What do you wish you knew when you started?

[catte]

Hello all, I am an absolute newb to hammock camping, and as I eagerly await my hammock's arrival, I wonder what gems of wisdom might the old timers might have for someone just starting out? Any Dos and Don'ts that might seem obvious now, but aren't to the inexperienced?


I've been watching videos and lurking on the forum, I'm pretty sure I am going to love hangin, and my new addiction

[cinnamon]

this goes for camping in general as well as for hammocking. know your gear, it's limitations and your own, and practice setting up and tearing down in a controlled enviro ie the back yard before heading out to camp.

[im22sniper]

I wish I knew earlier...that an underquilt was the only way to go. After you get an UQ what a difference and what a good nights sleep. Thanks Hammockgear.

[Stevicide]

I wish I knew earlier...that an underquilt was the only way to go.

x2!! Underquilts are the way to confidently stay warm.

I've gone down to -5C with my stock HH supershelter and my -17 C sleeping bag, but if you want to hang in the spring, fall or winter...don't hesitate to get a decent underquilt!!

[Gustav]

I wish I knew earlier...that an underquilt was the only way to go. After you get an UQ what a difference and what a good nights sleep. Thanks Hammockgear.

Plus 1 UQ was the thing that made the biggest improvement!! HammockGear.com keeps me all warm inside. (My Hammock)

[Boothill]

that hammockforums.net would take up as much time of mine as it does......

boot

[Shug]

....yes...that the cyber part (HF) and video part would become part of my life. Up to my hammock discovery those were two points I never thought I would follow.
It has all been fun and an adventure though.
Shug

[DivaB]

For some of us (myself) we have to do things by experimentation....and that can be expensive in the end . Trust that nothing is as warm, light weight and compressible as a good down UQ.

Get a good dehydrator; it'll pay for itself after just a few uses and you can make what you know you'll like.

Embrace your inner stove addiction and cord addiction (which will happen soon enough).

Make sure you have your hammock and not your bug net or UQ in hand before you go to sit on your hammock. It's a rude awakening to hit the ground when you miss judge that one! ...and it hurts

You can do your best to set up the right way with your tarp against the weather, but plan on the weather changing and hitting you through the ends. It's a test, just go with it. Shut your tarp doors, or add your poncho to the end.

Ponchos are handy for many things other than for your own body.

The little things weigh you down. The many LED lights out there; the wonderful, colorful, different size caribiners; knives galore; and of course stoves and cord.

Have a small baggy of extras in case something breaks or is lost. (cord can take care of almost any of that )

Don't do a Sasquatch call from your hammock. Seems to unnerve your fellow hangers

Leave the opened bottom bug net at home.....actually throw it away and use a closed bottom bug net. Some spiders jump, and it brings friends!!!!! (I'll never use that bug net again!) Would work as a loner though

When a snake drops down on your tarp it'll just slide off. Don't freak out while watching it slowly slide off your semi porch mode tarp with your flash light shinning on it. That one unnerves your fellow hangers too.

I could keep going...I really could, but those things jump out at me first.

[Shnick]

I'm relatively new to the hammocking scene, but when I was a rambunctious 10 year old we had an old canvas hammock eye-bolted to 2 ponderosa pine trees. When your cousin talks you into swinging him "all the way around" well, you get the picture...

The hammock "disappeared" and was never seen again...

Shnick

[millergear]

Make sure you have your hammock and not your bug net or UQ in hand before you go to sit on your hammock. It's a rude awakening to the ground when you miss judge that one!

That will happen only once!