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  1. #1
    Senior Member lostinthewuds's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    South West Ohio
    Hammock
    DIY dbl layer Gathered end
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    The Cheap Kind
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    Lessons learned in my first night out.

    Good evening all. Well last night I figured I would try out the new jumbo DIY hammock.



    Temps were about 35*F and the weather was calm with a slight breeze. I used the walmart waffel pad and the 48" wide reflectex pad. The reflectex pad is cut as long as the blue walmart pad.



    First thing, I've got the get a pillow! I have only been a casual hammock user before now and didn't think too much about the whole pillow issue. I've got to get one, I've got a kink in my neck from sleeping in the hammock for not much time at all.

    Second, I think that I may need to lengthen my reflectex pad some. My heels got cold because they were off of the pad.

    Third, beyond the foot box extention, many on the forums were right. The reflectex pad does indeed need to be trimmed. With that in mind I do think that it may need to be left a little wide at the point where my hips meet the pad, as I like to sleep on my side and I could feel the cold on my hips where the sleeping bag made contact with the hammock above the insulation.

    Last but not least, blue tarps suck! It was kind of like trying to sleep in a bag of microwave pop corn. And setting them up in the dark at 11:30 at night for the first time is not the best idea in the world. I know in the pics that the tarp is on the hammock and this is not the way it's supposed to be but it was late and that's just the way it turned out.

    And best of all. It would appear that I didn't freeze!! The new ledge 20* synthetic mummy bag worked spelendedly! I must say if you have not looked into the bags made by ledge outdoor equipment you should! They are produced here in the USA and are (at least the one I have) great quality and I paid only $42 for mine shipped to the front door. I'm very pleased with it. The only thing that would cause some to cringe is the weight. My bag weighs exactly 4#, but to me that's not bad, considering my old military bag was about 8 pounds!

    As always I would like any and all suggstions the folks here would have for me!

    pax,
    lost
    "The question that oft' makes me hazy... am I or the others crazy?" Albert Einstein

    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

  2. #2
    gunner76's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Murphy NC
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    Blackbird 1.7 double
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    Your first hang outside is one you will always remember. I started out with a wallyworld blue pad until I could afford a UQ.

    You about to start a dangerous journery buying new gear.

    Testing your setup is always a smart thing to do. I was testing a new UQ last night and found I have to tweek the set up on it.
    I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !

  3. #3
    Senior Member HangingKayaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Edmonton Alberta
    Hammock
    Blackbird XLC
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    Superfly
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    incubator/burrow
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    808
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    7
    First hangs are special and you did it right, nothing too extreme. As long as you take what you have learned and build on that you'll be okay, except of course in the pocketbook!!
    Congrats.

  4. #4
    Senior Member TATO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    York, SC
    Hammock
    HH Deluxe/ DIY Gathered End
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    HH Hex/ WB Superfl
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    492
    Great first test. Welcome to crazy and adventurous world of hammocking!!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Offering fine and unique outdoor products for the serious hiker and hammocker.
    Available at the following retailers:Tier Gear, Dutchware

  5. #5
    Senior Member TinaLouise's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    wilmington, nc
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    BB1.0 double
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    Hybrid Cuben F.
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    1,367
    If I'm "car type" camping, I carry a small camp pillow. Backpacking, I do not. When backpacking my clean clothes (usually these will be camp/sleeping clothes and spare socks) are in a small breathable bag. At night I'll put something into this bag, like my jacket, and there you have it, a pillow!! And no add extra weight for having a pillow.

    Good job on your first hang!!

  6. #6
    Senior Member DivaB's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Newark, OH
    Hammock
    DIY Extra Wide & Long Tablecloth
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    Funky & GG Tarps
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    continuous L. Amst
    Posts
    3,528
    Very good job! Sounds like your about ready to do the Ohio January group hang.

  7. #7
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
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    I have many so....
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    Lessons are good)))))
    Look to be having fun and that is right good.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  8. #8
    Senior Member te-wa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    arizona
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    give yourself a little time to adjust your rig till it fits just right.
    have you considered adding a ridgeline cord (make sure it is able to have a breaking strength 2x your body weight at least, including knots that reduce "test" by about 50% in many cases)?

    that tarp looks real big.. when you get the chance to play around w/. different pitches (ie; Diamond fly) it wont take long before you can do it with closed eyes.

    if ya like that ledge bag, just wait till you get a 20 oz down topquilt..
    happy hangin man, my hats off to you guys who can hang this time of year in places like cincinnati.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Statesville, NC
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    465
    You're doing great!

    If you make no mistakes the first time, you aren't learning enough. I have learned quite a bit when setting up camp too late at night, in a hurry. Setting up too fast is something we all have to do at times.

    Congratulations!
    I love the unimproved works of God. - Horace Kephart

  10. #10
    Senior Member Dos's Avatar
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    Oct 2011
    Location
    Daytona Beach
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    great first run !

    your tarp reminded me of a few retreats I attended where there were no less than 500 people (usually 1000) who used these blue tarps outside on the ground.
    They were noisy as all get out. No one got sleep! A bit later I turned to a bivy
    that was used by the Navy Seals. Much better sleep!

    You're on your way! and haha! to what gunner said:
    You about to start a dangerous journery buying new gear.

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