my thoughts on the switchback

**rip waverly** · 07-29-2011, 23:54

i keep seeing the same avatars pop up in these tttg threads.

an sb army instead of a wbbb cult?!?! i kid, i kid.

is there a central location where we repeat tttg admirers can
take our switchbacks out for a group hang and 'ooo' & 'aww' at
each others take on the rig???

**BillyBob58** · 07-30-2011, 08:35

So then, no SRL, eh? And still great, apparently? I have yet to add a SRL- or any RL- to my Claytor No Net, and I have yet to miss it comfort wise. It still rates pretty high among the most comfy hammocks I have used, and it doesn't seem to matter a lot about how much sag I end up with.

**brushybill** · 07-30-2011, 09:13

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

So then, no SRL, eh? And still great, apparently? I have yet to add a SRL- or any RL- to my Claytor No Net, and I have yet to miss it comfort wise. It still rates pretty high among the most comfy hammocks I have used, and it doesn't seem to matter a lot about how much sag I end up with.

i started out with a clark ultralite and used it for ten years , no structural ridgeline, then went to the wbbb,and realised that ,apparently ,there is a "proper way" to hang a hammock, who knew? i thought that as long as i was comfortable ,that was the right way, with a little experience you can just see if it is hung the way you like it

**MAD777** · 07-30-2011, 10:17

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

So then, no SRL, eh? And still great, apparently? I have yet to add a SRL- or any RL- to my Claytor No Net, and I have yet to miss it comfort wise. It still rates pretty high among the most comfy hammocks I have used, and it doesn't seem to matter a lot about how much sag I end up with.

BillyBob, what kind of end does your Claytor have? Is the suspension threaded through and end channel or is it larks headed around the end?

**finskie** · 07-30-2011, 10:42

Well done review. Descriptive and to the point. I love reviews that aren't just about the joy of having the new gear. I do have a question though... based on design and dimensions, could it be said that this hammock is very similar to the GT skeeter beeter? They are both channel end vs whipped: both have seperate bugnet suspension with spreader loops; the dimensions anly differ by 6" in length. The main differences are weight (skeeter beeter is about 4oz lighter unrigged after removing the s hooks); stock suspension on the GT is basically unusable; there are no side tyouts on the GT; there is no ability to completely open the GT bugnet on both sides; no pockets or loops (bells and whistles) on the GT. I know the GT is not really good for tall people due to the 6" length loss, but for someone that is 5'7" and 170lbs like me, I am having trouble justifying the nearly triple price of the switchback vs a GT. Even if i spend $30 adding suspension to a GT, the extras (pockets, tyouts, loops) are not really enough to convince me to take the penalty in price and weight, especially considering i will likely not use the tyouts like you. I'm not putting the switchback down, just trying to weigh out all the info objectively

I am anxious to hear an extended use review.

**dragon360** · 07-30-2011, 10:43

Great write up. Lots of info there. Thanks rip.

**rip waverly** · 07-30-2011, 11:36

Originally Posted by finskie

Well done review. Descriptive and to the point. I love reviews that aren't just about the joy of having the new gear. I do have a question though... based on design and dimensions, could it be said that this hammock is very similar to the GT skeeter beeter? They are both channel end vs whipped: both have seperate bugnet suspension with spreader loops; the dimensions anly differ by 6" in length. The main differences are weight (skeeter beeter is about 4oz lighter unrigged after removing the s hooks); stock suspension on the GT is basically unusable; there are no side tyouts on the GT; there is no ability to completely open the GT bugnet on both sides; no pockets or loops (bells and whistles) on the GT. I know the GT is not really good for tall people due to the 6" length loss, but for someone that is 5'7" and 170lbs like me, I am having trouble justifying the nearly triple price of the switchback vs a GT. Even if i spend $30 adding suspension to a GT, the extras (pockets, tyouts, loops) are not really enough to convince me to take the penalty in price and weight, especially considering i will likely not use the tyouts like you. I'm not putting the switchback down, just trying to weigh out all the info objectively

I am anxious to hear an extended use review.

good points fin. i have always written off the skeeter beater, albeit my encounter with the hammock was at my upstart, and i was comparing it to my new-found love, the wbbb, so it may have been in haste. the put-downs i had against the skeeter beater may no longer be valid, as knowledge and feature requests have mutated over the past year. maybe its time to give the gt sb another run for its money. i do love my gt ul, and this hammock looks exactly like that, with a bugnet sewn on. i do foresee the stock, 1-sided zipper to be the only downfall against my feature requirements- (of course a skilled thread injector unlike myself could fix this). for the reasons, features and ideas listed above via fin, i'd like to give the hammocks a head-to-head comparison- and may gather the scant $59 to do so.

**Boomer** · 07-30-2011, 23:22

Originally Posted by finskie

I do have a question though... based on design and dimensions, could it be said that this hammock is very similar to the GT skeeter beeter?

Actually,

I was wondering if you guys know if the design was the same as the DD Hammock? I watched some reviews of them and saw that the bug netting on the SB appears to be the same, even down to having loops to put a stick in to spread the netting...

**finskie** · 07-31-2011, 00:21

Originally Posted by rip waverly

good points fin. i have always written off the skeeter beater, albeit my encounter with the hammock was at my upstart, and i was comparing it to my new-found love, the wbbb, so it may have been in haste. the put-downs i had against the skeeter beater may no longer be valid, as knowledge and feature requests have mutated over the past year. maybe its time to give the gt sb another run for its money. i do love my gt ul, and this hammock looks exactly like that, with a bugnet sewn on. i do foresee the stock, 1-sided zipper to be the only downfall against my feature requirements- (of course a skilled thread injector unlike myself could fix this). for the reasons, features and ideas listed above via fin, i'd like to give the hammocks a head-to-head comparison- and may gather the scant $59 to do so.

I also had an early experience with the skeeter beeter that i sort of wrote off, but i have an UL on the way to give GT another shot. Let me know how the comparison goes.