Greetings from Georgia

mikkim77 · 07-30-2010, 19:03

I am interested in hammock camping and would like to get some information on how to start. Should I go with a complete system, i.e.- ENO nest system or start small and inexpensive (preferred). Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Mike

**Backcountry** · 07-30-2010, 19:21

welcome from dawsonville, ga...a lot more people here to give better advice i'm a beginner myself. but if i had the money i would start out with a complete system..i have a Grandtrunk unltralight. real comfortable and $20. can't beat it. got a tarp from walmart and just need a bug net.

**peanuts** · 07-30-2010, 19:43

welcome mik, from loganville. i am an Eno longtime user. if you would like to see one in person, i would be glad to show mine to you. just pm me here.

**Poppabear** · 07-30-2010, 20:11

Welcome to the forums! I would suggest trying to find some hammock hangers close to you and trying out their rigs. Check the goggle map on the home page to see if there is anyone close to you.

**JayS** · 07-30-2010, 20:23

Welcome from a "born & raised in Georgia" boy!

Try to experience a couple of hammocks before you buy. There is an "Atlanta hangers" thread that I think morphed into a "most of Georgia" thread but the point is there are a lot of fellow hangers near you (Roswell, Alpharetta, I think I saw someone from Dunwoody). Why don't you see if you can meet some of them and see their setups? The reason I say this is that your question is a bit of a loaded question - what works for one person may not work for everyone.

My son has an ENO double nest and won't consider another hammock. I have more than one hammock and use them depending on weather, type of camping/backpacking, etc. My daughter doesn't care much which hammock she's got as long as there's a huge tarp to close up for changing clothes. My wife climbs into whatever I hang for her, then tosses and turns all night anyway.

All components from a single maker (complete systems) are a lot like stereo systems from the 1970s and 1980s - to get the absolute best for each function, you get each component from the specialist for that function. But... there are a lot of folks who would rather have a good system all from one manufacturer because it's easier to purchase and assemble and it most likely will work together well. That said, most folks here agree that some parts of the ENO complete system (the tarp) could work better than it does. Other complete systems (Claytor, Clark, Hennessy, etc) sometimes have similar issues but often work very well as is for some folks. It depends on how you will use your gear. Ultralight hikers may love the stock Hennessy tarp because of the weight while a "comfort camper" might hate it due its size and minimal area during rain.

Read as much as you can, think about how you want to use your hammock, meet some hangers in your area and see as many setups as you can. That should help you avoid too much of hanging your new rig with fellow hangers, looking around and saying, "Wow, I wish I had known about that. And that... and that." Then again, you'll find that the learning never stops and that's half the fun!

Best of luck!

mikkim77 · 07-30-2010, 21:20

I really appreciate your feedback and advice on looking, researching and testing BEFORE I purchase. It has motivated me to dig a little deeper in my search.
Cheers,
Mike

**Strapped-4-Cache** · 07-30-2010, 21:40

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the group. I live in the Lawrenceville area.

Seems like there's enough of is in the NE part of town that we should be able to work out some type of gathering, even if it's just an afternoon meeting where we can hang our rigs and learn from each other.

Life's busy enough that I'm pretty sure that won't happen, but it's nice to think about it.

**Just Jeff** · 07-31-2010, 08:50

Welcome to HF! My wife, oldest son and I were all born in Northside Hospital, and before I joined the military I lived in Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Statham, Stockbridge, Ellenwood, Marietta, Norcross, and Lawrenceville.

JayS has some good advice in his post. I'd definitely recommend meeting up with some of the ATL hangers to try out a few before jumping in. You can start cheap and build up, or you can find what you want (or the closest to it) and buy right the first time. Folks on here have done it both ways...and most of them end up with more than one hammock anyway.

**pgustaf249** · 08-04-2010, 23:10

Originally Posted by Poppabear

Welcome to the forums! I would suggest trying to find some hammock hangers close to you and trying out their rigs. Check the goggle map on the home page to see if there is anyone close to you.

I too would like to test ride some hammocks. If there's anyone near Augusta, GA who'd be willing to assist, please PM me. Thanks.

**Old River Rat** · 08-05-2010, 03:15

I am very new too. I am still researching gear. But one thing is for certain. There is a wealth of experience on this forum and everyone will help. I learned a lot from Shug's and other videos. So far, I pretty much know what I want. It is just affording it. It is school clothes time and I still owe an orthodontist. Hammock stuff keeps getting shoved back.

I don't mind because I keep learning and may not have to buy and then find out I would have been better served with some other piece of gear. Good luck.