Hey Jeff

[Bird Dog]

Silverstar - I know that there are some members on this site from Florida that could maybe give you some hands on type experience with their equipment. If you are near NC, drop me a line and youre more than welcome to try my Hennessey to see if its for you. BD

[seuss]

Somebody should point you toward Ed Speer's book.

It's over here --->Hammock Camping

[slowhike]

Somebody should point you toward Ed Speer's book.

It's over here --->Hammock Camping

yep... i'll second that book. full of good info, not only about the hammocks themselfs, but about using them.

[Otter1]

Well, so far I've looked at the Clark hammocks and they seem pretty comfortable. I'm really not concerned about price. More about weight and comfort. I'm an A.T. section hiker, having completed GA, NC, TN and now onward into VA. I've only slept in shelters, (ugh) and my one-man tent. After seeing those great hammocks at Mt. Rogers, I was a convert. They just LOOKED comfortable. I know everyone has their favorites. I suppose I'm looking for input on why your favorites are your favorites. That will help me make my decision. I love to hike in cold weather. This seems like the answer I've been looking for. Thanks

Silverstar,

Living in FL, I've found hammocks a great alternative to tarp camping (Florida critter protection while lighter than a tent). But the comfort, above all else is what has made the difference for me.

When it's cold, good bottom insulation ( I use the JRB Nest) is a necessity.

To answer your specific inquiry, I've found the HH great for me, although making my own and adding netting sounds fun. The light weight, integrated bug protection, and quality construction make HH my choice.

[Coffee]

Silverstar,

Living in FL, I've found hammocks a great alternative to tarp camping (Florida critter protection while lighter than a tent). But the comfort, above all else is what has made the difference for me.

When it's cold, good bottom insulation ( I use the JRB Nest) is a necessity.

To answer your specific inquiry, I've found the HH great for me, although making my own and adding netting sounds fun. The light weight, integrated bug protection, and quality construction make HH my choice.

I like my DIY hammock setup, but for an all in one system with bugnetting I think the HH are hard to beat. If he would make a removeable bugnet, different suspension system, and a tarp system that did not attach to the hammock but to the trees and be a little larger stock than I really would like it.

[Just Jeff]

For me, the HH is very comfortable, but my DIY Speer-type hammocks are more comfortable. Probably b/c I can change the dimensions to suit my particular body, though...I haven't tried the bigger HH models.

I tend to like the top entry style (like the Speers) better. Just easier to do things like get to my gear (HH doesn't have a zipper), more convenient to lounge in, and I've even cooked from my top-entry hammocks before. That said, the bottom entry is pretty convenient for buggy weather...no dealing with the velcro seal like on the Speers (the HH just pops closed even w/o the velcro).

So choosing between the HH and Speer, I'd say it's all about preference. They're both comfortable, and unless you get the racer models or Hyperlight, they're very close in weight. The Speer may look like it weighs more on the website, but that's including a gigantic 8'x10' tarp, versus the adequate-but-not-much-more Hennessy tarps. The hammocks themselves are pretty close.

I've never used the Clark, but they have a pretty die-hard following too. They're a bit heavier than the others, but have a few niceties like a zippered weathershield and such. If you like those options, go for it.

The biggest factor is how to insulate the bottom, though. Once you get that figured out in a way that's comfortable for you (and your wallet), any of these hammocks will suit your needs.

And those are probably just the top three right now...there are several other models based more on value, like the Byers, Claytors, etc. And JRB is coming out with a new model soon!

[Coffee]

Does anyone know what happened to the guy on WB that wanted to have his own HH. He went by "Speedy". I PM'ed him a while ago and did not hear anything back. I would be curious to see how it worked out for him.