Bridge hammock cover/tent/cocoon.
I was looking at the Chrysalis Hammock Tent as an interesting idea for winter camping. But when I started reading the reviews everyone shot it down as weighting way to much at 7 lbs. I agree. And that an under quilt could not be used with the system etc.
However, the engineer in me started to think why can it not be lighter?
So I built one of my own, it started with a Grizz bridge hammock design I saw him do where his head is actually right under the spreader bar. And took it one-step farther doing the same for the feet. This left me with a hammock that is only 9 feet long. The total weight of the hammock is 14.71 oz, the tent pole spreader bars add 11.29 oz to this.
The fabric is 1.9 oz ripstop and the webbing is .5 inch wide mil-spec Dyneema, and suspension is done with Amsteel. This has been strong enough to hold me (6 ft, 280 lbs) and my pack/cloths etc (25 lbs) with no problem and no stretch in the hammock at all. This helps with setting up the cover.
The underquilt is 6 oz apex with Momentum 50 as cover material for both sides. Weights in at 1 lb 14 oz. and is good down to 0 (I have used it down to 28 so far with only a go lite 30 UL top quilt.) and since the hammock does not stretch I have light speed clips on the six connecting points. With the top ones adjustable.
The cover is made from 1.1 ripstop DMR material. I was going to use silnylon but the DMR is waterproof (water just rolls off) and is still breathable so I do not wake up with the inside wet. due to dew point or tent weeping. It weights 15.6 oz. and was first tested for waterproofness by my daughter standing on the roof of the house with a water hose and spray nozzle shooting the cover full force, I had a small zipper leak but the way the design works it drips down the zipper and back out the bottom.
I have had it out in a rainstorm with 50 mph winds, which dropped 2 inches of rain in an hour, at 36 degrees outside temperature. And slept nice and warm with only the golite 30 top quilt and a pair or boxer shorts. The wind did sway the hammock a little so I might have to find a way to tie it down a little.
I have slept at 50 degrees with no top quilt (took a spill in a river and soaked my sleeping bag down does not work when it is soaked) just a pillow and my boxers.
I will post some photos as soon as I figure out how, if it works the first one is the whole thing set up (cover, hammock and underquilt).
Second is my daughter hanging out inside.
Third is my Shanghai-la 3 tent, and Exped DownMat 7 Air Pad (my old standard for sub 30 degree F nights, the three bags on the left), with the spreader bars, hammock, underquilt, and cover in the stuff sack on the right.
The lose in volume has let me go from a 75 cu pack to a 45 cu pack, in all I have lost 9 lbs of weight from combined gear changes, tent, sleeping bag (I can use the golite 30 where I use to use a helium 0), pad to underquilt, 75 cu pack with full suspension to a 45 cu with no frame, tent to just a hammock cover.
the only draw back I have found is I can not use my stove in my tent anymore. that use to be nice because you could make breakfast in bed and heat up the tent before getting out of bed to get dressed.
I do want to say thanks to Grizz for a the great write-ups and information he has posted I went from a ground sleeper who hated tents and pads, etc. to a tree hanger that loves to curl up in his cocoon at night and sleeping sound and warm.
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