Spending my first night out tonight, behind the cabin

**mountaingoat** · 10-26-2010, 20:22

Right behind my cabin there are 2 trees just about 15 feet apart, a coastal oak and a madrone. Yesterday I received a present in the mail. Someone from a different forum, mailed me a speer hammock and an oes standard tarp, guylines and all. He sent them for free because they smelled bad. I washed with baking soda and they are fine. So I decided to set them up right behind the cabin where I live and try it out. Overnight lows are expected to be around 42, with a bit of a breeze. Since I am home, I will use all kinds of stuff, and see how it goes. So here is the setup:

Speer hammock, unknown model with bug net.
Oes Maccat standard.

Bottom insulation.... Blue foam mat and an exped 7 down mat, half inflated.
Top insulation... Nunatak Arc Specialist quilt.
and since I sleep cold, I will wear down pants by Goose Feet and a down jacket.
Plus hat, and nearby some down booties.

I am excited...
Think it will work?

**Dblcorona** · 10-26-2010, 20:34

Everything sounds good except I would probably not even half inflate the exped. Another thing is maybe clip on a fleece blanket or something around the outside if you start getting cold from the bottom. Good Luck and have fun.

**jloden** · 10-26-2010, 21:49

You should be fine with that much insulation at 42 degrees, good luck and hope you have a great night in the hammock!

Also, nice score on the tarp/hammock for a little work cleaning them in baking soda

**mountaingoat** · 10-26-2010, 21:55

Going out now. Thanks for the tips.

**mountaingoat** · 10-27-2010, 08:13

It took me a while to fall asleep, but once I did I slept really well. Only complaint is that I was mostly almost too warm and then I would get one tiny cold spot, an arm, a knee that was sticking out etc. I usually toss around a lot and last night I had no problem sleeping on my back and I had plenty of room to curl up on my side as well. I woke up without my usual slight back pain.

**RootCause** · 10-27-2010, 08:24

Originally Posted by mountaingoat

It took me a while to fall asleep, but once I did I slept really well. <snip> I woke up without my usual slight back pain.

WE LANDED ANOTHER ONE!!

Glad to hear your first experiment went well, it does indeed take some tweaking and practice to find what works for you. You were brave to try your first night out at something below 50*. If you're going to stick with the pads for a while, consider a Segmented Pad Extender.

Welcome to the "we-slept-well" club!

**jloden** · 10-27-2010, 08:45

Originally Posted by mountaingoat

I woke up without my usual slight back pain.

I wish I could say the same... woke up this morning with the usual assortment of back shoulder and neck discomfort

Wish I'd slept in the hammock last night myself!

Glad you had a good night!

**bigbamaguy** · 10-27-2010, 09:00

mountaingoat:
congratulations on a sucessful night out in the hammock and welcome to the Outdoor Relaxed Sleepers Society!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**KerMegan** · 10-27-2010, 09:09

you might try exchanging the down pants for some fleece ones- will compress way less and keep the random knee warmer when in contact with hammock side walls. just a suggestion.
another thing to try is a rectangular bag around the whole hammock (ala peapod) some shock cord and tarp clips will keep it in place nicely, then you an zip up/unzip as needed to vent.
have fun testing! KM