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**CowtownCarlton** · 05-25-2010, 21:50

We hello ladies and gentlemen, I stumbled across hammock camping three months ago try to determine how to get my kids into backpack camping. We have do a few car camping trips in a tent. And not the most comfortable nights sleep. I am looking to improve there experience and get them into this like I was as a kid. They have done lots of day hikes and love to get out in the woods. We happened across a Jeffs site and that lead me down the journey of hammock camping. Then I found Shug doing some google searches and now for some reason I am addicted to the idea. He is who lead me to the foroum. So most of the concept is not new to us. We continue to try to determine the most cost effective way to start, we are a rather large family. We have five girls ranging in age from 16 to 2, most of them will be able to carry some of there own load but the majority of the load will be my burden. So weight and there for cost is obviously a concern.

We look at how to build a lot of our own equipment so we hope that reduce the investment to get started. We just not sure where to get started, there comfort is the most important. Is it better to have a inexpensive mass produced hammock or build a small DIY hammock. We no we are going to need to have bug nets, under quilts and tarps. We live in the south and have lots of bugs and it cools off in the evenings where we camp. We have to be able hang it in trees and amoung the rocks, we have Piney woods with swamps, canyons with little to know trees, creek and river bottoms, mountains and valleys. We have lots various places to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors. We just want them to get outside and forget the modern world. So we look forward to learning more.

**chickenwing** · 05-25-2010, 22:10

Well Howdy! While not from Texas, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

j/k I lived in Dallas, Richardson, Austin, San Marcos, and Universal City over the span of about 8 years. Welcome to the forum. You will definitely learn A LOT. I know I have.

**slowhike** · 05-25-2010, 22:30

Welcome aboard. There are DIY ways to take care of your hammock needs & a lot of them pretty easy & inexpensive.
Lets see who can find links to budget DIY hammock supplies first.

**chickenwing** · 05-25-2010, 22:35

Originally Posted by slowhike

Welcome aboard. There are DIY ways to take care of your hammock needs & a lot of them pretty easy & inexpensive.
Lets see who can find links to budget DIY hammock supplies first.

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeHammock.html
or
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15205

**krugd** · 05-26-2010, 22:16

Be sure to check out Shug's videos for an introduction to the ways of hammock campers - both informative and entertaining.

**Poppabear** · 05-27-2010, 07:59

I second the nod on Shug's videos. many pearls of wisdom can be gleaned from them.

**fr8pilot1** · 06-03-2010, 10:00

From the Gulf Coast of Alabama...welcome to the forum

**UncleMJM** · 06-03-2010, 10:17

First off, howdy and welcome. It's great how the number of Texas hangers continue to grow. We may have to go plant some more trees.

Second, go with tight-wad's suggestions.

I bought a bunch of Wal-Mart fabric and some poly webbing for a craft project during a youth group retreat several years ago. We had kids from 4 - 24 who made hammocks using the "Risk Test Hammock" concept, (no hem, tie off the ends and larks head the webbing to the ends). Many of those hammocks are still in use.

As for tarps, we also went with the cheap blue poly tarps at wal-mart. Since then I have also made a tarp from clear painters poly drop cloth and gorilla tape.

I also agree with the idea of a gradual transition with some on the ground and some in the trees. The toughest part about group hanging in Texas is finding sites in our state parks with enough trees from which to hang. In the more primitive areas of the National Forests it's much easier though.

**Shug** · 06-03-2010, 10:43

A Texas Style Whooooo Buddy Welcome and such to you CowtownCarlton!!!!
Shug

**KerMegan** · 06-03-2010, 10:53

also for the smaller children; hammocks don't need to be 12 ft long! when they out grow these small ones, they will be old enough to have a say in their new ones, and the old ones can become gear (or doll) hammocks, bedroom toy storage, perhaps?
just a thought; good luck on the learning curve- KM