Hi from Edmonton Alberta

[HangingKayaker]

Found this forum while looking for information about trying to select a hammock. Initially planned on a Hennessey but see there are many other choices, ie Clark and Warbonnett.
I will use the hammock to replace my tent for single kayak and hiking/camping trips. Usually will last 2 or 3 days but could be up to a week.
I'm new to this, 51, weigh 210 and am 6'2".
Looking forward to any suggestions that anyone can provide.
A couple of questions I have:
- sleeping position, I'm not much of a back sleeper but could do it, usually sleep on my stomach in my tent, figure side or back would work okay in a hammock
- bottom entry (Hennessey) would seem to make getting into a sleeping bag somewhat more difficult than a side entry

Thanks again and happy new year to everyone.
Scott

[eagleJ]

Welcome to HF Scott. I have both HH and WBBB I prefer the side entry over the bottom entry and the shelf feature on the blackbird is great. I think HH is making them both ways now. I am normally a side sleeper but usually find myself sleeping on my back in the hammock.

[Callahan]

Hey Scott,

Newbie and former Edmontonian myself, I agree with EagleJ on all points, I went with the WB BB and superfly. If you want to see a side by side comparison, this 3 part video series is really helpful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg4dumdEHAU

Cheers

[KerMegan]

I mostly stomach sleep at home, but when in a tent I turn 90 degrees, snooze, turn 90, snooze, snooze, turn again..etc
in the hammock I tend to curl up slightly, and tip just a little to one side or the other, which you cannot do in tent or bed, but the hammock fabric wraps and supports most of the way around, so there is no major pressure point/s as on the ground, I shift mostly to rearrange the feet/leg joints from time to time..
hope that helps some! KM (who is contemplating another backyard nap-will need more covers today than yesterday..)
PS have no clue about edmonton weather, here is 43 currently, was 66*f yesterday..DFW in TX if you were wondering.

[mbiraman]

welcome to the forum from another kayaker. If you become a donating member there is a whole lot more camping related info available to you. Paddling and hammocking are a good combo.

[mbiraman]

[QUOTE=KerMegan;379749]I mostly stomach sleep at home, but when in a tent I turn 90 degrees, snooze, turn 90, snooze, snooze, turn again..etc
in the hammock I tend to curl up slightly, and tip just a little to one side or the other, which you cannot do in tent or bed, but the hammock fabric wraps and supports most of the way around, so there is no major pressure point/s as on the ground, I shift mostly to rearrange the feet/leg joints from time to time..
hope that helps some! KM (who is contemplating another backyard nap-will need more covers today than yesterday..)
PS have no clue about edmonton weather, here is 43 currently, was 66*f yesterday..DFW in TX if you were wondering.[/QUOTE

For Edmonton weather just stick your hand in the freezer for an idea.

[Poppabear]

Welcome to HF. At home I sleep on my stomach. But in a hammock I do just fine on my back or partially on my side.

[KerMegan]

For Edmonton weather just stick your hand in the freezer for an idea.

yet another reason not to go visiting up there...DH would become Popsicle just hearing the weather reports..
I'm sure you love it!, but cold is not on the list of my favorite things ...
KM (who is having hot Chai (spiced tea) right now)

[gunner76]

welcome to the madness

I am mostly a stomach sleeper in bed but sleep on my side in the hammock. Like at home in the bed I will turn from side to side a couple of times during the night.

If there are any other hammock hangers in your area I am sure they would be happy to show off their gear and let you test out a hammock.

Of course I recomend a WB BB for camping as I like the built in bug net and storage shelf. Also I have the double which makes it easy to slip a pad in between the layers. When the bugs are not out I will use my ENO or Grand Trunk for afternoon hammock studies (taking a nap) in the back yard

[Bradley]

For Edmonton weather just stick your hand in the freezer for an idea.

yet another reason not to go visiting up there...

Alberta is where I had experianced -25°C to -30°C on a regular basis,
And Just south of the 60th parallel experianced -60°C

and summers hotter than a fire cracker . . . ahhhh but I was young,
and being in the forest helped a lot.

I have so many Alberta winter memories,
hiking for miles in knee deep snow . . .
to the light of a sliver of a moon

Crisp, clean air.
Sun Dogs in the day, and moon dogs . . . well at night.
a Thousand types of lightning . . .
and the most colourful Northern Lights.
Coyote yipes in the evening,
and tweeting and twerping in the morning,
The ThudThudThudThudThud of the waitin' to be matin' ptarmigan, and Prairie Chicken.

Come spring, the trails were hard to stay on . . .
as the snow melt happened all around you
as you took to the trails
that were hard packed through the winter
are now thick and hard, rounded topped . . .

Many old spruce bow leen2's every now and again.

Game . . . plent of . . . not a lot of bear nor cougar.

Welcome Scott . . . can't wait to hear of your exploites,
and to see your photos.

Oh yea . . . we can't forget West Edmonton mall . . . Ha ha ha ha