Its time to hang but which one?

[Off-road]

Looks like i landed at the right spot for info.

I've been backpacking for over 30yrs and have always done so in a tent.
I have top-line equipment but recently have been having restless nights and waking with a stiff back.
Do i sound like a prime candidate for a hammock?
I'm a back sleeper,are they really that comfortable?

I've researched for a couple of evenings and have narrowed my search down to:
Hennessy ultralight
Clark ultralight

I do the AT,Smokey's,most of WV/VA which is why I'm looking at ultralights.
Would one be noticeably better then the other?

My last question is going to be strange.
Can a dog "50 lb" sleep in a hammock with me "165LB".
I'm serious....my border collie has packed over 1000 miles and is an incredible trail dog with manners and a great companion and has always slept up against me at home and on the trail.
Thanks

[angrysparrow]

Looks like i landed at the right spot for info.

Yes you are. Welcome!

Do i sound like a prime candidate for a hammock?

Absolutely.

I'm a back sleeper,are they really that comfortable?

This forum is FULL of people who think so. You decide.

Hennessy ultralight
Clark ultralight

I would add the Warbonnet BlackBird, and the JRB Bear Mountain Bridge to your list.

Would one be noticeably better then the other?

Those two hammocks have noticeably different feels. I think you'll just have to read more threads about each to decide what *you* think fits you best. I would look at the other two as possibilities, though.

Can a dog "50 lb" sleep in a hammock with me "165LB".
I'm serious....my border collie has packed over 1000 miles and is an incredible trail dog with manners and a great companion and has always slept up against me at home and on the trail.

You wouldn't be the first!

[pedro]

Yes, yes, YES! It is much more comfortable! (What did you expect to hear on this site?) Be prepared for a learning curve. Personally, I would go for a top loading hammock if a dog is part of the picture. The best answer, though, is to go to the nearest group hanging event as soon as possible. You will find a large variety of hammocks, and many folks will let you try them out. You can make a much more educated decision if you test drive first.

Welcome to the forums!

[Hawk-eye]

Sure you can ... 50 lbs might be awkward but do-able.

I switched to hammocks back in 2001 because it's not always possible to pitch a tent in parts of Linville Gorge that I prefer to camp in ... and the added stealth factor. The side benefits of no more rocks that creep in in the middle of the night to find you arse or shoulder ... is a big plus. I've never, ever failed to get a great night's sleep and no longer have that "sleeping on the ground stiffness" that gets worse the older you get.

You'll love it. Well anyway the chances are great that you'll sell your ground gear or at least keep it packed on the bottom of your "man closet".

Welcome to the group.

[Peter_pan]

Yes you are. Welcome!



Absolutely.



This forum is FULL of people who think so. You decide.



I would add the Warbonnet BlackBird, and the JRB Bear Mountain Bridge to your list.



Those two hammocks have noticeably different feels. I think you'll just have to read more threads about each to decide what *you* think fits you best. I would look at the other two as possibilities, though.



You wouldn't be the first!

These pictures are of Smee (190) with Bonnie (35) actually between his legs with her head out the No Sniveller head hole.... A really slick set up...The hammock is the JRB Bear Mtn Bridge Hammock, which is the only true flat lay hammock, thus the dog does not slide into or jam up against the sleeping hammock user.

Note, with the new improved spreader bars the BMBH capacity is now 275.

Pan

[Doctari]

My last question is going to be strange.
Can a dog "50 lb" sleep in a hammock with me "165LB".
I'm serious....my border collie has packed over 1000 miles and is an incredible trail dog with manners and a great companion and has always slept up against me at home and on the trail.
Thanks

What everyone else says!
And/or: make a smallish hammock for the dog, hung next to or under you. I think one with spreader bars would make it easer for the dog to enter / exit witout help. Somewhere on this site is a way to add them to a "regular" hammock. Or, sometimes a CCF pad will hold the hammock open pretty well, you could try that & after all, fido will need some under insulation too.
I havn't a dog anymore, but my cat loves my hammock, she just can't get in it by herself.

[tight-wad]

The best answer, though, is to go to the nearest group hanging event as soon as possible. You will find a large variety of hammocks, and many folks will let you try them out. You can make a much more educated decision if you test drive first.

Welcome to the forums!

And... the next, nearest to you, hangout is this weekend in Hot Springs

[Ramblinrev]

Personally, I would go for a top loading hammock if a dog is part of the picture.

As much as a I like my Hennessy I think that is a very good point. I would find it difficult to get my trail dog into and out of the bottom entry of the HH. The Clark has a narrower feel to it if I understand correctly and might feel a bit cramped.

[Hawk-eye]

As much as a I like my Hennessy I think that is a very good point. I would find it difficult to get my trail dog into and out of the bottom entry of the HH.

Love my HH too but love it a great deal more with 2Q/ZQ's zipper mod I had installed ... Now my boy Spencer likes getting in the HH even more!

[TinaLouise]

I'll only address the clark ultralite hammock. I too looked at that hammock and went with the tropical version because it has the optional weathershield. That weathershield is worth it's weight in gold, I love it!!
On to the dog issue, I've had my two small dogs in my clark, they end up on my stomach or between my legs. No biggie, they're comfortable, I'm comfortable. Now my big dog (70 pound bouvier, he's small!!) just sticks his head in, looks around and plops down beside me on the ground. He would not be comfortable and I would not be comfortable either, with him inside the hammock. The clark is a rather tighter fitting hammock and to have a large live animal in there with me, taking up that much room, well, I'm not gonna do it. Dog would just have to sleep somewhere else. I'd also be worried about his claws. My little dogs, I don't worry. Big dog, that's another story. Not trying to dissuade you out of the clark, because I flat out love mine but it might not be the right one for a person and a large dog.