I hope this helps

[Otter1]

I hope to help either a newbie or someone who has "wanted" to love hammocks, but never quite found that sweet spot and wants to go back to ground. (That said, I'm still a ground dweller on many trips )

While I love my Bridge it is a little heavy. I started hanging in a HHULB but it was too short for me @ 6'1". I switched to an Explorer UL but I never could get the comfort just right, so that led me to the Bridge....Ahhhhh....finally flat! (but still kind of heavy, even after Griz worked his magic - finding a good way to use my trek poles as spreaders will go a long way to solving my dilemma)

I tried a long MYOG hammock and I can get pretty flat, but it's heavy w/ floppy sides. I read mixed reviews on the GTUL and gave one a try. Papa Smurf hooked me up w/ a sweet setup that's very light including Dynaglide Whoopies and a nano-weight bugnet. I WANTED to love it, but my feet would slip over the edge, or I would wake up w/ intense pain from my knee being hyper-extended, or my pillow would slip out.....you get the idea. Even knee pillows move around and get lost since I sleep on my back and on my side.

I toyed with the various ways to get a flatter lay and ways to fix the other issues (tons of great tips on this site) but was about to give up & sell the GTUL. I'll never sell my Bridge! I decided to keep trying....

I added a shockcord tether w/ mitten hook to clip on the ridgeline for my pillow. No more lost pillow. Problem solved.

I started thinking of a knee pillow that would really work but one big enough to stay put would be way too bulky &/or heavy. I started looking for a long, cylinder-shaped pillow that was inflatable and found one 10"x18" on eBay for $10. Guess what? Partially inflated it is supremely comfy, and wide enough for both legs. It stayed put all night for two reasons: 1) I move around very little because nothing hurts, and 2) it's wide enough to be slightly wedged in between the sides of the hammock. The pillow's heavy but I can probably find a lighter version - I'm on the hunt!

An unexpected benefit of the big knee pillow is my feet don't extend as far, so my feet stay in the hammock much better! I'm gonna add Knotty's stretch mod next.

Sorry about the long post. But keep trying little things you read from the people on this forum. Hammocks aren't for everyone but I can honestly say I now find even relatively small, gathered end hammocks comfy now - even though I was ready to throw in the towel on multiple occasions.

[Pipsissewa]

Pics or a link?!? We'll help you look for a lighter weight version. SO glad you found your sweet spot!!

[DivaB]

Nice write up and all very true. Just try it and don't be afraid to experiment and think out of the box.

[Otter1]

Thanks folks!

Here's a link to the knee pillow:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vinyl-Knee-I...item2c5b934969

[oldgringo]

I just ordered one.

Could this be DIYed in Cuben?

[Otter1]

I just ordered one.

Could this be DIYed in Cuben?

Callin Lawson........Come in Lawson! (Did I really just reference Mork & Mindy?)

[Era]

Just a thought but couldn't you use a waterproof bag as an inflatable pillow much like this? Then you'd have dual purpose with it. It might take some DYI magic to get one sealed up right but it's worth a shot.

[GroundHog]

Wasn't WV working on a "Cuben" pillow a little while back....He was trying to find a valve if I remember correctly..

[ernesthemmingway]

Good stuff, thanks for posting. Theres nothing wrong with a long post in my opinion, especially when its full of good info

[Otter1]

Hmmm....inflate one of the UL dry bags. Will have to try that one.