Critique my set up please…

[ohski]

Ok, last weekend I went out for my first outdoor test hang and it went ok but I want to know if there is anything I can do better. It was really windy when I set up but as the day wore on the winds died down. The temps ended up dropping down to 40.5deg F and by 4 am cold but syndrome was kicking in. I’m going to be ordering a piece of CCF for future cold nights with this set up, what would be a good size?

Hammock – WBBB 1.7 Single
Tarp – 10 X 10 Coyote BCUSA
UQ / TQ – DP Hammock Gear
Tarp Cordage – Woopieslings.com

I’m very impressed with all the gear, everything is top notch as far as quality is concerned.

Thanks, Ski

[Cannibal]

How do you fit all that firewood in your pack?!?!

Looks like a nice setup. Although, if you were comfortable, that's all that really matters. Looks like all the basics are in place and nothing seems amiss. I even like the biners on webbing. I use Dutch Clips mostly these days, but still enjoy the 'click' of a biner locking down on the webbing. My biners still get put to good use, just not as often. I really like that you've got yourself a footrest right outside the hammock but still under the tarp. Think that's my favorite thing about your setup and I'm jealous.

[ohski]

The test location was at a friends farm... he cut, split, and stacked a bunch of wood at this location ahead of time. It was nice having a safe place for my first hang.

Ski

[Syb]

Ski, looks like you got the hang of it. Okay, no real pun intended there but you get the idea. The single-layer can be used with a pad for sure but you risk it slipping out from under neath you - that's where the beauty of underquilts come in. Folks have made an SPE - Segmented (or Speer) Pad Extender - instructions here - to help solve that particular problem. The other thing is does your tarp have tensioners on it? Check out this, this, and this. These help with the stretch of the fabric over time and due to wind and rain. Other than that, it looks like you done good!

[morticianfaller]

On your tarp ridgeline what are you using to keep the extra line all wrapped together? I have been working on a few making a things to do that same thing.

[ohski]

The single-layer can be used with a pad for sure but you risk it slipping out from under neath you - that's where the beauty of underquilts come in.

I have an UQ but the pad will help me stay warm when the weather dips lower than expected. If I had the cash I would just buy a warmer UQ but sadly that isn't an option right now. Maybe if I end up using this setup for winter I'll look into that more.

The other thing is does your tarp have tensioners on it?

Tensioners, check... got them from Stu at woopieslings.com

On your tarp ridgeline what are you using to keep the extra line all wrapped together?

On the figure 9 side I just did a slippery half hitch and let it hang...

Ski

[jeroldharter]

You might add some bungee cord as self-tensioners to the tarp guy lines.

I noted that you hung your pack on the tree. I try to avoid that unless I am sure that no sap, resin, thorns, ants, etc. are there. Might work better to keep it under the tarp.

You could lighten the load by replacing the heavy duty carabiners with dutch clips.

Those knot bones are nice but I try to carry as few gadgets as possible. So learning a truckers hitch would be just as fast, marginally lighter and fool proof.

[ohski]

I'm not a UL guy at all... actually that ridge line is much lighter than the 550 cord I was using... The carabines are the Camp Nano's and weigh in at 22 grams each so I really don't see replacing them. As to the tensioners, if you look in the first or second pic you can see the tubing at the bottom of the guy lines...

I guess what I really wanted was a critique on how I set up... Did I set my hammock and tarp up correctly? Do you see any flaws? Any issues..?

Ski

[wisconsinwalter]

I have an UQ but the pad will help me stay warm when the weather dips lower than expected. If I had the cash I would just buy a warmer UQ but sadly that isn't an option right now. Maybe if I end up using this setup for winter I'll look into that more.


Tensioners, check... got them from Stu at woopieslings.com


On the figure 9 side I just did a slippery half hitch and let it hang...

Ski

Looks good Ski! Good to see another BCUSA guy here

[BearChaser]

I'm somewhat of a newb to the hammocks also, but the only thing I would do is push your stuff sacks down next to the hammock on the hammock side of the buckles. This should keep your sack dry.