Hey Jeff

[silverstar]

I'm one of the 4 guys you met at Mt. Rogers at Wise Shelter. We were hiking out after that bout with the winds the previous night. I'm the former Ranger. I was very impressed with the gear you all had. Especially after the previous night with those high winds and our tents threatening to carry us all to OZ.

I've looked at the different brands of hammocks on the pages here. Maybe you and the other experienced hammock campers could lend some of your experience and insight. Thanks.

Bill Rauscher
Orlando, FL

[Just Jeff]

Sure - everyone here is very willing to help. Do you have any specific questions?

[slowhike]

good to hear from you.
probably most hammocks are open top, so they are referred to as top entry or speer type.
that's the type i prefer because i can see clearly the views around me & i can reach my gear... even heat water from my hammock.
others like being inside a henesy hammock (HH) or a tom claytor type.
they all have their pros & cons. ...tim

[headchange4u]

I love my Hennessy Hammock, but they can be a little pricy (I don't know what your budget is). You can always try to find a used one somewhere. I think the Hennessy site has some clearance models also.

You could also try to find some ripstop fabric in the $1 bin at WalMart and make your first one. They are pretty easy to make, even if you have not sewn before. Check out Jeff's site for a great tutorial on making your own hammock

[FanaticFringer]

Study this site and ask questions. The learning curve is steeper than ground dwelling but well worth it I promise. Also check out Whiteblaze.net for some great archival hammock info.

Welcome to the forum.

www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=104

[headchange4u]

Don't forget to take a glance at the Articles section for a glossary, acronyms and abbre., and the manufactures page with models and specs. Great resource for those new to hammocking.

[blackbishop351]

The learning curve is steeper than ground dwelling but well worth it I promise.

Y'know, I was thinking about that on the Rogers trip. I think the curve SEEMS steeper, but is it really? My conclusion is that ground-dwelling seems easier because most hikers are just USED to it. That, and tent manufacturers have taken all the DIY fun out of it - ground-pounders don't have to worry about engineering issues. Tarps, on the other hand, can actually have a steeper curve than hammocks I think. Some tarps are a PAIN to learn to use properly.

[Peter_pan]

Y'know, I was thinking about that on the Rogers trip. I think the curve SEEMS steeper, but is it really? My conclusion is that ground-dwelling seems easier because most hikers are just USED to it. That, and tent manufacturers have taken all the DIY fun out of it - ground-pounders don't have to worry about engineering issues. Tarps, on the other hand, can actually have a steeper curve than hammocks I think. Some tarps are a PAIN to learn to use properly.

Agree and add...

Most have forgotten the many aches and pains we learned along the way as prior ground dwellers before we learned and got better back in the dark ages.

Pan

[Just Jeff]

Most of the "aches and pains" we learned from ground dwelling weren't really aches and pains because we were kids...sleeping on roots isn't a big deal when you're 8. Picking up bits and pieces along the way makes it seem like there wasn't a steep learning curve, but it was there.

And if folks already know how to be "comfortable" in the woods doing things the old way, it may seem useless to figure out all this newfangled off-the-ground stuff. But once you figure it out, you'll understand why I put "comfortable" in quotes!

Besides, it's really simple to stay warm in a hammock. We just make it more difficult than it needs to be b/c we're gearheads.

[silverstar]

Sure - everyone here is very willing to help. Do you have any specific questions?

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