Spindrift Sock thoughts

[Mustardman]

So, this morning, MrsMustardman and I set up the Spindrift sock along with our Ridgerunner bridge hammock, and tried it out. Again, not having spent a night with it yet, I won't attempt a full review, but I'll give my early, initial thoughts.

The good:

• It is really spacious
• It blocks wind quite well
• It's nice and warm
• It packs small and fits into the stock Ridgerunner Bishop Bag while still on the hammock

The not-so-good:

• It's a pain in the neck to put on
• It really isn't necessary to make the user switch shockcord from the netting to the sock. For the insignificent cost and weight penalty, I really think another set of cords and hooks should be included.
• The grommets are just barely big enough to fit the amsteel suspension through - using just a slightly larger size would be a massive improvement.

Really, the design of the sock is quite nice, and the cost is reasonable. It does a heck of a good job of blocking wind and really would help with keeping you warmer. I could even see using it as an underquilt replacement on nights where it's relatively warm, but breezy enough that your back gets chilled in a bare hammock.

That said, the design where you have to completely disassemble the suspension and feed it through the grommets is every bit as annoying as I feared it would be. If you plan to leave the sock on the hammock for your entire trip, it's fine, but if you want to be able to add or remove the sock as you see fit, for different weather conditions, it would be a major hassle in the field.

We've already talked about modding the sock to have a long velcro slot so the suspension could be fed through without disassembling it, or at bare minimum, replacing the grommets with larger grommets so it's easier to feed the suspension through the holes. The current design certainly seals up quite well, and that was probably the entire point, but I'd prefer something just a bit easier to put on.

[BillyBob58]

So, this morning, MrsMustardman and I set up the Spindrift sock along with our Ridgerunner bridge hammock, and tried it out. Again, not having spent a night with it yet, I won't attempt a full review, but I'll give my early, initial thoughts.

The good:

• It is really spacious
• It blocks wind quite well
• It's nice and warm
• It packs small and fits into the stock Ridgerunner Bishop Bag while still on the hammock

The not-so-good:

• It's a pain in the neck to put on
• It really isn't necessary to make the user switch shockcord from the netting to the sock. For the insignificent cost and weight penalty, I really think another set of cords and hooks should be included.
• The grommets are just barely big enough to fit the amsteel suspension through - using just a slightly larger size would be a massive improvement.

Really, the design of the sock is quite nice, and the cost is reasonable. It does a heck of a good job of blocking wind and really would help with keeping you warmer. I could even see using it as an underquilt replacement on nights where it's relatively warm, but breezy enough that your back gets chilled in a bare hammock.

That said, the design where you have to completely disassemble the suspension and feed it through the grommets is every bit as annoying as I feared it would be. If you plan to leave the sock on the hammock for your entire trip, it's fine, but if you want to be able to add or remove the sock as you see fit, for different weather conditions, it would be a major hassle in the field.

We've already talked about modding the sock to have a long velcro slot so the suspension could be fed through without disassembling it, or at bare minimum, replacing the grommets with larger grommets so it's easier to feed the suspension through the holes. The current design certainly seals up quite well, and that was probably the entire point, but I'd prefer something just a bit easier to put on.

There was a hassle like that with the original HHSS. You had to untie from the tree and thread the ropes through the UC and/or OC on each end. Unless of course you did all of this in the house on the floor before you ever even hung it up. And, once I got it on, it stayed on until it was just too hot for anything. But the newer versions, which just wrap around the ends of a hanging hammock- all with great ease - are much appreciated!

[tjm]

Thank you for the review.

How breathable does the material seem? Do you think the UQ will get soaked overnight?

I have avoided a full enclosure due to condensation concerns. But the many positive reviews of using a "pea pod" style for winter camping keeps me looking in that direction.

Two years ago a person I was camping with, had a sock enclosure for his gathered end hammock and the inside/outside temperature difference he was measuring were amazing.

[chewbacca]

I like to see if I could modify this somehow to fit my BMBH

[BER]

Received my RR today and already eyeballing the Spindrift. May wait a couple months and see what others say, but I see this as a great accessory. Now if that nano-particle water repellent would come out...

[Mustardman]

It seemed pretty breathable - we set it up in the morning when it was still somewhat humid from the sprinklers and whatnot, and left it set up as the sun rose and it warmed up quite a bit. It never felt stuffy or anything like that. I can't really give any indication of how condensation will work until I get some genuinely cold weather, but it felt breathable enough. It would also be easy enough to vent it as needed with the huge zippered door.

[Black Wolf]

It seemed pretty breathable - we set it up in the morning when it was still somewhat humid from the sprinklers and whatnot, and left it set up as the sun rose and it warmed up quite a bit. It never felt stuffy or anything like that. I can't really give any indication of how condensation will work until I get some genuinely cold weather, but it felt breathable enough. It would also be easy enough to vent it as needed with the huge zippered door.

This my true concern .. especially in sub zero temps .. I have talked to Brandon about having a Spindrift done in canvas .. I'd really like thoughts on if the Spindrift would work as is in sub-zero temps .. would it even compare to canvas ??

** Brandon .. what material is the Spindrift made from ?? **

[Acer]

This my true concern .. especially in sub zero temps .. I have talked to Brandon about having a Spindrift done in canvas .. I'd really like thoughts on if the Spindrift would work as is in sub-zero temps .. would it even compare to canvas ??

** Brandon .. what material is the Spindrift made from ?? **

Mac makes a canvas sock/seep,,weighs 29oz for a gathered end hammock. I am thinking you would have 40ozs for one for a bridge hammock.

Brandon's Spindrift weights 10.2 ozs,,has to be made out of 1.1 DWR ripstop as I am making a top cover seep for my BMBH UL out of Momentum 90 MR and still working on it and its almost 8 ozs.

[Black Wolf]

Mac makes a canvas sock/seep,,weighs 29oz for a gathered end hammock. I am thinking you would have 40ozs for one for a bridge hammock.

Brandon's Spindrift weights 10.2 ozs,,has to be made out of 1.1 DWR ripstop as I am making a top cover seep for my BMBH UL out of Momentum 90 MR and still working on it and its almost 8 ozs.

My understanding is that the Spindrift is not DWR .. for the application I'd be using weight isn't a concern .. I'll be pulling it not carrying it .. my concern is functionality .. at -30*F to -40*F temps .. 20-40*F .. I'd stay with the Spindrift as is ..

How about Canvas compared to breathable Cuban in those temps >> sub-zero ??

[hangnout]

How about Canvas compared to breathable Cuban in those temps >> sub-zero ??

Sub Zero = Canvas

Breathable cuben when cold and wet