My DIY gathered end hammock
We had company last night, with all the beds filled. No big deal, I want to try out my hammock, anyway :) I'd used it once before on a motorcycle trip, but it was warm enough I just put my jacket under my butt. Last night it was supposed to go down to 45*, so I wanted to test it with my cheapo $10 wallyworld 40* bag. I unzipped it almost all the way to the foot, leaving ~1' zipped up the side. I was completely comfortable in thermals, but probably didn't need them, I had to vent in strategic places. The hardest part was keeping the slippery bag from sliding on the nylon :)
My step-daughter wanted to try it out this morning, so I took some pics. We had a houseful, so ignore the extra people & dogs roaming around :)
I didn't use the bugnet last night, but she wanted to see it. It's not my permanent solution, but when I rode to CO I figured I would need something. I just got an excess of bugnetting and drape it over the ridgeline. I fold the corners up & clip them:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0236-2.jpg
Close up of the corners:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0237-2.jpg
It actually works really well, although the excess netting is pretty bulky. I'll probably end up using velcro at some point.
Here's little miss trying it out. She liked it:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0233-3.jpg
I'm not overly happy with my suspension. I went to Lowe's & got something that claimed to be abrasion resistant, and rated to >750# (I think it was >1000#). I was in a hurry & just wanted to get something that would work until I could get some amsteel. I also picked up some Harbor Freight tow straps & cut the big buckles off. This rope is stretchy, After I sat in it 5 minutes, I had to get out & readjust, although after that it lasted all night. The ridgeline was straight when I went to sleep, you can tell it stretched a bit. I don't have loops sewn in the straps yet, so I just folded the end up & used a modified Hennessey figure 8.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0234-2.jpg
I used one long piece for the ridgeline, and used overhand knots to put loops in it. This way I can string up the ridgeline first, use a lark's head to attach one end of the hammock, then unroll the rest of the hammock & use another lark's head at the other end.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0235-1.jpg
I primarily either camp on bike trips or from a car, and I wanted something fairly quick & easy to set up, and wasn't too concerned about weight. The size could definitely be improved. Sleeping bag next to the rolled up hammock. I fold up the bugnet & roll it tight as possible. Then I unhook one end of the hammock and roll it up around the bugnet. After I unhook the other end, I take down the suspension & put it in the end, & wrap a shock cord loopy thing around it all. The hammock & bag easily fit inside the big ol bag the sleeping bag came in. Here they are next to each other w/ a pack of bad for size reference. The end size is about the same as the sleeping bag uncompressed:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...IMAG0238-2.jpg
On my to-do list is a tarp. Right now I carry a cheapo Harbor Freight 10x8 camo tarp (silnylon is mucho dineros). So far I haven't had to use it. I also want to make some stuff/compression sacks to hold everything. I picked up some heavy coated nylon on sale yesterday, but it's not ripstop. Should that make a big difference on a sack?
Well, ok. Long post. Overall, it works & I'm happy with it. I got a bunch of info here, so I wanted to at least say thanks :)
