Well, I'm sold on the NX-250 now. I've put in the order, and it shipped today so hopefully I should have it in a few days.
Well, I'm sold on the NX-250 now. I've put in the order, and it shipped today so hopefully I should have it in a few days.
COOL
Good choice
you will love it . . .
Bradley SaintJohn
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OK, I'm going to throw in a big "disadvantage"! If you buy the Clark as your first hammock, you will enjoy it so much you will not have an excuse to get another kind.
I like to have many different options in stoves, water treatments, packs, guns, virtually anything I get in to. My Clark NX-250 took that urge away from me.
I really have tried other brands, and am always looking, but so far none has tempted me. It seems like every time I crawl in to my Clark, I like it even better. You're gonna love this one!!
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I was about to mention this myself. You should love the choice you have made. Since you say you have no hammock experience, just a caution, don't panic when you have a hard time getting a good hang while using the included ropes. Simply change to a more manageable suspension, which probably most of us have, and all will be well.
Pay attention to the drip ring attachment instructions, where you use the drip ring as a tension adjustment device. Helps a lot, was going to swap out for Whoopies but leaving the stock on primarily because this makes it so easy, and I have more options with the rope if something breaks. Also pay attention to the foot being a bit higher, as the Clark material is great for mosquito proof but it is a bit slippery so you'll be more comfortable with the feet a bit higher.
I'm with Manchego on the rings-- if Clark still includes them -- with their and some other rope. For reduced bulk I changed, but the furnished combo works very well, and is simple as one of Warbonnet's and a couple of other major's systems.
A beef I have with it, though, is that you wouldn't use tree straps with the rope, by Clarks (former?) instructions. In that case, adjustment would have you chafing the tree. Big frown there.
That is true, if you wrap with the rope, but to me that's an "emergency" solution because something broke or I was boneheaded enough to walk off without a strap. I'd bowline one side around a tree and use the adjust on the other if possible, though.
But there is a good point here, one that I feel needs to be made with the rope/tree strap combo. Many times, sometimes it seems most times, the strap around the tree has either "just" too much or too little play, and there's not quite enough length to the strap to take up the slack by wrapping the tree again. In a fix, I will admit that I have done a simple knot in the tree strap, basically pulling a loop through, but it's a royal PITA to get back out without damaging the strap (I use the Clark straps, they are light and strong as hell and don't stretch).
The rope does allow for that "almost" wrap to have, for example on my last hang, about 6" between the loops, which is easily spanned with the rope. The rope then spanned the additional distance, allowed me to snug fine, and rested on the first wrap so it didn't damage the bark. I find this far superior to a lot of systems where if you can't make that second wrap, you're out of luck. Or, if you use, say, a 'biner, it just slides till the second wrap is out. This is another reason I've decided to stay with the stock, the trees I find just aren't quite right far too often.
Last edited by Manchego; 07-11-2012 at 10:41. Reason: typo correction
My comment was directed at the OP's comment of having no hammock experience. Today I could fairly easily use even the cumbersome Clark rope to get a fair hang, but not when I first tried it. Clark's suspension lends itself more to experienced hangers than to those totally unfamilar to hammocking. In my opinion, their supplied suspension is not a noob's friend, not even with the drip rings.
That is truer with the older versions than the new, in my opin, but I understand entirely what you mean. With the newer suspension (I posted a copy of their directions and a pic or two on a thread here) with the bungees on both ropes acting like a "tell", I feel it's much easier to know where the proper angle is, making the ropes friendlier. On the older NA that I have that the daughter has inherited, I do have whoopie slings to make it all easier. Then again, as you say, it may be my familiarity which is the greater benefit.
As for the drip ring tensioner, yes, it might take a noob a bit to figure out how to move the ring up then lash off to get maximum adjustability, but that's part of the fun of it. There is a vid on their site and a picture to help.
i can't agree more the 200 is my favorite in my opinion if i want allot of room i set the Clark Vertex up with or with out girlfriend.
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it"
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