Grand Trunk "pod" bag/insulation

**HappyHiker** · 03-07-2012, 02:49

BillyBob and L.D.

Thanks for the info and measurements, very helpful. That's what I was originally envisioning as far as shape.

So that makes the center (~5.5') section full width (~34") for roomy comfort head to toe. Very nice!

**Campdavid** · 03-07-2012, 15:40

This does look bad. If you look at the guy's posts again it really does look like he is employed by GT (well he is on their payroll now anyway). All his gear is GT, he raves about their products, and so on. I have not seen another member whose gear is all from one mfg (except maybe for some of the HH owners). This does make it seem like a total setup by the folks at GT....if it is, they must think we are idiots or something. Either way, I am totally turned off by it.

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

Yes, it should have been mentioned. But the more we look at it, this actually looks really bad.

So, kjroeger28 only joined the forum 11 days ago as of this posting. But, according to the Grand Trunk page, "it was developed and presented to Grand Trunk by an active Hammock Forums member". They're implying that in the last 11 days he came up with the design, sent it to them, they liked it, patented it, built it, and are sending out test units. Um, yeah.

More likely this has been in the works for a while, and this 'member' is being used to try to market the product here, and using HF's name, per that announcement page. This all seems like really shady business practices to me.

My opinion of Grand Trunk as a company has just lowered substantially.

**angrysparrow** · 03-07-2012, 15:47

We notified Grand Trunk about this, and they have since changed the product page to remove references to the inventor being a HF member, along with the limited offer to members. No lengthy response yet though.

I'm sincerely hoping that this turns out to be a case of the member acting alone without GT's approval. I'd like to have GT's relationship to the forum be positive.

Optimistically waiting.

**oldgringo** · 03-07-2012, 15:55

Not much of a relationship...Chief Hammock Officer hasn't visited HF since July 2010.

**G.L.P.** · 03-07-2012, 16:08

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

We notified Grand Trunk about this, and they have since changed the product page to remove references to the inventor being a HF member, along with the limited offer to members. No lengthy response yet though.

I'm sincerely hoping that this turns out to be a case of the member acting alone without GT's approval. I'd like to have GT's relationship to the forum be positive.

Optimistically waiting.

i can't wait to read that e-mail......
i hope it brings some of this to light cause it was just too fishy for my taste

**Fronkey** · 03-07-2012, 17:02

Wow! I just read what the page now says.

"The product was conceived by Herrick Kroeger, an avid outdoor lover, who works for one of our favorite retailers, Blue Sky Outfitters, out in WA. We loved the idea, ran with it, and now we have a new patented product design, and will share a portion of every sale with Herrick."

That is so weird they would state on their page that "Herrick" is getting paid for every sale.

This whole thing is incredibly fishy!

Fronkey

**oldgringo** · 03-07-2012, 17:12

New? Patented?

**G.L.P.** · 03-07-2012, 17:25

patented.... they should do there homework because there are other products out there that do the same thing i beleive the rock ren bag does the same thing pretty much ... all they did was add a zipper hole on each side of a mummy bag..... the pod has been around long before there system

i can't wait to read he patent on this ...
and i agree 110% Fronkey something is off it's just not adding up

**Rolloff** · 03-07-2012, 18:59

From a GTUL owner I'll be looking into different gear, unless there's an exceptionally "creative" explanation in that e-mail.

I am disappointed.

**hangnout** · 03-07-2012, 19:20

Originally Posted by Fronkey

Wow! I just read what the page now says.

"The product was conceived by Herrick Kroeger, an avid outdoor lover, who works for one of our favorite retailers, Blue Sky Outfitters, out in WA. We loved the idea, ran with it, and now we have a new patented product design, and will share a portion of every sale with Herrick."

That is so weird they would state on their page that "Herrick" is getting paid for every sale.

This whole thing is incredibly fishy!

Fronkey

They did not even get where he works right. Blue Sky Outfitters looks like a whitewater outfitter in WA. He lives in Rome, GA where there is a Blue Sky Outfitter. They must have done an internet search to find out where Blue Sky Outfitter was located and picked the wrong one. Hope they don't send the commission checks to WA