Please recommend a cheap first hammock for a large noob

[RubberneckLion]

Hello,

I'm a 6'6", 250-pound guy looking for a cheap first hammock--preferably $50 or less--so I can get some idea of whether this sleeping method is for me. I don't want to spend a lot to begin with, but I also don't want to buy something that's of such low quality that I fail to do the experiment justice.

The plan, if all goes well, is to sleep in a hammock full time. There's something about a bed that goes against my sense of what a personal space should be. This peculiarity of mine probably began in my early 20s, when I bought an enormous home gym that took up so much space in my bedroom that I was required to sleep on the floor. I eventually sold the gym, planning to put a bed in its place, but loved being able to do yoga and other exercises on the wide-open carpet so much that I procrastinated for months. When I finally got around to moving one in, it went so hard against my aesthetic sense that I ditched it within a week. I simply prefer a spartan, minimalist arrangement, and nothing spoils it like seven feet by three feet of mattress.

[stevebo]

I bought a claytor no net hammock last year---its around 50 bucks. Ive found it to be pretty comfortable, and very well made--feels like a bargin to me! If you can get ahold of some inexpensive material, you could easily throw together a simple gathered end hammock (Speer hammocks style)----that would give you a pretty good idea if you like hammocks. good luck!

[timabababaluka]

It doesn't get any cheaper than a DIY gathered end hammock. Knotty's sticky in the DIY section of the forum on making a gathered end hammock has become an important part of the Hammock Forums cannon to me. Check it out, and best of luck to you. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15205

By the way, spent four years or so living in Provo. When spring rolls around, I discover that I miss the place (never have I smelled so much lilac in one place).

[SwampFoot]

Im going to go with stevebo on this one , a claytor no net hammock is 40 bucks and will hold up to 400 lbs and it has a sleeve for a sleeping pad so you wont get cold , very good hammock and built like a tank . take care.

[RubberneckLion]

And the Claytor will definitely fit a guy of 6'6"?

And yeah, timabababaluka--it's a beautiful area. I love never being more than 10 minutes from total solitude in the outdoors.

[RubberneckLion]

Just looked at the Claytor site, and they say the NoNet will accommodate up to 6'7", 300 pounds. I'll be getting that. I think the Army surplus store around the corner might have that very one, so I'll hold off ordering online until I've checked there tomorrow. Thanks, guys!

[bear bag hanger]

Another hammock to look at is the ENO DoubleNest. The website says it will handle up to 6' 8" and 400 lbs. The website says $65, but I've seen them for $55 or so at Ganders. They are cheap and very comfortable. If you get a bugnet, get it from Warbonnet, half the weight of the ENO bugnet.
http://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.c...t-hammock.html

[GvilleDave]

On the Claytor or the ENO be prepared to swap out the stock suspension as most find the stock set-up on both a little lacking. The swap is an easy DIY project and there are several threads on HF that show you how.

Another thought - since you are looking for an every night indoor set-up you might be more comfortable in a an Amazonas style hammock...

http://www.hammocks.com/hammocks/han...richammock.cfm


Good luck and remember to post back and share how you like the switch to hammocks.

[Cannibal]

Forget about nylon hammocks designed for camping!

You need simplicity and elegance for an indoor setup. Are you planning to use it outdoors at all? If not, forget about the Claytors, ENOs, Warbonnets, etc and go for a hammock designed to be used indoors. Just to sweeten the pot, the indoor hammocks are much larger than the campers. Even so, when not in use just unhook one side and put it on the hook with the other side. You can even roll it up and leave it hanging from a single hook; easy as pie.

Brazilians are the hammocks I would recommend. I've been sleeping in a Brazilian full-time at home for about 3 years now. There are also Mayan and Nicaraguan hammocks to consider, but the Brazilians are my favorite for night after night sleeping. This one isn't the best out there, but it meets your criteria for cost and should give you a good idea of the comfort levels possible. For an indoor rig, IMO you want a cotton bed fabric. Nylon conducts cold way too good for my taste indoors and the cotton is oh so soft against the skin, while being easy to clean.

I commend you on joining, or thinking about joining, the ranks of home hammock sleepers. We are a small group, but growing.

[NewtonGT]

Forget about nylon hammocks designed for camping!

You need simplicity and elegance for an indoor setup. Are you planning to use it outdoors at all? If not, forget about the Claytors, ENOs, Warbonnets, etc and go for a hammock designed to be used indoors. Just to sweeten the pot, the indoor hammocks are much larger than the campers. Even so, when not in use just unhook one side and put it on the hook with the other side. You can even roll it up and leave it hanging from a single hook; easy as pie.

Brazilians are the hammocks I would recommend. I've been sleeping in a Brazilian full-time at home for about 3 years now. There are also Mayan and Nicaraguan hammocks to consider, but the Brazilians are my favorite for night after night sleeping. This one isn't the best out there, but it meets your criteria for cost and should give you a good idea of the comfort levels possible. For an indoor rig, IMO you want a cotton bed fabric. Nylon conducts cold way too good for my taste indoors and the cotton is oh so soft against the skin, while being easy to clean.

I commend you on joining, or thinking about joining, the ranks of home hammock sleepers. We are a small group, but growing.

id love to hear about this indoor hanging stuff