Sell me on Hammocks

[phoenixdadeadhead]

I was talking to Darby the other day, and he began to talk about hammocks. Now my only memory of hammocks were cheap ones we had when i was young. They were not comfortable to me, I had a hard time getting in and out, and I was never able to fall asleep in 1, but I am getting older, and sleeping on the hard ground or a wooden shelter isn't as nice as it used to be, and I don't like cumbersome pads lol. I have always been a side sleeper, which might explain why I wasn't a fan of the net hammocks we had when I was young. Since talking to Darby I have been doing my research, and think the bridge hammock looks promising. Here's my deal though, I am scared I will feel confined, and uncomfortable. SO do I just make 1 and hope I will like it?

[plowhorse]

that would be my suggestion. I was very leary of spending the money to try out something new myself, so I went out and bought the fabric and made my own to try it out. As far as the style, mine is a gathered end, and I have no problem sleeping on my side, or even rolling over in it. welcome to the forums

[riverkeeper]

I am scared I will feel confined, and uncomfortable. SO do I just make 1 and hope I will like it?

Since there a few who do not take to hammocks I suggest a DIY Speer type ... keep the bucks low but still get the experience. Ed Speer's book is 'Hammcok Camping". 10-11' or so of 1.7 or 1.9 oz ripstop 60" wide and some webbing. You can be in business for 25-30 bucks or so. OR buy a single ENO.

Add the tarp when you decide to like it.

Highly UNlikely you'll feel confined ... because you'll be asleep.

Some better advice from someone else will be along shortly.

[lori]

Not sure if I've got better advice - but as a total claustrophobic I can tell you that some hammocks are more enclosed-feeling than others. I didn't try a bridge because of all the hammocks it seemed least roomy; I flip out in two person tents, so. My first try was a Hennessy, which is okay, but the bug net felt too low to me and the hammock (in retrospect) was still a little too confining for me. I picked up a Warbonnet and think that this will be my final choice in hammocks. The Blackbird is roomy and the bugnet high enough that I am not feeling confined at all, and I can sleep in any position I like except stomach sleeping. I generally do not find I can sleep well on my back, however, the hammock is comfortable enough that I can do so.

You are in NC - you might be able to go to one of the east coast group hangs and take a look at people's hammock setups.

A DIY is very affordable for a tryout hammock - google for Risk's test hammock and while you're at it read up over at Just Jeff's Hammock 101 site. And keep surfing around the forum. Lots of into on specific hammocks and tarps.

We've come a long way from flat net hammocks.

[Ramblinrev]

You are in NC - you might be able to go to one of the east coast group hangs and take a look at people's hammock setups.

The Hot Springs Hang this coming weekend springs to mind. If it's anything like the other hangs, try and find a hammock omeone would NOT let you sample. In fact, if you asked around you might be able to get fixed up with a full rig (or two) for the weekend.

[MacEntyre]

Sell me on Hammocks

I would do that by inviting you to get in one. That's really the only way.

[HappyCamper]

You're in NC. Go to the Hot Springs, NC Hang this weekend, Apr. 24 - 26. Get to see all kinds of hammocks and talk to Ed Speer, the guy who wrote the book on hammocks. Odds are pretty good that you'll never want to sleep on the ground again.

[TinaLouise]

I would do that by inviting you to get in one. That's really the only way.

I agree, you need to just get in one. Or several different ones to see which fits you better. I'm planning on attending one of the NC group hangs and there's another hang being planned "for the deep south". Gonna take my husband (a tent guy) w/me so he can see and try different hammocks. He's gotten into mine but at 6'4", he's just too big for it.

[Knotty]

I'm a newbie too, having just done my first hang this past weekend. In a bed I side sleep and then during the night switch to my back.

In the Hennessy side sleeping is no problem, especially if you sleep on your right side as you will be facing away from the closest side. The asymetrical design has your body angle from head on the left to feet on the right and it's pretty flat.

Like the others said, try to attend a group hang. I was amazed by how many hammocks everyone owns. Speer type hammocks were pretty popular at the MAHHA Spring Hang.

[BillyBob58]

You're in NC. Go to the Hot Springs, NC Hang this weekend, Apr. 24 - 26. Get to see all kinds of hammocks and talk to Ed Speer, the guy who wrote the book on hammocks. Odds are pretty good that you'll never want to sleep on the ground again.

There will be a ton of dif hammocks for you to try out. I will have at the least a Warbonnet Black Bird and a JRB bridge hammock, and there will probably be just about every kind. Even if you could just drive there for Sat afternoon, you could get 10,000 words worth of advice in one hour.

Of course, until you actually try to sleep in one, you won't really know. And because there is a learning curve and it is a bit different with dif hammocks, you might need more than one night to figure out if it is for you. A few folks just do not take to it, even with the finest gear.