So I came back to sleeping outside on purpose after my son was born. We were car camping when he was three, progressed on to lighter and lighter loads of stuff needed to be in the woods comfortably through walking in state parks to the 'primitive' sites and then a three day weekend on the AT last year.
We got a late start on the trail after driving in some nasty thunderstorms and spent a couple hours walking in the dark looking for a place to pitch our tent. It was a big uphill section, the seven year old boy was really tired by the time we got on top of the ridge, I was feeling some stress for dragging him into an unplanned night hike, and it was not fun. Great weather rescued the remainder of our trip, but our pace was set by site selection all the way.
After that trip I remembered seeing hammock shelter setups on some lightweight sites, and thought about all those trees where we might have stopped... So I took the plunge on a couple hammocks and tarps and quickly realized this is a much more comfortable way to spend the night AND quick enough to pitch for a primo mid-day break.
After a big slap to my own forehead, I can't figure why this isn't the norm. I mean I am pretty lucky healthwise, but the ground hasn't gotten any softer!
Greetings...I was in a hiking store a few years back and saw a crazycreek hammock set up in the store. I tried it out right there and fell in love and that was 4 years ago..I have since purchased a HH asym and now a Bear Bridge and and will most likely get a a black bird to in the near future.....I still have every hammock Ive bought and still use the older ones from time to time or let friends try them.
Some time ago I thought about the idea, but after getting my motorbike and as I love doing trails in the bush, I soon realized that packing space comes at a premium on the bike and level ground is not that readily either. Giving my first hammock a try tonight in my backyard, but so far I am 75% converted.. YAHOO!!
It was a total accident to be honest. My GF bought me a ENO hammock for fathers day this year, and my little boy loved sitting in it with me so much, I decided to hang it indoors. While looking up tips for an adjustable suspension system, I saw a few pics of people camping in them and I was hooked. I have always enjoyed the out doors, (camping, hiking hunting fishing ect) and I have always enjoyed a good nap in a hammock. Im a little embarassed to admit it, but I never even considerd camping in a hammock. Its one of those things thats so obvious I just over looked it. Now that I have seen the light, my days of assembling tents in the dark, sleeping on rocks or roots, (or realizing you pitched your tent in the lowest place around by waking up after a good rain and discovering your air mattress is now a floatation device), are now in the past.
Te-wa great question, Enjoying reading these posts. I'm brand new and not a full fledged hanger as yet. (Just posted my introduction today). To answer your question about "What made you a hanger?" In my case intrested in becoming a one. I would have to say reading books and websites about AT through hikes and their sleep systems they used. WhiteBlaze articles about hammocking but the most influence for me was Shug's videos! Enjoy your Holidays.
I hike with SCISSORS cause it makes me feel dangerous ... LoL
Searching this thread for the word "Shug" returns 50 results. A large proportion of those results are people saying that our favorite unicycling juggler is in some way responsible for their venturing into the hammocking world.
THAT is too cool!
Hi H/F
I decided to turn towards the hammock after a lot of sore sleepless nights below the stars.
For years now I’ve been backpacking in Scotland and have only had a count of good sleeps, and I can count them on one hand...
I was searching for a new one man tent on the net and came across a company called DD Hammocks, Wow! I thought
After that I had planed a trip in a forest park near to where I stay, after searching for a good spot of which I could only find 3 in the hole park, I thought If I had a hammock it would not be a problem, I could hang it anywhere.
So went on the net and checked a lot of hammock vids on YouTube, so 2 weeks back I called up a nice fella at DD Hammocks and got a good deal from him on a DD travel hammock and XL tarp..
From when I got the hammock I’ve been out 3 times with it and a pad I had as insulation, witch fits in the hammock quite nice but was a bit cold, so went and got a Snugpak UQ witch works really well for the Scottish whether.
I must say this is the one of the best things I have done in my life is getting a hammock, the difference in the sleep and not having to deal with public places to camp.
So yeah! I really do have the bug and now spend a lot of time on hear and the net looking up stuff to do with hammocks.
Bushshark
(newb)
Ayrshire Scotland UK
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