My Take On DIY Hennessy Hammock. A Tutorial.

**Captn** · 12-18-2009, 11:12

Well, last night I began the "HH clone on a diet" project using this design. The question is just how light can you get a HH Clone but stay comfortable. I expect this to be a longer term project, in preparation for a thru-hike dream at retirement, so the hammock needs to be durable enough to last 2200 miles.

So far, I've taken some really nice 1.9 ounce Ripstop I picked up at Joanne Fabrics (really nice feel and drape) and built the Hammock body. The body is 9.5 feet long and 5 feet wide. I then took a piece of 7/64 amsteel blue I had as extra from my Whoopie Sling making project and created a Ridgeline with an buried eye on either end. The Ridgeline is 80% of the hammock body length.

I roll whipped the ends with zipties.

The weight of the body and ridgeline is 10.4 ounces at present.

I'm debating on going back and adding a bottom entry slit, although I think I'd prefer a zipper ...... choices, choices, choices.

I have some nanoseeum netting laying around from an abandoned bivy project to make the bugnet after I sew on the tieouts.

I'm targeting 1 pound using fairly conventional materials.

I can't thank you guys enough for all the hard work you've put into this design ... I'm looking forward to completing the project!

**JerryW** · 12-18-2009, 11:18

Captn - these things are fun to make aren't they? But...we need pictures!

FYI - Watch those zip-ties closely. I had a couple of them break on mine.

Jerry

**Captn** · 12-18-2009, 11:29

Originally Posted by JerryW

Captn - these things are fun to make aren't they? But...we need pictures!

FYI - Watch those zip-ties closely. I had a couple of them break on mine.

Jerry

Thanks for the advice Jerry .... I'm not sure how I want to finish the whipping, the Zips are temporary while I check the work so far.

**job13_5** · 12-19-2009, 00:18

I built my HH with a bottom entry and still like it, but a zipper is really convenient. That being said, a bottom entry is going to be a lot lighter. If you're trying to go ultralight I'd stay with the bottom entry. Bare in mind too that you'll endup having to count your tarp weight into your shelter as well, so any weight you can shave will help.

Best of luck!

**Captn** · 12-19-2009, 08:12

Originally Posted by job13_5

I built my HH with a bottom entry and still like it, but a zipper is really convenient. That being said, a bottom entry is going to be a lot lighter. If you're trying to go ultralight I'd stay with the bottom entry. Bare in mind too that you'll endup having to count your tarp weight into your shelter as well, so any weight you can shave will help.

Best of luck!

Good point!

**SGT Rock** · 02-24-2010, 14:21

Hey, thanks for writing this. I used this information to make my new hammock. I've been putting my pack on a little weight loss program and have made the hammock with whoopie slings at 9.65 ounces. I haven't added a bug net option, but I plan to do one, and plan to come up with some sort of winter top cover as well.

But thanks VERY much for the instructions. Everything worked like a charm.

**headchange4u** · 02-24-2010, 15:13

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

Hey, thanks for writing this. I used this information to make my new hammock. I've been putting my pack on a little weight loss program and have made the hammock with whoopie slings at 9.65 ounces. I haven't added a bug net option, but I plan to do one, and plan to come up with some sort of winter top cover as well.

But thanks VERY much for the instructions. Everything worked like a charm.

You are welcome.

Hopefully I will be able to post an instructional video on the roll whip. I thought I had lost that video along with a bunch of others due to hard drive crash. Luckily I found a backup of the videos on a removable hard drive a few days ago.

Thanks god for backups.

**SGT Rock** · 02-25-2010, 21:41

Here are some pictures of my Hennessy Copy thanks to your instructions.

Hammock without a load. The body is 1.1oz ripstop from www.thru-hiker.com. The lines and toggles are from Arrowhead equipment. The ridge line is mason twine and can be removed - it's attached with mitten hooks.

Summer:
The hammock...................9.58 ounces (includes whoopie slings from Arrowhead Equipment)
Toggles...........................0.42 ounces (also from Arrowhead Equipment)
Hennessy Tree huggers......1.84 ounces
Warbonnet Edge Spintarp...8.69 ounces (lines from Arrowhead Equipment)
4 MSR stakes...................1.27 ounces
Stuff sack for the tarp.......0.42 ounces
Bug net (not shown)..........5.09 ounces
Total base weight............27.31 ounces

For this base I use my JRB No-Sniveler for a top quilt and have my pocket pad on hand.
JRB No Sniveler................21.45 ounces
Pocket Pad......................11.20 ounces
Stuff sack for quilt.............0.99 ounces

Spring/Fall:
-Net..............................-5.09 ounces
2 Edge tarp doors..............3.53 ounces
JRP cords for under quilt.....1.13 ounces
Total..............................-0.43 ounces

For this I throw in my Nunatack Back Country Blanket for the top quilt and move the no-sniveler to bottom duty. 26.82 ounces added.

Winter:
JRB Weathershield bottom...7.42 ounces
2 Edge tarp doors..............3.53 ounces
Hammock top...................~5.00 ounces est. (under construction)
Total...............................15.95 ounces

Whoopie Sling/Toggle/Tree Hugger connection. Tree straps are Hennessy Tree Huggers. The toggles and whoopie lines are from Arrowhead equipment.

Attaching of the Whoopie line to the body with a prussic knot over the whipping which is done with mason twine.

Side tie outs are 1/16" shock cord.

Shown with a Warbonnet Edge Spintarp. Gray and Gray color is why I call it the ghost.

Shown with some weight in it.

Another angle.

Thanks again for the instructions man. When I get the bug net and the winter top done, I'll post some images.

**SGT Rock** · 02-28-2010, 19:20

Another inspiration made from stuff I've seen in your pics Headchange...

Bug net cover. Add on net for my homemade Ghost Hammock. The net is salvaged from a Hennessy Hammock that got destroyed when I loaned it out. It weighs 4.88 ounces plus about 0.42 ounces for some clips that help seal it.

Top cover. I already had a JRB Weathershield but never used the top. After looking at your pics I decided I found a use for it. I modified the top cover of a JRB Weathersheild to make the cover for my hammock. Now I have a micro climate inside my hammock for wintertime. 4.84 ounces plus those clips again.

**GaHammockGuy** · 03-04-2010, 13:48

Any thoughts on how to install a bug net onto the hammock.

I have a video on my finished product of the body, but I need to add a bug net.

I have thought of either unwrapping the hammock, sewing in the.... um...... I mean attaching the bug net with my thread injector... yeah... that's what I meant.

and then wrap the hammock ends back up and add my suspension conenctors.

Or trying to install the bug net to the finished hammock, but that poses an issue.

I also thought about making my bug net a modular piece to be added aftger I hang the hammock.

The modular optioin seems to promise a smaller headache as opposed to the other options.

Any thoughts on bug netting and how to install into the hammock?