Officially a swinger now!

**VaFish** · 06-14-2009, 16:03

Well I did my first weekend camping in a hammock.

I've been hanging out here for few weeks. I started looking at hammocks after a 3 day backpacking trip on the AT with my sons scout troop. My 45 year old back just didn't like getting up in the morning. Not only that, but for 3 days I didn't have a chair or anything else to sit on other than the ground. I started thinking a simple hammock would be worth it's weight on my next backpacking trip.

So I started looking at what REI had for hammocks, I figured they'd have a light weight hammock I could bring along. I typed "hammock" into REI's search engine and it came back with these pictures of hammocks with no-see-um netting and rain fly's.

Well I decided I wanted to try this hammock camping stuff, but I'm a cheap SOB, so I didn't want to drop nearly $200 to see if I liked using a hammock for camping. The Byer Moskito Travler at $39 seemed like a good place to start. It didn't have a rain fly, but I had some cheap blue poly tarps and plenty of rope.

So here is my set up for my first hammock camping. We drove in to the camp site so I wasn't too concerned about the weight. Even so the tie out ropes and light weight aluminum tent pegs make a pretty light package.

I had 2 very comfortable nights sleep. I did wake up a couple of times just feeling like I had to move around/roll over, but I fell back asleep pretty quickly. Definitely better sleep than the backpacking trip.

**slowhike** · 06-14-2009, 16:36

Well that sounds like a pretty good deal, being well rested for that price!
Welcome to hammocking! You'll probably be leaving that tent home soon!

**swampfox** · 06-14-2009, 16:46

Welcome aboard VaFish,
Your story is so familiar, you could have been writing about me.
It was on a scout backpacking trip, I knew I was going to do something else.
Glad your first one was good. It only gets better as you pick up the little tricks.

**BillyBob58** · 06-14-2009, 17:29

Same here, it was looking back after a weeks trip and realizing, despite some trouble, how much better I had slept than ever before, and how much more refreshed I was in the mornings. Welcome aboard and into the hammock world! That is a great 1st try, much better than mine, and much cheaper!

**lori** · 06-14-2009, 23:49

It only gets better from here!

**bdpalace** · 06-15-2009, 08:38

Hey all...long time lurker, first time poster...

I had my first night in my HH this weekend and I'm 100% bought in on hammock camping. That was the best night of sleep I've had outdoors in 15 years! I was extremely impressed with the a-sym design that allowed me to sleep on my side.

This will definitely be my shelter of choice next week when I start my section hike of the Sheltowee Trace. I'm sure the other 40+ hikers in our group will be eyeballing my hammock pretty hard by day three.

This forum was perfect for figuring out my first purchase and I've already been looking at some of the DIY mods. THANKS!

**Rain Man** · 06-15-2009, 08:43

Originally Posted by bdpalace

This will definitely be my shelter of choice next week when I start my section hike of the Sheltowee Trace. I'm sure the other 40+ hikers in our group will be eyeballing my hammock pretty hard by day three.

Many trails have limits on group size. I don't know about the Sheltowee Trace, but you might check to make sure your group is legal.

Rain Man