Hi all, I'm Jim from Somerset County U.K.
I was introduced to hammocking this spring by a friend and havn't looked back since. I was sleeping on the floor under my tarp looking up at him in the trees and thinking "Well, ****, I'm pretty stupid to be layed out on this mud." So the bivvy had to go, and in came the hammock. We have great hammocking country over here, being only half a day hike from the excellent Exmoor, Quantock and Blackdown hills and just a short distance to Dartmoor.
This forum has been my go-to source for everything I need to know about hammocks from suspension, materials, insulation and every other little bit and bob of information. I thought I'd sign up and get more involved and maybe contribute a bit back if I can. I'd also like to take this oppertunity to thank you all for making this website what it is!
A bit about my gear, I can't resist talking about it just a little:
My main principle when camping and hiking is to do as much for as little as possible. The only areas I wont skimp on are my bed and my boots.
I sleep in a DD frontline that I picked up with a set of snakeskins for a very reasonable online deal. I've modified the suspension as per this video that I found from Silverfox@ bushcraft.co.uk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ag9he2Z8w). It cost me nothing (already had the beeners) and I like it alot. It sets up fast and is fairly easy to adjust, even in the middle of the night.
My tarp is a Eurohike hex shaped tarp that I picked up from UK camping store Millets for £19.99 ($32). he Tarp is 195cm in height by 325cm width and covers my hammock adequatly. Sadly they seem to have discontinued this budget tarp, as it has done me very well so far considering it's price.
For insulation I use an aluminum coated thin pad between my hammock layers and a DIY (read: ghetto) UQ/Pod that I crafted myself from an old Vango Voyager 50 summer bag. it fits quite snug and I was suprised to find I can zip it up while I'm inside the hammock for extra snuggery.
So that's about it,
Nice to be here, see you in the threads!
Dogstar.
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