Your Hammock History

[ger010]

My first time was in '11 during a trip with a friend to Sweden.

We had a great time however I did not know anything about sleeping in a hammock.
So there I was I my small dd camping hammock with an exped underneath me and
in my sleeping bag hahaha



I didn't do well and after a few hours my feet where sleeping.

After that I got some ticket to the moon hammocks the best was my camo xl.

foto15 by Ger-010, on Flickr

Next trip ill take some pictures from my latest custom made Xpedition hammock.

[Traverson]

I was doing some research on the Superior Hiking Trail when I discovered Shug. The rest is history.

[ringtail-THFKAfood]

I learned about hammock from White Blaze. Purchased a Hennessy in November 2003 and hiked it in 2004. A couple of years later I switched to a double layer no net jungle hammock. That lead to a War Bonnet double layer Black Bird. I have experimented with many hammocks and then sold them on this forum. I need a hammock with integrated bug net to keep my feet in the hammock. Currently use a single layer lefty Black Bird. I like the concept of the BoneFire underquilt/hammock combination, but am not willing to give up the Black Bird shelf to get it.

[PTAaron]

I always liked hammocks when I was a kid - I went through quite a few of those net hammocks out in the yard when I was growing up... but then forgot about it.

While hanging out on the ESEE Knives forum I started seeing people talking about hammocks for camping and thought "That sounds cool, I like hammocks!" In 2013 I started lurking around here after picking up an ENO DN during a sale at REI... next thing I knew I was making a PLUQ then a Turtledog stand... then upgrading my harbor freight tarp...
I ended up buying a Bear Grylls hammock in a clearance sale to loan out to friends, and realized that a longer hammock was actually more comfortable, and you guys weren't all on crack when you said that - so I upgraded my ENO to a Dutch Argon hammock, and here we are!

[trouthunter]

In the early '80s I was shopping for camping gear in an Army Surplus store, I spotted a Jungle hammock and bought it.
By today's standards it was horrific - heavy, tiny square tarp, cotton canvas bottom, miles of para-cord, etc. but it was comfortable compared to my sleeping bag in a tent (no pad at the time).

After a while I gave up on it because it leaked and the canvas stayed wet. Went back to tent, got a Ridgerest and did that for a while.
I saw an early model bottom entry HH some time later and got that. I used the HH off and on and liked it a bunch.
The HH is now a loaner.
I currently use a 1.1 oz. double layer WBBB with a Mambajamba Tarp. I spend a good bit of time in Swamps and other areas with lots of Cypress Knees sticking out of the ground so a hammock works great.

[Pshaw]

I was first introduced by a friend that had an eno hanmock so I decided to try and make one out of a bed sheet. That worked ok but ended up ripping, I then had a grand trunk single and then an eno double nest and then finally graduated to a warbonnet ridgerunner. I do still enjoy the eno with my and another and the grand trunk is still nice to lay in but camping will always be my rr

[Loren]

Was walking in Dicks sporting goods buying some camp gear and saw the eno stuff. I was looking for something backpack friendly and an eno is actually quite a bit cheaper than a lot of the light weight tents I saw. Decided "heck that looks interesting." Picked up the atlas straps and the hammock and that was the intro. Then doing research here and after doing a summer hang I decided tents are out of the question anymore.

[Hoosierhammock]

I learned about Hammocks while on Isle Royale from a buddy who had a Hennessy Scout. Then it became a whirlwind....

December 2013 Purchased Hennessy Explorer
March 2014 Sold Hennessy Explorer to purchase Hennessy Explorer Ultralite
April 2014 bought my first Tablecloth For whipped end (60x132)
April 2014 bought HG Phoenix 40
May 2014 bought my 2nd Tablecloth for whipped end (90x156)
October 2014 bought Argon 1.6 from Dutch to make a custom 13 ft hammock. I am still working on the design, I have something I'd like to try that I haven't seen yet. I'm hoping to finish it over the holidays.
Black Friday Sold HG Phoenix 40 to purchase Phoenix 20 + 2 OZ.

[Fig]

Mid 70's when I was a kid, my brother and I would spend the summers camping in the back yard. We wore out quite a few pup tents that way. One day we were in the local store and I saw a hammock. We asked and Mom let us get a couple since they were pretty cheap. It was the old nylon style and in fact I still have one in a box here with the original price tag on it from the early 80's. My brother and I would hang out in the back yard rain or shine, summer and winter. We spent a couple weeks straight out in the back yard in our hammocks one Christmas break. There is a picture of us somewhere at my parents, we are both in our hammocks wearing jackets, hats, gloves, bundled up in our sleeping bags, and happy as clams. Those net hammocks served us well until we were teens I believe. I still have an old one that I set aside back in the early 80's. Found it. Here are some pics.

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So after the net hammock, I found a jungle hammock in an army surplus store that kept me hanging for years. I think I actually went through a couple of those. Then I was going on a camping trip about 5 or so years ago and came across a couple of cheap gathered end hammocks in WalMart. Picked one up and took it on my trip. Ended up going on a motorcycle so space was at a premium. With space being so tight on the trip we ended up buying another along the way so my Dad could hang as well. We had that poor motorcycle packed to the hilt, but had a blast. At that point I decided that the surplus jungle hammock was about to retire and started picking up more and more hammocks as they came out. My current setup hasn't changed much in the last few years. My Hennessey Safari Deluxe is my go to hammock for camping. I always bring along an Eno or two and use them as lounging chairs or as backups just in case.

[stephberg]

I was in the market for a new smaller tent and saw an add for Clark Jungle Hammock in Backpacker magazine. This was back when they only had 1 model. I called Clark and spoke to a guy named Joe I think. I was skeptical about comfort and stability, and our conversation convinced me to give it go. I've been hanging ever since and converting anyone willing to give it a try.
I've slept on the ground once in the last 16 or so years, and that was 1 time too many;-)
I am now working on making my own gear as a hobby and to help my friends save a few bucks on their rigs.