New Trek Light hammock and user too!

[Seracer]

Well, I used my hammock setup this last weekend in some pretty nasty conditions, and I love the thing! Slept 12 hours and could have laid there longer, no back pain, no aches. I have become accustom to waking with headaches and sore hips, or stiff back (depending on my position most of the night). That was with a 2" Thermarest LE. I have some more info posted here regarding the trip, and some pics here, but here are my observations and some questions:

1) Finding the right trees at 6000 feet in the Cascades can be a challenge! Especially when you are sharing the camp with non-hammock people. What would be the maximum distance between trees (provided you have enough rope) to hang?

2) Keeping my ccf pads in place all night was interesting. I had a single full length one (24" wide, I think) and another 24" one that I had cut in two placed length wise under the uncut one as "wings" for my shoulders and hips. They ended up all over the hammock, especially when I had to get up to pee in the middle of the night. How do you keep things from moving around?

3) My feet got chilled during the night. I was inside a down back country blanket. I suspect I will take some booties next trip. Temps were pretty cold (around 32F), and I wore polypro underwear, wool socks, stocking cap and a light fleece jacket. My body kept comfortable, except for my feet. Is this because they are slightly elevated (blood flow issue)?

4) We used just a 9x12 chunk of plastic and it seemed to work fine. I think a 10x12 silnylon tarp is in my future. Any recommendations?

5) Is there a height for the hammock that is best? I ended up being limited due to coverage needs for my ground sleeping buddy, with the hammock at about waist level prior to me getting in (which just kept my backside off the ground).

Thanks for any help!

[FanaticFringer]

Well, I used my hammock setup this last weekend in some pretty nasty conditions, and I love the thing! Slept 12 hours and could have laid there longer, no back pain, no aches. I have become accustom to waking with headaches and sore hips, or stiff back (depending on my position most of the night). That was with a 2" Thermarest LE. I have some more info posted here regarding the trip, and some pics here, but here are my observations and some questions:

1) Finding the right trees at 6000 feet in the Cascades can be a challenge! Especially when you are sharing the camp with non-hammock people. What would be the maximum distance between trees (provided you have enough rope) to hang?

2) Keeping my ccf pads in place all night was interesting. I had a single full length one (24" wide, I think) and another 24" one that I had cut in two placed length wise under the uncut one as "wings" for my shoulders and hips. They ended up all over the hammock, especially when I had to get up to pee in the middle of the night. How do you keep things from moving around?

3) My feet got chilled during the night. I was inside a down back country blanket. I suspect I will take some booties next trip. Temps were pretty cold (around 32F), and I wore polypro underwear, wool socks, stocking cap and a light fleece jacket. My body kept comfortable, except for my feet. Is this because they are slightly elevated (blood flow issue)?

4) We used just a 9x12 chunk of plastic and it seemed to work fine. I think a 10x12 silnylon tarp is in my future. Any recommendations?

5) Is there a height for the hammock that is best? I ended up being limited due to coverage needs for my ground sleeping buddy, with the hammock at about waist level prior to me getting in (which just kept my backside off the ground).

Thanks for any help!

1)Speaking for myself, the maximum distance for me would be where I'm still able to reach up and wrap the webbing around the tree and keep the hammock off the ground.. I'm 5'7 so around 20' for me. I did climb a couple of trees once to hang it higher. Not much fun.
2)Might want to consider buying one of these. It works great.www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
3)Not sure about the elevation thing but some nice down booties should do the trick.
4)Any of the popular tarps mentioned here should work well.
5)About waist level is usually the best height. I'm usually lower than that. Lots of sag.

[Seracer]

Thanks FF, that Speer site is full of good info! Miguel, that solution is similar to what I was considering...

I am trying to keep my gear weight about where I am now, so adding items is something I need to consider carefully. I sort of figure I am trading my one-man Silshelter which all told weighs about 2 lbs. with stakes, pole and groundsheet for a tarp which will probably be about the same along with stakes and tie-outs. My hammock, hanging cords and 2 ccf pads takes the place of my Thermarest LE 3/4, which is about the same weight at 1.5 lbs. I am, however, willing to pack a few more ounces if I can sleep like that every night!

[Miguel]

Well, I used my hammock setup this last weekend in some pretty nasty conditions, and I love the thing! Slept 12 hours and could have laid there longer, no back pain, no aches. I have become accustom to waking with headaches and sore hips, or stiff back (depending on my position most of the night). That was with a 2" Thermarest LE. I have some more info posted here regarding the trip, and some pics here, but here are my observations and some questions:

1) Finding the right trees at 6000 feet in the Cascades can be a challenge! Especially when you are sharing the camp with non-hammock people. What would be the maximum distance between trees (provided you have enough rope) to hang?

2) Keeping my ccf pads in place all night was interesting. I had a single full length one (24" wide, I think) and another 24" one that I had cut in two placed length wise under the uncut one as "wings" for my shoulders and hips. They ended up all over the hammock, especially when I had to get up to pee in the middle of the night. How do you keep things from moving around?

3) My feet got chilled during the night. I was inside a down back country blanket. I suspect I will take some booties next trip. Temps were pretty cold (around 32F), and I wore polypro underwear, wool socks, stocking cap and a light fleece jacket. My body kept comfortable, except for my feet. Is this because they are slightly elevated (blood flow issue)?

4) We used just a 9x12 chunk of plastic and it seemed to work fine. I think a 10x12 silnylon tarp is in my future. Any recommendations?

5) Is there a height for the hammock that is best? I ended up being limited due to coverage needs for my ground sleeping buddy, with the hammock at about waist level prior to me getting in (which just kept my backside off the ground).

Thanks for any help!

I'll address your pad situation only, since I believe I've come up with a rather nice and inexpensive solution. Basically I built my own wings from a cheap cc pad....6" by 30" for the shoulders and 6" by 20" for the knees. I attached them to a $10 half inch thick 24" wide Wally World pad...the one with the waffles. Note: don't buy the cheaper 20" version....it's too stiff and too narrow. I attached the wings with strips of ripstop nylon using contact cement. Only place the nyon on one side as it acts as a hinge. As they say a picture is worth a thousands words....maybe more in my case. So here's the link. I've already used it a few times and can attest to it's sweetness!

http://community.webshots.com/album/560834203BtHMbJ

I have a double bottomed Claytor hammock so movement is nil. I would think a simple solution for a single bottom hammock would be to attach a strip of velcro across the underside of your pad (top and bottom) and your hammock. Also my pad system seems to lie the best with the nylon stips facing down against the hammock material.

Hope this helps, Miguel