Buyers Remorse...?

[jcarman81]

My wife has been hounding me to go on a hiking trip for quite some time. I told her about a local hang coming up in April and she said she wanted in. I've been using an ENO DN w/ whoopee slings, ENO bug net and a WL tarp.

I had been interested in trying out another set up and I stumbled upon the Claytor Jungle Hammock. I've read so many great reviews I felt I had to get it. I pulled the trigger and purchased the hammock two nights ago and now I'm waiting on the rig to get here.

I've spent considerable hours on HF researching other, lighter rigs and now I'm concerned I made a mistake. I go hiking a lot and a lot of our trips are 30+ miles. I'm a gram weenie and I like to pack as light and compact as possible. I know I could lose the extra 3+ pounds around my midsection to lighten the load to make up for the weight of the hammock, but I'm just not that motivated to yet

I just wonder if I made a bad decision. I'm 5'7 @ 230#. I'm kind of built like Spongebob. Is this the hammock I've been looking for, or is there something that will better suit my needs? I plan on giving the ENO to my wife for car camping and lounging in the yard.

Thanks for your help!

[SilvrSurfr]

Well, gram weenie and SpongeBob physique present some challenges. It's a fine balance between comfort and lightweight. I don't think you'll know if you made a mistake until you get it.

Many satisfied customers of the Claytor, Clark, and Dangerbird type hammocks - very robust design. If weight were taken out of the equation, any of these hammocks would be excellent. I want them all (but the wife is beginning to frown on my hammock accumulation).

Many people buy and flip hammocks - no reason you can't do the same. Claytor should have a good resale value on the forum (unlike my Hennessy, which I plan to keep). I've often thought that we could get a buying club - four people take equal shares in a given hammock product, each gets to spend time with it, and if one wanted to buy the other three out, party on Garth.

[jcarman81]

I'm probably worrying too much about the weight. At the end of the day it will be a bit lighter than my current setup. I'll just have to wait until the hammock gets here to figure out if I like it or not.

[backpackingZombie]

One of the most important items in your kit is your sleeping rig. So be that a tent or a hammock as long as it is comfy then you can account for whatever its negative aspects are (in this case weight) in other areas of your gear.

For me that item is my pack (5lbs), so I make up for that by literally levitating down the trail on good vibes and stories about B-Films.

But seriously, enjoy the hammock and don't have remorse until you have a reason for that. Much like Skip Bernet once wrote on the Surly Bike Blog:

If you think your bike looks good, it does.

If you like the way your bike rides, it’s an awesome bike.

I think that applies to this situation as well Enjoy the hammock. Sleep well, sleep often.

[jcarman81]

One of the most important items in your kit is your sleeping rig. So be that a tent or a hammock as long as it is comfy then you can account for whatever its negative aspects are (in this case weight) in other areas of your gear.

For me that item is my pack (5lbs), so I make up for that by literally levitating down the trail on good vibes and stories about B-Films.

But seriously, enjoy the hammock and don't have remorse until you have a reason for that. Much like Skip Bernet once wrote on the Surly Bike Blog:



I think that applies to this situation as well Enjoy the hammock. Sleep well, sleep often.

Good call. I'll worry about it when it gets here. If anything I know my ENO works great and my wife will have an awesome rig for herself.