Getting a little eschew in my HH Expedition

[Rather-B-Camping]

Hello all, I am new to the forum, and new to hammock camping. A buddy and I decided that hammock camping looked like the way to go, so we did some research and both of us got the HH Expedition Asym (we liked some of the features combined with the price).

Anyway, we are going out for a little time in the brush next weekend, so we decided this past weekend to test out our gear to make sure we will be good to go in the colder weather (I have always tested any new gear before camping, especially cold weather camping. There's nothing worse than finding out that something doesn't work when you are miles from civilization). Anyway, I probably don't have to tell any of you, we loved the hammocks and stayed quite warm with our Military Modular Sleeping Bag System combined with a Therma-Rest pad. The first night I tried with the pad under my sleeping bag. You all know the results. So the next night I tried it with the pad between the two layers of my sleeping bag with great success.

However, there is an issue that both of us seem to be having. The hammock is leaning heavily to one side. In other words, one side is very high, the other side is very low. I could look to my left and directly next to my shoulder was the mesh, I could see right outside, my tarp wasn't exactly covering me at that point (which isn't good because we are expecting a little rain during our trip). When I look to my right, the sidewall of my hammock is way up.

Do any of you know what causes this phenomenon and any way to right it?

P.S. My buddy tried laying both ways each night. One he laid with his feet to the left and his head to the right. And the next night he laid with his feet to the right and his head to the left. Both with no change. He said that laying straight down the middle seemed to have some effect, but it seems to me that this is not how they were designed to be used (especially with the opening in the middle, I don't want my feet falling out in the middle of the night).

Thank you all for your help.

[angrysparrow]

There's really nothing to 'right', because that's how it's supposed to be. Note that the HH has an asymmetrical bugnet, so you aren't supposed to look out both sides at once when laying on the diagonal.

That diagonal is what allows you to lay flatter, though, and typically more comfortably.

Welcome to the forum.

[KerMegan]

did you have the side tie-downs deployed? did the tarp wings match the arrangement of the side tie outs?
Just thinking....
KM

[Ramblinrev]

It is designed that way on purpose. That way the bears have a fighting chance when approaching the taco... They learn pretty quickly to approach from the high side.



(I did count to ten before I posted this. Then I passed it by the wife... She passed on it well... It's joke people...!)

[JayS]

As the others have said, that's the way it's made and intended to work. The left side (laying on your back) should allow a view but the right side will not unless you sit up or pull the hammock body down some with your hand. You can use this to block or capture some breeze depending on your need and available tree orientation.

The stock HH tarp is small and does need to be aligned the right way for good coverage (KerMegan is right to suggest making sure the tarp & hammock tie outs are lined up the same way). Most folks curse the small HH tarp when it is cold and/or rainy, especially if it's windy, too. But a few intrepid souls swear by it (instead of at it!). I find that I take a larger tarp in all but the nicest forecast but on a pleasant, clear summer evening, the small HH tarp is fine. You may want to play with attaching the tarp to a tree on one or both ends instead of to the hammock suspension. Some folks like this as it keeps the tarp tighter when you are in the hammock, although it does increase the space between the tarp and the hammock. If the forecast is for nasty weather next weekend and you aren't fully comfortable with the HH tarp yet, think about taking another tarp, even if it's a cheap poly tarp, for safety's sake.

Rev, good one! LOL.

[Rather-B-Camping]

Thanks all. The tie downs are matched correctly and we know that we are laying in it correctly, we just weren't aware that one side was supposed to be so much higher than the other. It's not that we want to be able to look out both sides at the same time, in fact I don't want to be able to see out either side, that means I have an opening in my shelter. We just want it to be even.

My friend told me that at a couple points during the night he was actually laying on the mesh itself and had to adjust to get back on the hammock. If the mesh hadn't been there he would have fallen out. What do you guys do to at least keep it to a minimum?

Ramblinrev, I am slightly appalled at your comment. I am not a taco, and to insinuate that I am is slightly disturbing to say the least. I'm more of a snack wrap . But I think I like your style.

[Ramblinrev]

I'm more of a snack wrap . But I think I like your style.

I stand corrected..

Hang with a fair amount of slack. That may make a difference It is very common for people to hang a HH much too tightly. The internal ridgeline need only be taut. It won't even out the sides. That's just the nature of the beast. But it may allow you to sink further down into the hammock and feel like you have more cover from the sides.

[Rather-B-Camping]

I stand corrected..

Hang with a fair amount of slack. That may make a difference It is very common for people to hang a HH much too tightly. The internal ridgeline need only be taut. It won't even out the sides. That's just the nature of the beast. But it may allow you to sink further down into the hammock and feel like you have more cover from the sides.

Very cool, I will give that a shot. Thanks.

[Knotty]

My friend told me that at a couple points during the night he was actually laying on the mesh itself and had to adjust to get back on the hammock. If the mesh hadn't been there he would have fallen out. What do you guys do to at least keep it to a minimum?

Now that ain't right. At no point should you be supported by the mosquito netting. Add some slack, like RR said, and let us know what happens.

[jofish]

My inner English nerd is dying to know: why did you use the word eschew in the title? It means to shun or avoid... Did you mean that the apparent leaning made you feel like the hammock was trying to get rid of you? I'm not trying to be a jerk; it just seemed like an odd choice of words.