Finally, some gear testing.

**wa4chq** · 11-04-2013, 14:04

Hello all.... SeaElf here.... today I was able to test some gear that I've been making or buying. I'm gonna make a hammock with some some stuff I recently purchased but today for the test I used an Eno doublenest. Last week I made woopie slings... a couple of days ago made tree straps. The tarp is a Hennessy Hex (hadn't been unfolded). So, I went out in the woods near the marina I work at. Found a great spot to do some testing. Got the tree straps out and put on the trees. I used a couple of sticks to toggle the MS hitch. I had to improvise on the hammock ends but attached the WS's to it and the toggles. Added a temporary ridgeline and did a load test. So far so good. Then I got the tarp out. Man that thing is huge. Got the ends set then staked out the corners. Then I got the shoes off and laid in the hammock. The eno dn is ok, but I don't like all the extra cloth folding and flapping around....the new hammock will take care of that issue. I laid on my jacket cuz it was a little nippy on my back and butt. Today would have been a good day to test the franken-SPE but I didn't bring it. OK, so now I know I'd like to make snakeskins for the tarp ...folding and rolling is not the best way to put the tarp away and keep it clean. I also need to make some stuff sacks to store the tarp stakes and tree straps etc. With my purchase mentioned above I have enough material to make the hammock and sacks etc. So, I'm pleased with todays test and am getting pumped to finally join the ranks of the folks here on hammock forums and do some hanging in the woods. A big thanks to the group for the great source of info here on the forums.

**DAdamEich** · 11-04-2013, 14:09

Looks great! To each his own... I like the extra fabric of the ENO DN. I can wrap it around me if it's chilly, damp, or for bugs. I definitely need to get a tarp that size. That looks great.

**wa4chq** · 11-04-2013, 14:17

Thanks Ike...I shouldn't say I don't like it...... I really have nothing else to compare it too.... and I've haven't camped in it either..... so I may be surprised!

**oldpappy** · 11-04-2013, 14:34

You might look at making a stuff sack or Bishop Bag for the tarp.
Reason: The tarp gets put away damp a lot.The Sack/Bag makes it easy to pull out and put away the tarp to enable drying when an opportunity arises.
Snake skins are great, I use them for my hammock, but I found that you need to tie/secure the tarp to something solid to get the snake skins on. So I use a stuff sack (with a little hole in the bottom for the suspension = a Bishop Bag) for my tarp.
Snake skins will work, just look at this as an alternative method.
PS. Mathews Va. is a real nice place. I almost moved there 15 years ago.