Wanted to share my review of the Three Season Argon Insulhammock and matching Argon tarp.
I spent a total of 5 nights in the highlands of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. As typical for this area during the spring, the weather was fickle but allowed for a real good test of the quality and workmanship from Insulhammock. Elevations ranged from 4500’ to 5800’. The first night out was dry, slight breeze, and low of 60° F. Tarp doors were buckled but not Velcro shut. I had the hammock totally open and slept comfortably in shorts and t-shirt. At some point the flaps got pulled over me but I did not zip. I could feel the breeze if I lifted my hand above the sides of the hammock but the argon on the bottom was blocking the breeze. My back was warm but not hot.
The second night was what I call “ground clouds”. The rain had pushed through but the clouds remained on the mountain. Visibility was about 2-6’ with headlamp. I pitched tarp first and low to ground. I then hung and centered hammock under tarp. I closed doors with Velcro this time as well as remainder of nights. Deployment from bag is a breeze and the buckles and webbing were fast and easy to adjust in the dark. Temp dropped to 50°. I zipped up to waist and flapped on chest and shoulders. I could see fog billowing up into tarp from ground as wind blew. When I woke, I had condensation on ends of hammock. This concerned me greatly because I knew that bad weather was coming for later in the week and I didn’t want wet down. I was able to take a long lunch in a clearing and dry all equipment including myself.
Third night, rain pushed through before hanging. Temp stayed in the 50’s. I was cool while cooking supper and added rain coat to cut wind. I slept in t-shirt and shorts with top zipped up to chin. I woke in the morning in fetal position under cover. I was toasty and had the “don’t want to stick my head out dreads”.
On the fourth night, the main body of the weather system arrived. Holy sweet mother! Made stupid error and camped exposed on ridge. I would guess the wind gusts to be 40-50 mph with horizontal rain. Tarp was pitched low to ground and I used the upper tie outs as well on the windward side. I woke in the storm to the horror of water drops on legs. I turned head lamp on and noticed drip from ridge seam. Wind was still howling. I don’t think this was a manufacturing flaw. I think cheaper tarps would have already shredded at this point. I was alarmed at the water on the ends of hammock. I took head lamp and inspected the down. It was dry. The argon was wet but no down clumping. The water was jumping over my half hitch at buckle. I went ahead and pulled the loop through to make tight half hitch and let tag end trail down tarp doors. That was about the end of sleep until storm blew through. I zipped the top up totally and inspected all the cool custom options. I had asked for additional side pocket at head end for extra light and place to stow my air-weight. This pocket also held another piece of test equipment (Delorme InReach) just fine. Zipper pulls were made of glow cord, which help assist you if you forget light on top of hammock and zip up! There are hand loops at each end of hammock. I was able to turn around inside hammock and use pulls to pull myself up to inspect water issues.
The fifth night was the coldest night. It got down to 32°. I had mid-weight wool top and bottoms on with light fleece cap and wool socks. I was warm, but not toasty. With comfort level at freezing, I believe this version of the Insulhammock is acceptable for 4 season duty in the Southern States. Additional layers of winter clothing (down pants and jacket over wool) will allow me to go colder with the Insulhammock and easily to single digits.
I am totally satisfied with the Insulhammock. Craftsmanship is excellent. The maker believes in his product and continually strives to better it as technology and materials improve. I look forward to seeing performance in the heat and humidity on smallmouth floats this summer. Some of the photos will show whoopie suspension instead of the strap and cinch buckle. I’m trying these out but the straps and cinch buckles are the best for me in bad weather and quick fiddle free, get my tail warm and dry adventures I take! Either suspension allows you to unhook from the body of hammock and bag. In storm you can pitch tarp low, velcro doors closed, insert suspension at ridge line and deploy hammock totally enclosed.
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Originally Posted by twotrees
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