tent? no, I use a hammock!

[titanium_hiker]

I wonder if we sometimes give people the wrong impression when we say "tent? I don't need no tent- I've got me a hammock!"

It must be camping season (or at least vacation season) in the Northern hemisphere right now, as I have seen several posts about sleeping more than one person in a hammock. People must go tent->hammock->just like a two man tent! Also amusing to see people use 'tent' to refer to the hammock.

As is often the response for those threads, fine for a nap, not so much for all night. And we suggest things like hanging from the same trees:
(I believe risk was one of the first with his 'double hammocking' http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/ultradoublehammock.htm)
Or hanging close by. Even 'bunk beds'.

I suppose we sometimes forget that hammocking borrowed from the tarping craze! It's a tarping shelter system first of all. What we are really doing is getting our bed off the ground. What we are doing, almost, is replacing the cot, the camp bed, the roll mat (although the roll mat can be handy for that pesky Cold Butt Syndrome (CBS)!) Oh- and the ground sheet!

Thoughts?

-TH

[MAD777]

You're right! The progression isn't from tent to hammock. There's that intermediate step of getting rid of the tent walls - going to just a tarp overhead and bedding below. Only then, the bedding gets elevated and voila! Hammock!

[dragon360]

Do we call it Evolution?!,

[keikepono]

are we now the "higher"... beings in the camping world?

[RePete]

You're right! The progression isn't from tent to hammock. There's that intermediate step of getting rid of the tent walls - going to just a tarp overhead and bedding below. Only then, the bedding gets elevated and voila! Hammock!

I can not agree to this as I have never camped on the ground under a tarp. Of course I still use a tent when camping with the family but on my own its a hammock for me.

[valleyrat]

i got one of these tentcots one year for christmas. now i have been wondering if i could do away with the frame somehow and make a hammock out of it. i think it would be badass.
http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Ka...t-p-16146.html

[Oper8or]

I still use my tent. I guess I'm one of those who jumped on the hammock band wagon. It seems as though this is being pointed out more and more on the forums. I havent been here long enough to see the evolution I guess. All I know is I enjoy hiking and being with my family and friends. I dont care if they are under a tarp, in a tent, or in a hammock. As long as they love what they are doing does it really matter?

[Tuck]

are we now the "higher"... beings in the camping world?

Nicely done!

[Brute1100]

My quest for hammocking started because I wanted a comfortable way to sleep... And when I also.got interested in back packing and hiking I wanted a way that would work for all those... With a little research I ended up with hammocks... I still get crazy looks when people find out what I do, either walking long distances with weight on my back or that I sleep in the middle of no where hanging from the trees... But I have never really fit in any where or at any time in my life and I'm dang sure not about to start now...

[Fish<><]

I still use my tent. I guess I'm one of those who jumped on the hammock band wagon. It seems as though this is being pointed out more and more on the forums. I havent been here long enough to see the evolution I guess. All I know is I enjoy hiking and being with my family and friends. I dont care if they are under a tarp, in a tent, or in a hammock. As long as they love what they are doing does it really matter?

I totally agree with your last sentence. Well said and great frame of mind. Just get out and enjoy nature folks.