*Test for cheap hammock sleep system*
Note:This is my first full nights sleep outside in a hammock. This is designed to test my sleep system mostly for myself but for others to compare experiences with the same temperatures and weather. I would like to see whether my system could beat the wind, rain, and cold, and of course luck (Friday the 13th)
Materials used:
- Grand Trunk Ultra Light hammock $20
- 8x10 Camp more tarp w/ grommets $33
- 100 feet of rope/cord $4
- two 1" wide 12' long hammock straps + rings $5
- DIY Underquilt/blanket $20
- Medium sized synthetically insulated overcover/sock $20
Total: $102
Weather Predictions for tonight November 13, 2009
High and low: 50 degrees F and 44 degrees F
Wind Chill: 38 degrees F
Wind speed: 13mph NE
Precipitation: Light rain going into heavy rain
Humidity: %87-%93
Unnecessary Info
Length between trees: 20'
Distance from ground to hammock before sleep: 1' and 4"
Distance from ground to hammock after sleep: 1' and 1"
Head facing North, Shelter from wind from North, West, South east
Review of the night: Man what a night! Where to begin.. Ill start off by agreeing with half the people on hammock forums that whatever you put under you to keep you warm IN the hammock (not staying outside like the usual UQ) will slide around and eventually roll up into a ball under you. This was the case for my new homemade UQ. I put it inside the hammock because I didn't have shock cord and decided that I could use the extra regular cord (holding it up) to hold my tarp together even tighter (which helped!). For the UQ any part of me that was resting on that was nice and toasty but every other part that even touched the hammock bottom was a little cold (even though I had a sort of a hammock sock on).
My GTUL hammock was comfortable as usual but the only thing that bothered me was its squishing power on pillows which had been unknown to be until I tried it out. I am a stomach sleeper and as many stomach sleepers know the pillow is the most important part. It's angle, pressure, and loft in certain areas affects our sleep a lot. This is the first time I considered my hammock a little short. My pillow was scrunched into a ball under my head and I was propped up as though I were sitting. I ditched the pillow and used a nice hat as one and slept about 30% on the diagonal through out the rest of the night.
My quilt which was used for an over cover/ sock kept me nice and warm. It's only fault was that it was.. a quilt draped over my ridge line and tied at the ends. When wind blew from south west (never knew it would) It split open the quilt and made my hammock into a small wind tunnel which woke me up once.
My 8x10 tarp kept me dry and as I was taking it down I was surprised that my whole hammock was dry! everything up to the suspension. The "S" rings that come with it if pointed downward will keep all of those speedy droplets from touching your warm cocoon. I had tied my tarp closer to the ground to keep it from smacking against my hammock which was great advice from Cannibal. The only problem was that in the morning a slug decided to deposit a nice slippery sludge all over the knot around the tent stake (Long nail) which made the morning take down .. a little uncomfortable and slimy.
Conclusions:
-Under quilts should really go outside of your tent but it still proved warm
-My cheap hammock suspension worked but stretched a little
-If you know it will be windy either get a sock or tie the over cover/quilt together around you.
-Bed pillows do not work well in hammock
-Eat some warm food with carbohydrates before you go to bed
Woo!
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Finished!
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