Not sure which knots you refer to? None should be needed: just put the side elastics through the correct UC openings and pad loops, and put the hammock suspension rope through the UC end openings ( or new style wrap UC ends around hammock knot cover) and attach to mitten hooks.
Again, do you have old style SS ( hammock ropes are snaked through the UC openings much as with snakes skins, and before attaching hammock rope to the trees) or NEW style? Where the hammock is already suspended from the tree, and yoy just wrap the foot end of the UC around the foot end knot cover of the hammock and attach with a toggle and an elastic loop?
You are going to get it and I think you are going to be plenty warm! But it is so frustrating reading this because I know if I or some other experienced HHSS user could be there, this could be solved instantly. UNLESS:
1: the SS is defective and needs to be returned. Have you called HH to discuss this? They are usually pretty great on the phone or by e-mail. When I 1st got mine, I was major confused by both the hammock and the SS, and I spent some time with them on the cell phone while I was in the back yard trying to get things to work. Turned out all was dirt simple, I just couldn't figure it out for some reason. Of course, I had never even hung in a hammock, much less tried to insulate one. And here I was about to leave for cold high elevations in Wyoming!
2: the SS is the wrong size for the hammock.
But other than that, all I can think of is some sort of major installation misunderstanding.
I can't at all picture how pulling the pad tighter could cause it to fold up on itself length wise. That is def NOT normal. But, if things are installed correctly and you have the correct size SS, it should not matter much about the tension on the pad. Those bridles are not very stout, and it would be really hard to get them so tight as to compress the OCF pad too much, and it won't matter much if they are too loose. Because, the under cover- with it's elastics- provide most of the support for the pad. If the right sized UC is on correctly, the ends of the UC should wrap exactly around the ends of the hammock at the knot cover, right where the rope first becomes visible as it exits the hammock. When installed in this fashion, the UC's elastics should provide enough tension to hold it snugly ( in some spots anyway) right up against the hammock. There should be enough tension to also hold the pad- even with the pad's bridles/suspension not even connected- right up against the hammock.a - If I tighten the pad up any more than it is, it wants to fold in half long ways. Is that normal? Oh, and yes i am using the foam pad.
Highly possible.b - It is still entirely possible that I am laying inside the wrong direction. With a zip up, how do you know which end is the head and which is the foot?
!:The Undercover has an entry opening. Even though you won't use it, this opening should be at whatever end of the hammock that you designate as the foot end. The UC is a custom fit for the hammock, and having it on backwards or upside down will mess things up completely.
2:There is also a black hem on the UC. This black hem must be on the top! When installed correctly, you can see this black hem coming up over the top edge of the hammock. When you lay in the hammock, you can look to the side and see the black UC hem rising up above your body by several inches.
3: after these 2 items are lined up correctly and in the right direction, the UC side openings must line up exactly with the side pull outs elastics of the hammock and the pad loops. If they don't line up, then the UC is upside down.
See above about all 3 items being lined up correctly, and double check to make sure you have a #2 SS for your Explorer hammock(same hammock I have), and make sure you do not have a defective SS. But one more thing: you can also put the pad in upside down or backwards. Look at the pad laying out on the floor after it has been out of it's package for several hours. You will see that it is contoured, shaped like a bathtub, meant to wrap around your shoulders. It is also sort of "mummy" shaped, with a wide end for your shoulders and a narrow end for your feet. Also, the inside surface, meant to contact your hammock, is egg crate. So make sure the pad side loops are lined up correctly with the hammock side pull out elastics and the UC side openings, the pad's wide part is towards your head and on the same side of the hammock as your head will be, the egg crate is facing up, the narrow end to the feet, and all of this wrapped around the hammock.c - I ask because now what is happening is that the pad is mostly off to the side my shoulders are not off too if that makes any sense. You know how you lay sort of caddywampus in a hennesy? Well, the pad wants to be closer to the zipper side and my shoulders want to be away from my zipper side.
That sounds like a lot to keep straight, but once you get it the 1st time you will be amazed at how straight forward and simple it all is. But I have always said from day one HH could greatly improve this product with color coding, more than just the black hem.
The asym diamond tarp? You can also get the diamond tarp backwards. It does not really matter as long as the asym sides of the hammock are lined up with the asym hammock. If they look backwards, just leave the tarp attached and flip it over so that the asym lines up. It will be pretty obvious which way gives best coverage.d - Not related to the SS, but which side of the tarp goes up? The slick side or the other side?
I doubt anything is too tight unless you are strong enough to nearly break the hammock ridge line. But just pull the RL reasonably snug, if the RL does not sag after you are in it is plenty tight enough, and then make sure the UC ends are lined up with ( and wrapped around) the hammock end knot covers and nothing backwards or upside down.e - It could be I am hanging it too tight? I am female if that makes any difference, so maybe my weight is not causing enough sag in the actual hammock so it is not connecting with the SS?
Should be just fine. It can be a bear to get inside a sleeping bag in a hammock until you master that learning curve, so you may want to use it as a quilt.f - Once I get the SS set up properly, would the big agnes bag be best since the underside has no loft?
You are very welcome. you are going to get this and I even suspect you will then be warm enough. Right now you have basically been getting by with nothing at all, with that big gap under you. Right now I'm betting on something is on backwards or upside down, or wrong size or defective SS.Okay. Again, a million and one thanks. A million and two even
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