Ha! Replied to your email.Originally Posted by rhughesnc
Yar- You're looking at $300-400 for most of my bridges.
I tell nearly everyone to try a gathered end first. Technically I tell folks to just get out and sleep on the ground but not supposed to say that here,I don't care so long as you like the woods and most of us did just fine when we were young enough to sleep anywhere we happened to pass out. I slept for many a summer on 3/8" CCF foam and fancy pads before that was finally a bust. Do the most with the least you can... but don't stay home.
If that gathered end doesn't work- and you're light enough- try a ridgerunner or BMBH. Bridges are really neat and solve many common issues folks have with Gathered Ends; especially sleep position options.
One size fits most... but still a few left out of the comfort range of these products. In my experience from customer feedback... GENERALLY Speaking... around 200lbs, 6' tall, or shoulders wide enough for an XL shirt are the customers who may find themselves outside the range of "one size fits most". Both bridges are end bar models with slightly different features. Not all bridges equal, nor is there a best.... just the one that works for you.
The big advantage these two have is that they are established products, from established vendors. They have underquilts ready to go, more options, and plenty of time and customer feedback out there to sort it all out so you get a solid product.
If that doesn't work...
The Amok recently switched to a direct to consumer model... so pricing came down. Prior to that my bridges were pretty well in line with their stuff... these days that $100 or so the retailer got goes back in your pocket.
If shopping dollars... you need a sleeping pad with vertical baffles too so consider that in your final tally... though looks like the XL plus pad is about $300 plus shipping.
Fer mine... technically you need a quilt or pad (but hopefully one you already own). You need a bugnet if you want one... or go without if you don't.
Depending on what you have; you may or may not need a new tarp- though having a custom tarp ready to rock is a pretty cool thing Amok offers.
Some folks tell me they belly sleep in the Amok. It seems plausible but that's a very tricky challenge in my opinion. Especially if you have a back issue. It is very difficult to eliminate negative pressure on the spine.
I'd like to hear from more folks who sleep full time on their belly in an Amok... not simply roll over for a bit. That's not smack talking so to speak- just an honest request. If that feature does indeed work for a full time belly sleeper I'm happy to point it out to those who reach out to me for advice. As many who have done so will tell you- half the time I'll tell you to buy someone else's stuff over mine.
There are plenty of good hammocks, and some decent production bridges out there.
So what I sell in my premium bridges is something others don't.
They don't need a pad for structure, and they are designed for backpacking based activities- even if that is a walk in hunting/fishing or lower mile backpacking trip... you still gotta hump it in.
The Amok is really cool... but backpacking with it is debatable. So that may be a big factor one way or the other... if you're car camping or base camping you may even prefer the Amok.
Taking advantage of the lounge/seated features are more likely with this type of use as well. You can't really pull a few straps and sit in a lazy boy with my stuff.
There's a trick to make my bridge a better chair- but you don't really want to sit around in a bridge hammock all day. It's designed to sleep in.
The good news... there are more options for folks to get out and enjoy the woods, especially for those who like this hammock thing but didn't quite fall in love with a standard gathered end.
From your end-
After all the marketing crap and BS... my bridges are more or less like a floating cot. It is a unique experience that doesn't require you to crawl in from the end or really do anything special. You just lay down and go to bed.
There is at least 8' of usable bedspace and it has adjustable ends, a way to tune the center 'pop' of the bridge a bit... but for the most part you don't need to beat yourself over the head sorting out how to hang it. One big bridge advantage is consistency of setup. You more or less can expect the same experience night after night... even if you fudge the pitch a bit.
I have no BS pricing- shipping is included (Conus) and paypal fees are covered. I don't do friends and family shenanigans. I don't take orders, I won't take a deposit, I won't take your money.
You tell me you want one; If I have one in stock- you buy it and it ships. If not- I put you on a waiting list and when the next batch is done you buy it or you don't.
From my end- getting that to happen is mildly complicated and tedious- which means these take 4-8 hours a piece to build and labor is always the most expensive part of any hammock.
Overall- there are options- try them first and save me for last.
Biggest ding to my stuff is the sticker shock... though it's in line with most higher end outdoor gear in my opinion... what do you care?
Some folks will spend $1000 for a golf club, some of us are too cheap to mini-golf... money is yours not mine so only you can make that call.
Second ding- the recessed bar design is something most accept as part of the deal but a small minority have an issue with it. Typically it takes a dozen nights to get used to... once you do it's something you don't think about.
Having the bar there is not only what makes the bridge so comfy- it also does helps with tons of subtle stuff like stability, load transfer, comfort, support, etc. It's what makes these unique... and what makes them expensive.
For many folks... with all the bedspace to work with available many slide down a bit and avoid the whole head bar issue completely. You can just turn that end into a gear storage bin and use it like an end bar bridge if you don't need to belly sleep.
I have a few prototypes out to address these concerns but nothing to report at the moment. On this topic though... end bar bridges can be tough for folks over 6' period. So I find that a debatable option.
I'm a pretty small vendor who builds these in my basement. I get overwhelmed pretty easy so I lay pretty low. So other than chiming in on the forum to help folks out I don't do much to promote myself or my stuff until I can sort out a better way to produce. Cause the worst piece of gear out there is one somebody sold you and can't ever ship you.
Reply With Quote
) you're doing pretty good!
Bookmarks