Switchback 1.1 DL Light Hiker

[pizza]

Just got mine in the mail today. Can't wait to set it up and check it out.

[Bubba]

I think you guys are going to like the Light Hiker. I really like mine and am looking forward to using it outdoors. I still have only set it up indoors. I think there is lots of room for personalization/customization.

[Sidewinder]

My Lighthiker initial impressions:

Since my only other comparable hammock is the WBBB 1.1 DL I will compare it to this.

It's heavier then my WBBB 1.1 Double (795g). I don't know why but I was hoping it would be lighter than the blackbird. SWLH (870g) with included suspension.

The pack size is larger then the WBBB 1.1 Double. Need to get a picture of both side by side.

Odd stuff sack. One of the ends of the whoopies sticks out of it and is left outside of the sack then wrapped around sack.

Customer service: Excellent. Dale recognized a shipping error, corrected it and got me the product virtually overnight. Great service, kudos.

Initial hang impressions: Note I hung it in my back yard and did not sleep in it. Will try to do that this weekend:

Hammock is well made. Short whoopies are supplied, about 3 feet for each side. It would be nice if T2TGear would offer a choice of whoppie length and color.

Standard 6' x 1"wide tree huggers. Channel-end hammock with fixed eye of whoopie passed through hammock channel. Attached bug has a length of cord acting as a non-structural ridge line to help support the bug net.

This hammock model does not use rod supports for the netting, unlike the other SB models.

When I got in, it seemed wider then the WBBB. I was able to roll around and change positions as much as I liked. I think this will become my favorite feature. Hammock in the double layer seems very strong. Although there is a weight penalty for the second layer. I might think about removing it, if I don't think I will stretch out the remain fabric.

The bug net and hammock takes a little more time to setup vs. the blackbird. I am used to the set it and forget it with the WBBB. The Lighthiker needs a little more fiddle time. I may play around with adding a structural ridge line once I figure out how I like it to hang.

I will sleep in it this weekend and post more of my impressions.

~S~

[pizza]

I tried mine out very briefly at a local park this evening. I only had about 30 minutes so I can't provide a very in depth review yet. I found it to feel noticeably narrower than the WB Blackbird that I used previously or my WB Traveler but not so much as to be negative. I don't have broad shoulders but someone with broad shoulders may have an issue? Keep in mind I wasn't able to test the side pull-outs on the hammock because I didn't have any tent stakes with but I'm guessing that may help some as well? I think Shane mentioned that in his review.

The very strange thing with this hammock is that it's in many ways totally opposite of the Blackbird and I know this has been mentioned before but setting the tree huggers very low putting minimal angle in the suspension yielded for me anyway the best results. The hammock gets very flat and the center ridge goes away almost completely. I had room to go even flatter and I may try that when I get more time in the hammock.

Laying on a diagonal was the best for me though you can't lay on as extreme of a diagonal as you can in a Blackbird since the hammock is narrower. I was able to lay very comfortably on my side in the hammock in a semi fetal position and I look forward to trying that more.

I hope to get out this weekend for an overnighter to play with the hammock more and do a video review.

[^shane^]

I don't have broad shoulders but someone with broad shoulders may have an issue? Keep in mind I wasn't able to test the side pull-outs on the hammock because I didn't have any tent stakes with but I'm guessing that may help some as well? I think Shane mentioned that in his review.

Yep... I had some shoulder squeeze the first time I laid in the Light Hiker. I was only using the two standard pull outs at that time. Once I used the loop on the opposite sides as additional pull outs, all shoulder squeeze went away.

I'm going to experiment with head/shoulder end pull outs only on my next hang. No leg end pull outs deployed on either side. I had a bit of trouble with the right side leg pull out hindering my HG Incubator from getting up high enough for my feet on the trip last weekend. I don't think that the leg end pull outs are as critical as the head/shoulder end pull outs are for shoulder squeeze.