I’ve hiking the JDF in British Columbia, Canada using my casual hammock (had an integrated bug net) and my own janky tarp rig for wind / rain and I loved the experience… Looking into getting something more, better designed specifically for hammock camping
Hmu with recommendations!
**Thanks everyone for the help, I ended up going with the warbonnet black bird xlc. I’m excited to see how it turns out when it arrives.
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So many good options! Two I hear most about are probably Warbonnet and DutchWare. Fair notice, I have gear from both - a hammock (Eldorado) and tarp (minifly) from Warbonnet and lots of lines / hardware / suspension from DutchWare - and have absolutely nothing but positive things to say about both.
I grabbed my top and underquilts from a small(er) Etsy shop - the Hang Tight Shop - and love them both. Again, loads of options out there, so take a look around.
Last bit of advice - check out Shug’s YouTube channel. The dude is really experienced and has so many great videos for beginners and veterans alike.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
What volume bag are you using to contain your whole hammock system?
I’ve seen reviews where when you include a top and bottom quilts (something I didn’t know existed, I just placed my sleeping pad in the hammock and slept in my sleeping bag) the whole set up becomes quite large…
Would you say it’s comparable to a regular 1 person tent set up, volume wise? I know in terms of weight, the hammock set up will probably be quite a bit lighter than a tent.
Forgot to mention one other place that a lot of people like - Hammock Gear. They sell items individually, but also sell complete kits. I don’t own any of their stuff (save an odd accessory or two), but I have heard good things, and the kits can be a nice way to get everything together at once if that’s your preferred method of shopping.
Honestly I just stuff everything into their own respective sacks. Come to think of it, everything I own also came with its own stuff sack, so I haven’t had to buy one. As for weight, I haven’t actually weighed mine out to compare, but once you put the hammock, bug net (if not attached to the hammock), tarp, suspension, and lines / stakes all together, it’s probably close to (if not slightly more than) a tent setup.
Agree with the advice for Warbonnet.
Both me and my partner imported Blackbird XLC’s. She’s using my old Hammockgear Incubator UQ and I use a full size Wookie.Superfly as shelter.
The setup has just been brilliant. Comfy, easy setup and quality feel to all of it.
It costs a bit, but getting the proper stuff is well worth it in my opinion.
I slept well in the $20 hammock I started with, but it just lacks in all those creature comfort areas once you get some more experience.Good luck OP and ask if something is confusing.
What would be your best price to quality ratio item? I love the idea of hammock camping but I’m a broke student right now so any dollar saved is needed lol
That’s a tough one, honestly. You can find budget hammocks all over the place, but I would prioritize one that’s 11’ in length. The tarp is important, as it’s really your only shelter against the wind and rain. Again, there are budget options that might be heavier, but they’ll get the job done. If you already own a sleeping pad, you can try that out in place of an underquilt. I never found it to be ideal, but it will work and can save you money. And, if you already have a sleeping bag, you can use that in place of a top quilt. So there’s lots of places to make compromises…
If I were choosing and already had a sleeping pad and sleeping bag, I would likely start with the hammock itself and go with a budget tarp. If you go that route, a word of caution, maybe… There are small asym tarps that you can use, but I understand they can be finicky to get hung right and if the wind shifts or it starts raining heavily you’ll likely have a long night. That’s not to say they can’t work, but from what I’ve heard from others who have used them, it takes some practice. But that’s just me, and I’m sure others would choose differently.
As a final note, a lot of the vendors mentioned above run sales throughout the year. There should be a way to sign up for notifications from each of them.
Amazing thanks I’ll look into all this!!
A nice inflatable pad to put between your sleeping bag and the hammock can make a so so hammock really nice. Not having a pad can make an incredible hammock miserable in the right temps. In my opinion, the place to splurge first is a nice pad like a thermarest. Then you can work on upgrading to a nicer hammock and then bag.
cross posting my setup from a month ago.
im definitely a beginner with a couple other hammock outings but my setup worked great.
-camo tarp from harbor freight 11x9 i think
-Eno double nest hammock -hammock straps from some other hammock i have
-wise owl bug net (dont reccomend)
-marmot sleeping bag
-Underquilt Shenandoah -function-hammock-quilt/)
not the lightest setup in the world but it all worked very well and didnt break the bank
https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/09cc1b7d-0085-4951-a794-52920eaf7619.jpeg
I use the Hennessy Expedition when I go out hiking/camping and have really loved it. It’s asymmetrical so you can lay a sleeping mat down at a small diagonal and lay down comfortably. I’m a stomach/side sleeper, so that’s been a super nice feature. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s really easy to setup and pack away and will last for years
I still can’t nail stomach sleeping in the hammock, even in my eldorado. It’s a shame because that’s how I sleep 99% of the time at home, but in the hammock it just doesn’t ever quite feel right.
I basically use this guys setup myself. The thing that made it comfortable for me was also using a sleeping pad inside of the hammock. It might sound odd but it helps keep it from bunching up around you and spreads your weight out a bit more. You can also try sleeping slightly diagonally, this also helps spread the weight and make it more comfortable.
Warbonnet Blackbird is excellent. Warbonnet Superfly is also very good. That’s my setup after I read about it on r/hammocks years ago and I love it.
That superfly is my next tarp, I think. I currently have the mini and love it, but I think I need something on the other end of the spectrum to balance things out. At least that’s what I tell myself.
If it makes you feel better buying it if a random person on the internet said so: Go get it man.
It’s a great tarp with great coverage.I’d replace mine in a heartbeat should it ever fail or get worn out.
