OK, I finally got things right with the set up of my WBRR and have a better idea of the comfort that all of you guys have been raving about. I have never been able to get it to work worth a dang on my Vario stand, which is where I do most of my testing over time with all of my other hammocks. But until I build another stand, it's trees only for this baby.
I hiked in a mile or so and picked a couple of hill top trees. Once again, the two trees picked turned out to be just barely long enough. I used my iPhone to actually set the angle at 25 degrees, or pretty dang close.(Though I noticed after I was done hanging it was closer to 30*) I had the head slightly lower, opposite of my JRBs. The cinch buckles were just a few inches from the trees.
It was totally comfortable, much closer to what every one has been saying, maybe the most comfy all round of any. First, it was plenty stable. ( I did not have the short middle bar in) Probably not quite as stable as either of my JRBs, but more than adequate. Last time I hung in these woods, I felt like I could possibly role out during my sleep, especially if I got on my side and leaned back into the side of my hammock like I love to do with my JRBs, especially my old and deep model. (maybe I had it too tight?) Not as stable as a JRB, but still more than stable enough, today. I leaned back into the sides and had enough support in my back, I would have to really push it to roll over those tight edges. Near impossible to do so by accident in my old JRB, and hard to do with this WBRR. Good enough.
Previously, I felt that comfort on my back was unsurpassed and if you include leg comfort on my back, maybe unequaled. But I did not feel like side comfort quite matched my JRBs or some of my non-bridges. But today that was all up to par. It might be a little easier to get more fetal than my JRBs and especially my deeper older JRB, and equal comfort with legs straight. So I guess that makes the RR the winner vs the JRBs in this area by a small amount.
As far as back comfort, equal to the JRBs but with more shoulder room especially compared to my deep oldie. So I guess that makes the RR the winner here also. Oh yes, it also made for a very comfy seat. Uh Oh, now I may have to buy one of those custom fit WB UQs!
So I guess that is it, right? Well, maybe not. While I will have to declare the RR as slightly more comfortable than my JRBs in all areas per today's test, I am still not ready to abandon my JRBs ( or some of my non-bridge) for trail use. Because my JRBs are still super comfy for me. Not near as much shoulder room, but still plenty for me. The shoulders just don't bother me in the JRBS, even less bother with the UL, and I feel so snug with the quilts in the JRBs, less room at the sides for the quilt edges to go wandering, seems to me anyway. And the JRB length with suspension is maybe several feet less, and the UL is several oz lighter. And the spreader bars are 8 or 10" wider in the RR, making what is already a tarp issue even more of one. So the JRBs are still very comfy for me, I have had some really nice sleeping in them out on the trail, and they have some advantages of their own. At least on the trail. So I am not ready to throw them out just yet! And then there are the non-bridges and their advantages.
And as I said in a recent thread, even in my HH Explorer UL, if I go to fetal position, it is equal to or greater in comfort than any hammock I have, period! It is more comfy in fetal than any of my bridge hammocks, because there is more room for my knees. It would be as comfy on my back except for leg comfort, which is no match for any bridge, and it can't compete for side sleeping with legs straight. Still, lots of comfy positions including some of my favorite ways to sleep. It is lighter, shorter and has no bars to fool with. It's no match for ease of use with an UQ, but then I do like my Super Shelter on it. Not that I am pushing the HH Explorer UL as my fav, but it is pretty good IMO, and some other non-bridges are as good or maybe better.
Anyway, today I found the WBRR very comfy in all positions, though not a match for fetal position compared to many non-bridges, but still pretty good. And also very stable. Now I have a better idea of what Y'all have been talking about. Who knows, it may draw me away from all others someday!
Bookmarks