What was your biggest improvement in comfort after leaving the ground?

[GregB]

Getting off the ground is a major comfort factor for me.

Consistency is a major improvement. Since I have a ridge line my sag is consistent every time I hang which means my sleeping position is exactly the same every night. I'm getting so familiar with my hammock and how it hangs and how I lay in it that it feels like home. When I go out camping or backpacking it's nice to have that familiar feeling every night.

I'm still doing the pad and sleeping bag as a quilt thing until I build my own UQ and TQ. But I expect that will add a major comfort factor to my hammock experience.

Weight has also been a major improvement. My REI clipper tent was only 5.5 pounds for a 2 person tent. But my hammock/tarp system is under 2.5 pounds. Also, I can eliminate the heavy Thermarest pad and use a 3.8" gray Ensolite pad instead (which is lighter). Once again, when I move to an under quilt and top quilt I'll eliminate the pad and sleeping bag and also reduce my weight some more because my sleeping bag is a polyester fill bag which weighs in at 3.5 pounds. With down I can get easily get down to 2.5 to 3 pounds with a much lower temperature rating.

Plus it's fun building all my own equipment.

[CrankyOldGuy]

UQ for sure. Last time out, I tried a pad again, for various reasons but mostly just to have options. Awful! Just awful. Under quilts = hammock Nirvana.

[perdidochas]

Best improvement was the structural ridgeline. Before that, the hammock was only a 4-5 hr sleep proposition (better than the 2-3 on the ground). I still woke up when the first Scouts were stirring in the AM. After the ridgeline, the hammock is a 6-7 hr sleep proposition, which is about all I have time for during a scout campout anyway. Love the way the hammock is for my back. Currently I use a sleeping bag/pad combo. Can't imagine how great it will be in the future with a TQ/UQ combo.

(this past weekend, as I'm in process of going to a new hammock, I slept without a ridgeline. Wasn't as comfortable as I'm used to. Need to go back to it)

[brotherjohn]

no more sleeping under bridges waking up with a opossum starring you in the face

[grannypat]

The Nest underquilt was a HUGE improvement.

[mountain_man_mike]

Like many, just getting off the ground was heaven. No joint pain, no back pain, no dirt, no bugs and the list goes on.

I use my DIY silnylon tarp with beaks and DIY top quilt inspired by Ray Jardine for a dry, warm night's sleep.

However I underestimated the comfort of an underquilt. I had made one but didn't have it rigged right so after seeing eaglej's set up in August I was determined to make one and it came out really nice. DWR camo 1.9 zo. rip stop outer shell to match the hammock and black 1.1 oz rip stop inner surface sandwiching 2 layers of Climashield suspended by a single run of thin shock cord through channels. It snugs up close and has a cinch cord at both end to keep cold air out. I slept through some 2am ruckus from a neighbor in the campsit next to us at San Simeon a few weeks ago. No swampy rear end, no cold spots, just soft, warm snoozing.

[lvnv1212]

The hammock was sooo much more comforatable! Couldn't believe it till I tried it!

[Roadrunnr72]

Speaking of down sides to hammocking.... other than missing my warm dogs at night.... does anybody want to share what they see as a "minus" to hammocking?

Yes, I have two problems,

I can't wait to make camp so i can just hang out in my hammock and
I don't want to get up in the morning, as I just want to hang out in my hammock.

[Riddled]

I am another that had to come off the ground because of my back. I also like the fact that the crawler problem is reduced. I hate snakes lol. I am looking forward to even more comfort as i am buying quilts then a sock.

[Michelle the Camper]

no more sleeping under bridges waking up with a opossum starring you in the face

Nice avatar...are you a hobo?