Here's a report and a few pictures from my first hang.
I have to confess that upon getting my WBBB XLC I managed to hang it indoors to see how it felt and, more importantly, figure out how to work things out with the pad.
My first impression is that using a pad is more work than it is worth so I put in an order for an HG Incubator Econ 20.
Then came the weekend.
I was hemming and hawwing as the weather was overcast and it was foggy and damp after the rain earlier in the week.
After some thought I walked outside and found it surprisingly warm (around 10c) so I quickly put my things together and headed to Tyresta.
Tyresta is a national park/reserve south of Stockholm. It isn't particularly big and quite popular for people who like to have a day out. It is also popular for overnighters and the camping spots usually gets filled fast.
This was true as i arrived Saturday afternoon after a very short hike to Årsjön lake.
I walked around a bit until I found a spot with a nice view, as luck would have it the clouds had disappeared and left me with some nice sunshine.
More importantly it had some good trees:
I quickly hung the hammock and then tried to get the proper lay as I adjusted, all without the pad for starters.
It wasn't really hard to find a good lay.
I kept experimenting and I have to say that you quickly feel when you hit that sweet spot.
A "problem" that arose was that each time I got comfy in the hammock I stayed in it longer and longer and just relaxed.
These quick hang tests also made me feel that dreaded CBS.
Although the sun was out and the forecast promised that there'd be no rain I still decided to hang my tarp.
Partly as insurance, partly to practice.
Now I felt it was time for a break.
Out came the kettle for a cup of tea from the hammock (another first).
After this I decided to fiddle around a bit with the tarp as it felt like I was doing something wrong.
View from the inside
I was correct.
The Edge isn't an easy tarp for a beginner.
The first hang pictured was to low and I had it pulled to tight along the sides.
Although you can't see it, it would've been better if I had had a meter or so more space between the trees to get that "V".
Out I went and redid it. After raising the tarp about 40cm and pulling the sides out so they were at an 120 degree angle did the trick.
I was well covered and still had space.
That said the Edge is a minimalist tarp that'll challenge me I feel. I have total confidence in it, I'll just have to be more careful about how and where I hang it as opposed to a bigger tarp.
Oh, not to forget: Dutch is a God amongst men. The Tarp Flyz I got as an afterthought makes tarp hanging so much easier.
Then I had to put the pad in.
I started cursing to myself as it turned out that my misgivings from that indoor trial hang had truth in it.
What had been a good lay was turned on its head as the pad changed things completely. So I went to work.
First I deflated the pad a bit more and that helped a little.
Then I fiddled with the hang of hammock.
That also helped a little.
Finally I deflated even more, wrestled with the position of the pad and laid down.
It was ok. Nothing more.
I was quite pleased with myself for already having ordered that UQ. I'm certain life will be easier with it.
As I went to sleep another problem reared its ugly head:
If I didn't stay on the pad itself I got cold, in this case my left arm. I solved this by digging out my comfy backup fleece and putting it under my arm.
Then I slept like a baby.
So what are my conclusions after this first night:
Hammocking is better than I thought. Much, much better.
I'm a stomach sleeper that sometime sleep on my side. I still had no problems falling asleep in a position best described as halwayy on my back, halfway on my side.
There was no calf ridge or pinched shoulders, in fact the WBBB XLC feels huge, even when zipped shut, part of this is due to the pullouts of course.
The storage shelf is a thing of beauty, anything I didn't need I dumped in there for easy access.
Pads work. Probably better for some than others. I'll suffer through mine until my UQ arrives.
Upon coming home I ordered snakeskins. That way I can hang my tarp and keep it ready to deploy while having it out of the way if the weather is nice.
The Edge is a nice tarp, I think I need some practice with it to get the most out of it.
One thing I really liked is that it feels like less of a hurdle to get out of the hammock to adjust something or do something.
Crawling out of the tent once you're in it always feels like a chore. Hanging I just got out and then got back in.
Breakfast from the hammock is great as well.
All in all it's many small things put together that is going to keep me hanging if I'm around trees and have me shelf the tent.
Looks like it'll be rain this weekend but I'm seriously thinking of going back out for another run.
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), though i haven't tried it yet; maybe that's why you were having a hard time with the pad.
Originally Posted by nathwill
) and to keep mosquitoes off me when they arrive.
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