Lighten up my kit for summer?

**Bad Biscuit** · 02-10-2015, 11:30

As many of you, I'm never really "finished" with my gear. I have a GREAT kit for Winter (no bugs) camping.

But for the warmer weather I'm considering the possibility of upgrading my gear to make it lighter. Currently my choice is limited to:
WBBB 1.1 SL (21.75 oz)
Hammock Gear 20 degree TQ (17.95 oz)
Hammock Gear 20 degree UQ (19.25 oz)
Superfly (23.65 oz with sleeves, lines, Dutch Bling, etc).

That makes my summer kit 82.30 oz or 5.16 lbs!

I listed the gear above because these are the items I currently own. So, if you had the items listed above and wanted to lighten up for the summer, where would be largest weight savings be for the least amount of money? Sadly, cuben fiber is probably out of my price range, so I need some other ideas.... What do YOU use to hang in the warmer months (using a tarp and a bug net)?

I want to try and hang in the muggy and bug infested South (Alabama to be exact). This will be a first. How do you keep cool with the high humidity?

**Dochartaigh** · 02-10-2015, 11:54

Of those options, and keeping with quality down gear like you already have, there's really no room to lighten your setup by more than a few ounces unless you get a new tarp (your hammock is already pretty light).

If we focus on your underquilts, that is going to highly depend on what your definition of summer is. In the northeast I still wouldn't bring less than a 40º setup as we have some freak times when the temperature can drop 30 degrees during the night. But even if you switched to a 40º top and/or 40º bottom quilt, you're only saving a few ounces on each of those (those by HG at 40º are around 12 ounces each).

**WaffleBox** · 02-10-2015, 11:55

You could us a Molly Mac Baby Orca as an underquilt to drop about 9 ounces. They run about $125. Depending on the temps you will be sleeping in and how warm you sleep, you could just use a silk sleeping bag liner, like the one from Sea-to-Summit, which would save about 14-15oz compared to your top quilt for around $60.

**craige** · 02-10-2015, 12:02

I have a hyperD 1.0 Hammock that weighs around 7 oz, will be using a sheltowee style net this year which I expect to weigh less than 5oz, and replace my fronkey style net that weighs around 7-8oz. my speedhook suspension is around 2oz with straps included. My summer tarp is an 11'x9' hex and if I remember correctly it weighs around 11oz. Like you I am using a 20° HG set atm but I have a phoenix instead of the incubator so that saves a little weight. I plan on making an asym tarp for shorter trips too, which should have my tarp weight at around 8oz.

So probably 22oz for my shelter this summer and 33oz for insulation. 55oz or 3.44 lbs. I think it may be a little less, I really need to write down the weights of my gear, either way I'll have less than 10lbs on my back before consumables so I'll be happy and will probably start adding in luxury/higher durability items over the next year or two.

**soul embrace** · 02-10-2015, 13:09

Originally Posted by Dochartaigh

that is going to highly depend on what your definition of summer is..

He lives in northern Alabama same as me and our summers are normally highs of 95-100 with 100 humity and lows sometimes in the 80s. When I hang in the summer what I use is a hammock a bug net and sleep in shorts and a t shirt and that is. No need for underquilts or top quilts and only use a tarp if it looks like rain.

**Just Bill** · 02-10-2015, 13:15

Depends if you want off the shelf or some DIY stuff. Off the shelf I don't know personally..

You could probably get a HyperD hammock going with netting for a pound as mentioned.
UQ dropped to 40* but that may not save you much weight really and be high dollars per ounce.
TQ though- if you got a MYOG Apex2.5/argon and kept the 20* UQ you'd probably be plenty warm. These come in 11-15 ounces depending on who makes em.
Tarp- My "winter tarp" is about 12 ounces, made from SilMembrane. Many of you would call it too minimal for winter, but likely find it okay for summer, lol.

So 16 ounces hammock
20 ounce UQ
14 ounce TQ
12 ounce tarp
And a few more ounces for fun gets you at 2lbs.

Still working a bit on mine but I am clearing 2lbs with a bridge.

**Just Bill** · 02-10-2015, 13:25

Originally Posted by soul embrace

He lives in northern Alabama same as me and our summers are normally highs of 95-100 with 100 humity and lows sometimes in the 80s. When I hang in the summer what I use is a hammock a bug net and sleep in shorts and a t shirt and that is. No need for underquilts or top quilts and only use a tarp if it looks like rain.

LOL, missed that a bit- that **** hot I agree.
16 ounce hammock bug net.
12 ounce minimal tarp.

640 ounce gas generator.
96 ounces of fuel.
80 ounce electric fan with misting attachment.

that seems right to me

**Moel Siabod** · 02-10-2015, 13:31

I see your hammock weighs 21.75oz. That converts to 786.70g.
My DIY hammock weighs less than 350g including suspension and together they cost less than £15 (that's 22.8811 of your funny money)

Your tarp weighs 670.47g. A 2.5m x 3m poly tarp only weighs about 550g and cost £6. (9.15588 funny money)

Hope this helps

**Bad Biscuit** · 02-10-2015, 13:40

Originally Posted by Just Bill

LOL, missed that a bit- that **** hot I agree.
16 ounce hammock bug net.
12 ounce minimal tarp.

640 ounce gas generator.
96 ounces of fuel.
80 ounce electric fan with misting attachment.

that seems right to me

PERFECT! Now I just need pack mule to haul all of that for me!