I pretty much agree with you on this. I'm a fan of ENO and Trek Light hammocks. I find them very comfortable, durable, and cheap enough. Their accessories are junk, but only compared to some of the stuff we do around here. IMO, nylon straps are still a step up from marine grade rope that can be found on other brands. "Gearhead egos" might be a little harsh, but it illustrates the point nicely. We often forget that we have access to some of the front-line tech for hammocks simply by being active members here. Therefore, we have been told, or have already experienced, the effects of nylon webbing when used as part of a suspension. It's natural that we think selling such gear is a bat-poop crazy move to make; it's all relative to the knowledge we have collectively. This is easily evidenced by looking at the gear our homegrown vendors put out; they know better due in large part to their interactions here on HF.
I think that is part of the reason ENOs and the like are referred to as 'Newb Hammocks'. In truth, it isn't the hammock, but the stuff that comes with it that lands them into that category because what's the first thing an ENO owner does after sleeping in the hammock? They start looking for and making mods to address what they view as negatives. A part of me also thinks this is valuable to a 'newb' because it forces their hand to learn about and make the needed/wanted upgrades. Experience is a marvelous teacher and if they didn't have the experience they may 'get' the knowledge, but they won't 'learn' the lesson. I was a member of this site when the first mod done to an ENO was to cut off the storage bag to save weight. Suspension switch-outs came later as the founding newbs learned and then passed the knowledge on to the new newbs at the time....like me!
I'm no newb, but I once was one. I had an ENO then, but now I have several. Nothing wrong with an ENO
hammock for those that are not weight sensitive.
As a former AT hiker, I think it's great that ENO is making an effort to reach out to that community. For all of its faults, the ATC does some wonderful work and if ENO won't come play in our yard, I'm glad to see they are at least playing in the neighborhood. Good things will come...like poly straps.
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