Lawson Blue Ridge Camping Hammock Tent?

**jtlee1** · 01-19-2010, 15:28

Saw one in Cabelas catalog. Anyone tried it?

**bdpalace** · 01-19-2010, 15:32

My friend bought one and used it on our section from Max Patch to Hot Springs. We stayed the first night on Walnut Mountain and he was miserable. I think the mixture of condensation and fog pretty much soaked him and chilled him to the bone. Due to that rewarding experience, we hiked the rest of the way to Hot Springs the next day instead of doing light miles and enjoying the walk.

**jtlee1** · 01-19-2010, 15:57

Thanks for the quick reply...sounds like the netting is not very breathable maybe? I was intrigued because of the price, and it looks like it may have a very flat lie, but could be a case of you get what you pay for.

**sir_n0thing** · 01-19-2010, 17:36

In the right conditions fog will wreck you no matter what kind of shelter you're in... in fact with a shelter being TOO open in the fog I would expect to get soaked, so the breathabilty of the netting may not be the culprit, or should I say might BE the culprit because it allowed the fog to settle inside the hammock... In heavy fog in my Clark I tend to close up the weathershield most of the way to keep the fog from "rolling in".

Just something to consider before you write the Lawson off completely.

That said, I have no direct experience with it.

**bdpalace** · 01-19-2010, 21:00

I was in a HH with a large GG tarp staked down to the ground and the stock tarp as an undershield. I stayed warm and bone dry so it was probably a combo of the rainfly breathability and the fog soaking the bottom of the hammock and leeching into his bag.

**Knotty** · 01-20-2010, 00:57

From their web site:

Q. Do you offer a guarantee?
A. Yes, we love the BRCH so much that we think you will too, and we offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

I guess your only risk would be the cost of shipping.

**Stumblefoot** · 01-20-2010, 11:29

The first hammock I ever owned was a BRCH. My reasoning was that sleeping in a hammock had to be better than sleeping on the ground. I knew nothing about camping hammocks and had never slept in a hammock. I believe that this was in 2002 or 2003. I slept in it for two nights and found out that you can get cold in a hammock when you have nothing under you. I didn't like the way that the BRCH flipped when you put anything in it - top heavy with the spreader bars. I put it up and didn't get it out again except to show it to some kids at school who were interested in camping.

At the end of 2003 I bought an HH expedition. It was so much lighter than the BRCH. I used the HH on a 135 mile kayak trip down the Great Pee Dee River. Knowing so much more about hammocks now, I think that I may pull that BRCH out and see how it works with a UQ and a good tarp. Thanks for reminding me about it.