the mid tenn hangout was a blast

**neo** · 03-18-2007, 15:17

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**Just Jeff** · 03-18-2007, 16:32

Good pics, neo...thanks for posting. Sounds like y'all had a great time - I wish it was closer so I could have gone.

**Just Jeff** · 03-18-2007, 16:42

Yeah - bet we'll convert her before long...resistance is futile.

**Ewker** · 03-18-2007, 20:33

here is my pics from the trip.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/558239931EfIpoH

I survived the night

. I had a 1/4" ccf pad and my therm-a-rest. I used my 15° as a quilt and it did ok. I didn't get cold but then again I have no idea what the temps were. Sometime during the night the bag ended up under me with the zipper on top. I went ahead and zipped it up until I had to go water the trees. I did manage to flip/roll/fall out of the hammock during the night

. I keep sliding most of the night. My feet would end up in the area where the end was tied off. I would push myself forward trying toget back to the other end of the hammock. I tried to pull the pads up also. This morning all of the pads were pushed down to the foot end of the hammock. I don't have a clue as to why this kept happening

In all honesty this was probably my worst night of sleep ever

. When I got up my back was hurting from the way I slept?

I will try it again and see if I can change anything. Heck if we all stopped going camping or backpacking because we had problems no one would be out there again

**Ewker** · 03-19-2007, 07:57

Glad you liked that pic. I was glad it didn't come out blurry.

Neo, Thanks for putting this together. I had a good time

Jeff, my therm-a-rest is 72" long. It was coming out over the edge of the hammock which caused (or so it seemed) my feet to be higher.

**Just Jeff** · 03-18-2007, 20:36

Sounds like your feet should be hung higher...that would solve most of the problem. Wrestling with the pads won't go away until you get rid of the pads, but a SPE or two-layer hammock would help.

But try hanging your feet 6" higher next time and see if it helps.

**Ewker** · 03-18-2007, 21:24

I was using a SPE. I had both pads in it and some on the sides. They still slid around. It felt like my feet were way above my head already.

**BillyBob58** · 03-19-2007, 14:11

Originally Posted by Ewker

I was using a SPE. I had both pads in it and some on the sides. They still slid around. It felt like my feet were way above my head already.

Well, sounds like I missed a good one! I'll have to put my sights on Octoberfest!

Ewker, I'm surprised to hear you slid around on the SPE, and that you already had the foot hung higher! I haven't had any trouble with a full length ridgerest plus thermarest 3/4 ultralight selfinflate. And I had the same problems sliding down my first night out, with the hammock hung level. The next night the foot went higher and no more trouble. You may just have to hang it(the foot) even higher. But reading your further posts, that full length thermarest (selfinflating?) combined with maybe a too short hammock, might be your problem. My full length ridgerest will curve more or less to the shape of the hammock so my feet stay somewhat low. I'm thinking a selfinflator might not. Of couse, most of the time I don't need a pad, cause the supershelter takes me to the low 30s or lower.

**Ewker** · 03-19-2007, 14:49

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

Ewker, I'm surprised to hear you slid around on the SPE, and that you already had the foot hung higher! I haven't had any trouble with a full length ridgerest plus thermarest 3/4 ultralight selfinflate. And I had the same problems sliding down my first night out, with the hammock hung level. The next night the foot went higher and no more trouble. You may just have to hang it(the foot) even higher. But reading your further posts, that full length thermarest (selfinflating?) combined with maybe a too short hammock, might be your problem. My full length ridgerest will curve more or less to the shape of the hammock so my feet stay somewhat low. I'm thinking a selfinflator might not. Of couse, most of the time I don't need a pad, cause the supershelter takes me to the low 30s or lower.

I also have an Insul Max Mat that I may try. It is mummy shape at the foot end so it might stay in the hammock better.

I think the self inflating Therm-a-rest was just to wide and wouldn't stay/form to the inside the hammock. Neo thought it might have to much air in it which is why it kept popping out

I can speak for other hammocks but when I would turn on my side (facing out of the hammock) that side of the hammock was only 4-6 high. My face would be higher than the side. Is this normal or should the side be higher?

**slowhike** · 03-19-2007, 14:57

ewker, if you can come to the hot springs camp out, i'll bet we could set you up w/ a hammock that's plenty long, properly insulated & hung right... then see what happens