Hammock nirvana!

[^shane^]

I have/had a Treklight double, Byer's Moskito Traveller, SB, SB Light Hiker.

I've never used a structural ridgeline nor do I have any idea of the calf ridge that people are talking about.

Maybe an advantage of being short!

And don't see how anyone could not love the switchbacks!!!

Sandy, is the shorter length of the light hiker really noticeable?

[Alan]

I CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND

I debated it in my mind for quite some time, too.
What ultimately made me decide on the regular is that I'm really not a hiker. I've been all of a couple of times...and only once did I actually stay overnight in the woods in a hammock. I mostly car camp.

Is there enough of a weight savings to matter? Not to me.
If it comes down to it I can shave weight somewhere else in my pack, but there's really not a whole lot of difference between the LH and the regular SB.

Besides, I like the idea of having the extra space. With the LH, I can't add any extra space to the interior.

It's like the old saying goes: I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

(That probably doesn't help you, does it?)

[MAD777]

Shane, I'm 6'-1" tall and I THINK I'm near the comfortable limit in the regular SB. However, I have never tried a LightHiker, so I'm eyballing this by laying in my SB. I am a backpacker and I agonized over this decision. Someday, I'll get to try a LighHiker, and if I can' feel a difference, I'll be posting a SB for sale.

[JaxHiker]

Ok, we need someone 6'1"-ish to try both for us. :-) I'm waffling back and forth myself.

[sandykayak]

Yes, there IS a difference.

In the original SB, the storage pocket was waaaaay up there and I couldn't reach it..in the LH, I can reach it just fine.

In the SB I just felt that there was so much wasted fabric and the pack size is definitely larger. They also use a #3 zipper in the LH v #5 in the SB.

But I'm 5' so for someone, say 5'8", they could probably go either way and be fine. If primarily for backpacking, and weight/bulk is important, then the LH. If mostly car/kayak camping the SB is sheer luxury.