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Another vote for Colin Fletcher's books. I own his whole library, including all four editions of The Complete Walker. I love reading the different versions and see how backpacking changed from the...

Besides the obvious distance between trees and safety factors, my favorite sites are those on the west side of a lake. I love to have the sun come up in the morning and warm me up. I like to get up...

Thanks for the replies everyone. I haven't set up my indoor attachments yet, but I did finally get it out in the yard. I see what you guys mean by saying it needs to be high. My normal hanging...

I have plenty of height in there, so 7 feet up would be doable. Thanks for the info.

Hi Everyone,

Santa was good to me, and I have a Amok Draumr 3.0 waiting to go! I want to set up some attachment points in my garage, but I'm unsure of how high to put the mounts. I was playing...

6'4", 350 lbs, and I love my WBBB XLC 1.7 dbl. I find it much better than the standard WBBB.

Let us know what it's like up there. I'm hoping to get up there at the end of the month.

By July, the bugs at Hoist usually aren't bad at all. Even by the end of May many years. Also, it always seems to me that the campsites on the east side by the Hoist Lakes are buggier than the ones...

I agree with the majority that getting an UQ first would probably be the better way to go. It's the way I've now done it.

However, you could create a no-sew PLUQ for pretty cheap, and then get a...

I use sleeping bags, and just open them up and use them as quilts in the hammock. They have nylon zippers so no worries about injuring the hammock.

Part of it for me is that I have two really...

It has to be defective. I've had over 400 lbs in mine, and no problems at all.

That is pretty sweet.

Wow, I was just thinking about starting a thread like this! We're almost the same size (I'm an inch shorter, but the same weight).

I'm happy with my hammocks, but I am interested in trying a...

I was amazed when I got my first down bag. I had thought I had a synthetic bag that packed small, but that down bag amazed me. At the same temperature ratings, I've never seen a synthetic that...

I could see myself getting one dedicated to winter camping, when I know I'm going to want as much warmth as possible. Otherwise, I like the the flexibility of a system with an underquilt. Even my...

Does anyone else hike Jordan River "backwards"? I did it that way the very first time I was there, and I like having the longer and harder part on day one. Day two is downright easy (except for...

As a heavy hanger, I'm just fine using webbing straps. I just can't feel comfortable with those skinny little ropes.

I'd much rather have an underquilt with a sleeping bag or a blanket, than a topquilt with a pad.

If you're okay with a bag instead of a top quilt, look at a Slumberjack Ultimate 20. It's definitely not a 20* bag, more like 40 at best, but it is light and compresses well (for a $40 bag). I used...

March 1st hit, and I started to get excited that spring was coming. Then we got 4 inches of snow last night, reminding me that spring is still a ways away :scared:

Don't forget to eat something before bed. That can usually get your inner furnace going.

I'd go with the UQ up until the 60s

Very cool setup. My wife really doesn't like a gathered end hammock, so I could see her really getting into this.

I swear, when I'm on the trail with my buddies, it's like we have a contest to see who can be loudest. I'm bad when I'm on my back.

I swear my first trip to Isle Royale, my pack had to be 70 pounds, a result of cheap, heavy gear and just plain way too much packed.

I've gotten much better, but still nowhere near 9.7. My Kelty...

The early mornings, when the sun comes up over the trees and hits the lake. The steam rises from the water while the sun begins to warm things up. I start the water on the stove, and get back into...

I've always tried not to have them compressed for more than a week at a time. I haven't noticed and problems with either down or synthetic by sticking to this time limit.

I then store them at...

Down booties are definitely the way I go. I have one pair that are just down and nylon, and another pair that has built-in foam soles. I've worn these walking on snow, and they do a great job.

Awesome info 3club. I'm definitely using this info this summer. Thanks.

I've been to most of these, but North Manitou Island is the one I'm hoping to do this summer. Just something about being on an island makes it better.

I love that fire pit by the hammocks. Very cool.

Good idea.

Although I may have gotten myself into a bigger project. I was talking about this with a friend, and he mentioned a pergola. That looks like it might be a good idea: hanging points...

Very cool Your summary article is really well written, and I'm now going back and reading your individual posts.

I'm comfortable on my back, but my snoring wakes me up easily. It only took a few years of elbows in my ribs to get me to turn over that I do it myself.

I've found that if the lay is right, I can...

I was thinking of doing the 4x4 posts with something across the top, but it sounds like 6x6 is safer.

I like my turtledog stand, but I'd like something more permanent in the yard. Plus, I figure...

A while ago when I was in my Ray Jardine phase, I made a Ray Way quilt. I'm quite proud of how it turned out, but I couldn't get comfortable with it. Normally when I sleep, I "cocoon" myself (as my...

I decided to go with a custom Zeppelin from UGQ. Lots of good advice from them helped me decide on adding 6" of length and 8" of width. Now I just have to wait...

Any idea how much warmth that adds? I'm about to get a 20* underquilt, since I haven't been winter camping in years. But I'd like to possibly stretch it to some winter hanging.

Those would be very tempting with a 45% off coupon. When the coupons get sent out, is it through the mailing list? I haven't ordered from STP in years, so if I'm still subscribed, they get sent to...

I've had that same dilemma, but this is one purchase I just can't pull the trigger on. I have a couple of really good sleeping bags, and I just can't justify the expense. Right now, at least...
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It's mostly wood, but my TurtleDog stand works really well. I'm 340 pounds, and I move a lot during the night, but it held up perfectly.

I like that pipe stand. I may be making one of those.

I use a 32 oz Gatorade bottle. I buy a bottle on the way to the trail, and this is usually the first thing I drink when I'm in camp. If I have to go at night, I go into this, and then put it out on...

I love that everyone is getting involved. I'm taking my 5 year old on her first backpacking overnighter this summer, and she's informed me that she wants a pink hammock. I think that making a...

That's really cool that you're doing this. I'm in for a chance. Thanks.

I'm looking at an underquilt, and I'm wondering what you larger hangers like. I'm 6'4", and about 340 lbs. I want to go with a full length UQ, because my feet tend to get cold. It will be used on...

It looked so nice and sunny outside today, I was going to set up and hang a while, but dang! I need it to warm up (or get a warmer underquilt. I'm sure I need a warmer underquilt.)

I ordered a Blackbird on May 3rd and haven't gotten a shipping notice yet. This kind of bothers me.

I'm interested to hear the results of this. I understand most of the rules in campgrounds, even if I don't agree with them. I especially like the "lobby" backup plan.

Who cares if it's realistic? The idea is competely awesome!

First week of March, 66 degrees in Michigan! Had a hang, took the bike out, grilled some steaks. Pretty much a perfect day.