Finding the entrance - first mod

[RasmusB]

Hello!

Before buying my hammock, I saw a few video reviews where the reviewer complained that it was hard to tell which way was the head end when the hammock was packed in its snakeskins.

Also, the only thing that has dissapointed me so far with my hammock is that the prussik knots used for tensioning the tarp was made from some cheap nylon(?) stuff that looked and felt really cheap. The knots holding the hooks to the prussik were also poorly made and uneven. So, I decided to tackle both problems with one simple mod, which can be done with the hammock in its snakeskins all the time...

After removing the cheap nylon cord, I took some 550 paracord in two different colors, and used them to reattach the hooks



When packing the hammock, I make sure to let some of the paracord stick out of the snakeskin. Shown below is the head end, where I used coyote brown paracord. As you can see, you can let a few inches stick out without exposing the rest of the hammock.



A really quick and simple mod, I hope that someone else will find it useful too

[kthompson]

If using the stock suspension ropes I just tie a knot at the end of the foot end side. Of course if using whoopies just use two different color slings. Could also mark the snakeskins with a piece of colored ribbon too.

[KerMegan]

I think that is an excellent idea- (though most folks have gone with the tarp hung up separately from the hammock- due to sagginess of a loaded hammock/tarp system; with the new HH ridge design, this might not be required to maintain tightness of the tarp pitch anymore.)
thanks for sharing! KM

[ccathcart72]

RasmusB,
That is a good idea. I have alwys done a couple things.

1. I always pull the snakeskin from the foot end over the snake skin from the head end. That tells me head from foot.

2. I always pack mine back in the sack starting with the head end first. This way everytime I set up the first cord coming out of the sack is always the foot end.

This is just the way I work with it.

Chris

[DARKSHADOW]

Me I undo the foot end rope first then roll it up
and wrap the end around making a nice bundle stuff that I'm my drybag and keep stuffing as I walk to the head end. The head end just gets loosly thrown in letting me set the head end first.

[trekkingnut]

i just got some electrical tape and wound it round the foot end... i have never had a problem with my prussik knots either being cheap or badly made!!! which model do you have? send it back if they were rubbish!

[UncleMJM]

When I pack up and slide the snake skins down the hammock, I take the skin from the "head" end and pull it further than it needs to go and overlap the "heels" end. This way when I am ready to set up again, all I need to do is think about falling down a hill and going "head over heels" and I remember which is the head end.

Having said that, I really do like the different color cord idea too, I am just too lazy to change.

[RasmusB]

i have never had a problem with my prussik knots either being cheap or badly made!!! which model do you have? send it back if they were rubbish!

Nah, they probably would have done the job. They just looked crappy compared to the excellent quality of the rest of the hammock and were quite uneven (the hooks were only loading one end of the prussik). I'm happy with the way my mod turned out so no hard feelings

[Jsaults]

I just tie a tassel of this product in a convenient location (SnakeSkin loop, or to the suspension line if SS's are not used) to let me know where the entrance might be.

Jim