First Winter and First Ever . . .

[OddDuck]

Well, I have finally spent my first night in my hammock, and on Dec 26th to boot. After taking advantage of the HH holiday deal back in early Nov, reading countless articles and postings on HF, and modifying my HHUB to a SLS with Soft Shackles, I had a chance to take the boy out for our first hang.

We headed out to the site with a JameyT and his son and arrived just after dark. It was lightly raining and ~40 degrees. We quickly hung the two HH Cubs with the stock suspension, a stock HHUB with Super Shelter, and my modified UB and headed to dinner and a fire.

Fed and warmed, we packed the boys' sleep pads and sleeping bags to their hammocks and selttled them in. Taught them about Cold Butt Syndrome, how to deal with it, and how to lay in the hammock and left them to chat while the dads set up their hammocks.

After figuring out how to 1) get in my bottom entry hammock, 2) arrange my sleep pad on the angle, and how to stow all the jackets, etc I had a warm, comfortable nights sleep. JameyT and the boys reported the same.

Lessons learned:
Get to the site early
SLS and Soft Shackles ROCK
Hanging is the way to go.

Still to figure out:
Wet gear storage with the stock tarp
Where to get CHEAP BIG cuben tarps

Anyway, thanks to all the folks that blazed the trail. I look forward to many more nights in the hammock with the crew and to more mods and cool gear ideas.

[krugd]

Way to go! Sounds like you had a successful hang and, like the rest of us, just need to dial in the details. Glad to hear everyone had a warm night.

[AKA Pete]

Still to figure out:
Wet gear storage with the stock tarp.

Can't help with in the field but when you get home.

I got frustrated rigging up hanging space in my garage for wet gear so I got a long round wood pole and tied it up at the end of the tracks for my garage door. It's high enough to clear the car.

At the end of a trip I back the car in, hang everything over the rod - cloths on hangers and just park outside for a couple of days. Then after it drys or airs out the stuff in taken down and stashed in my storage racks.

Congrats on the hang.

[Cali]

Sounds like a nice after holiday hang, and I know the boys loved it. Can't beat making those special memories... They will last a lifetime..

[bstricklandpft]

Got to love hanging. Glad it went well.

[bigbamaguy]

Congrats on you and the bos having a successful first night out. Now, spend as many as you can outside with them enjoying the wonders of nature.

[OddDuck]

Thanks everyone for the input.

Great Idea on the wood rod. Right now I have hooks on the ceiling and I don't really want to add any more.

My son has many miles backpacking with me in a tent, I see the hammock giving us even greater flexability and range.

More to come.

[keikepono]

If you do ever find a cheap cuben fiber tarp let us know

[Str1der]

Still to figure out:
Wet gear storage with the stock tarp
Where to get CHEAP BIG cuben tarps

Let the rest of us know if you ever figure out that last one!