newby with a new hammock!

[bowguy]

hi all, i just got my first hammock and tarp!

i just got the gt skeeter beeter pro
with a 10x12 tarp for it.

what kind of mods should i look into to make my life easier while my time hanging in the woods!

i see some webbing mods to the hanging supports, but what is wrong with what comes with the hammock?

bowguy

[Hawk-eye]

Not familiar with that one but welcome to the forum!

[mbiraman]

Welcome to the forum. Have you figured out your insulation needs yet ?, Like pads and sleeping bag or under quilt and top quilt etc? .

[leroybrown]

Welcome Bowguy!

You pose a very general question - its hard to know if you're aware of what you need.

anything below 70 degrees we usually say, requires some sort of insulation underneath. Sleeping bags don't always work because when you compress the insulation it does not work as well (for the same reason ground dwellers sleep on mats, it is not just for comfort!) Hangers will lose a lot of heat through convection- out the bottom of the hammock.

Pads can work, between you and the hammock but underquilts are the answer. Think of it as a sleeping bag, but cut in half and the bottom is strung out underneath you. Underquilts are commonly made of down, this forum is just breaking into some new materials. Depending on where you are you're going to need something. My advice, for the summer, check out Macentyres Insultex underquilts - at a very fair price. $40 I think.

You'll need a top quilt (the other half of the bag in that analogy) or just use a regular old sleeping bag unzipped.

Check out Whoopie slings and webbing with a marlin spike hitch. I believe you have a clark. Good idea on getting the larger tarp.

Watch Shug's "hammock how to series" (Shugemery on youtube)


Most of all, go outside, make mistakes and learn a lot. Then come back here and tell the rest of us so we don't do the same thing

[Perkolady]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your first setup!

I'm not familiar with that hammock, but I do own several different brands along with several diys. While there's usually nothing wrong with what the manufacturer puts on there, there's often a strong pull to tinker and try different things. Sure, we use the excuses of wanting to try something easier, faster, lighter, etc., but I think the biggest reason is just plain fun !

[Knotty]

Welcome. I assume this is your new ride?


There's a lot of playing around that can be done with hammocks but IMHO the most urgent need will be for insulation underneath, like others have said.

The fast and cheap solution is a blue closed cell foam (CCF) camping pad that you can get at Walmart. Not the most comfortable thing but neither is freezing your butt off.

Also, make sure to use tree huggers (straps) and not rope around your support trees. Ropes can damage the tree and the reputation of the hammock camping community.

[bowguy]

i seen a roll of 1" nylon webbing at the army surplus store... can i use this instead of the rope it came with or just use the rope?

[opie]

i seen a roll of 1" nylon webbing at the army surplus store... can i use this instead of the rope it came with or just use the rope?

Youll want to avoid Nylon as it stretchs to much. Find some Polyester or polypropylene.

1" is about the most popular and youll only need it long enough to go around your anchor point. From there you can use cord/rope. Or you can run the webbing right down to your hammock.