious thunderstorm.

This was my cheap setup...

It worked a treat, and is a fantastic nights sleep!

hey all, just come across this thread.

Been hammock camping in my dd frontline for years now, and yes, its way better than pitching a tent and worrying about poles and pegs and shit. Small tip though, the pics above how that hammocks hung quite saggy, you'll get a much more comfortable nights sleep if you tighten that shit up! The best way to do that is to loop up the webbing, tie a series of knots in it, wrap it round a tree, then use a climbing carabiner to 'ratchet' up slackness. if that makes sense... I can get pics up if theres any interest.

Happy camping!