I'm Boycotting Byer of Maine

[Cannibal]

Fair warning; I am on my soapbox!

I just spent my lunch hour on one of my REI pilgrimages. I was over in the tent area to pick-up some extra Fig 9s and some utility cord. The hammock rack is right next to the place where the Fig 9s were supposed to be (they were out of stock!) and I always just peek to see if anything is new. There are usually Hennessy Hammocks, ENOs, and Byer of Maine (Amazonas) hammocks. I saw something I had not seen before. I’m sure they’ve been there every time I’ve looked, but I never saw them until this trip and I wish I hadn’t seen them at all.

What I saw actually offended me and, I’ll be honest, made me mad. Maybe I need to be medicated. Byer of Maine sells these little gems:



The package labeling looks identical to that image. A heavy steel biner attached to an eyebolt THREADED INTO A TREE! WTF!!!! I thought, surely this is just a bad picture. I picked up the package and turned it over to see what looked to be a 4” long eyebolt with big gnarly thread flights. It’s one thing to sell them, it’s another thing entirely to show their ‘proper use’ as being screwed into a tree. That should really help hangers convince folks that hammocks are LNT, huh?

Granted, Byer of Maine isn’t the first company most people think about when selecting a camping hammock. But, they are being sold at outdoor retailers! I understand the thin cord that they and many others sell; I don’t like it, but I understand it. However, this bolt-into-the-tree package is simply heinous and I won’t stand for it. I own three Byer hammocks currently.

I will not own any more.
I will not purchase anything from them in the future.
I will not set-up their hammocks at Meet-Up events.
I will suggest people avoid their products at every opportunity.

I can’t decide if I’m more mad at Byer for offering them, or at REI for agreeing to sell them. I’m still ‘freshly pissed’, so possibly some clarity will settle in after some time. I’ll give it a little time and then I’m firing off a letter to both companies that will adequately express my displeasure. Won’t do me a lick of good, but just like posting this little rant….it will be therapeutic.

Boycott Byer of Maine and tell people why!

[avalonmorn]

This tree huggin' bleeding heart liberal has your back, and I'm sure a lot of normal folk agree as well.

[Trooper]

I usually don't join in boycotts, nor do I expect people to join me in my crusades. However, I think you have found a worthy cause, I and I pledge my support.

[KerMegan]

or suggest they change the pic to a fence post, 4x4, or deck rail at the very least.
Add a "For Household use only" label, perhaps...
As stated before- a worthy cause! KM

[Hawk-eye]

... On line REI shows it as online only .... and no tree pictures. In their write up they show for porches and deck use ... so no foul there I guess.

Byer Amazonas Easy Hook

[leepingreenlizards]

I don't find it anymore offensive than the stolen goose down in your yeti. Pour little gooselets running around all naked and cold. Boycot down, boycot down, boycot down. LOL!

I think these would be perfectly fine if used on a tree on your own property.

IMO

[Knotty]

What's all the hoo hah about? Byer products are marketed to backyard hangers. If someone wants to screw an eye into their own tree it's their choice. This wouldn't be an option on the trail since you'd need to carry a drill with a large bit.

[PapaSmurf]

I'm with ya.
I'm an LNT trainer myself & I for one will be showing as many people possible that this is the "WRONG WAY"

[Cannibal]

Agreed, I would have zero issues if this was sold as 'yard furniture'; my trees, I'll do what I want to them. My issue is with the picture of the tree on the package. People haven't read instructions for years now, I have no faith they will read any disclosures either. I can just see the 'family' going to the parks this summer and Dad thinking "Hey, a hammock would be fun and look, here's some eyebolts! Where's my drill?"

Arrgh. I shouldn't be this upset about such a thing. Guess there must be some kind of planetary alignment that doesn't set well with me or something.

Saying something to the manager may be an excellent idea. REI is a coop and I am a member, so I have a voice....in theory anyway. This particular store is their "Flagship" store here in Denver and that may be why they have a product that their website states is "online only". However, I bet that if I go to the other REI stores in the Denver area or all the other outdoor retailers where I've seen Byer of Maine hammocks, they will all be selling these things.

Yes, we know they are marketed to backyard users. But the drones that go shopping at REI don't know that. They just see something and think "Oooo, cool!" I'm not buying that spin, not with the placement and choice of marketing materials.

Gotta cut the head off the serpent to kill the snake. Byer of Maine is my target; it's their fault for being short-sided. "Boycott" may have been a poor choice of words, because I don't expect to start any kind of online movement; just expressing my disappointment in a company that is trying to appeal to the outdoor community. But, by all means feel free to jump on the bandwagon.

[Cannibal]

I don't find it anymore offensive than the stolen goose down in your yeti. Pour little gooselets running around all naked and cold. Boycot down, boycot down, boycot down. LOL!

You'd get along well with Genuine Draft. She feels bad every time she crawls into one of her quilts. However, they aren't going to ban down products because people are using them improperly. Many areas already ban hammock usage, because of people abusing trees and such. There is a difference. It may be a thin line, but it's there.

Again, I have no issues with putting screws, bolts, nails, etc into trees around the yard. But, when you advertise these things in an area with backpacking tents, sleeping pads, and tarps within 10', you ARE NOT targeting the backyard user. You are targeting the camper/hiker. Simple as that.