Niche Market for Ultralite Hammock Backpacking

**HappyCamper** · 02-04-2011, 08:09

I'm in the middle of watching Glen Van Peski's Lighten Up video. In the past I've been a proponent of getting an ultralite forum on Hammock Forums for ultralite hammock backpacking. For a number of very good reasons the HF moderators have decided not to do that. So that IS NOT what this thread is about. But I still think it is difficult for the ultralite hiker to get information on ultralite hammock backpacking without a whole lot of time invested searching for ultralite gear and techniques. Does anyone else agree with this statement?

I think there is a niche market out there for some cottage industry guy or gal to do the same thing for ultralite hammock backpacking as others have done for ultralite tent/tarp backpacking. This might be supported by an ultralight hammock backpacking website and store. Kinda light BackpackingLight for hammocking. I'm looking for a one stop shop for ultralight hammocking. It could even be a dedicated section to someone else's hammocking store and website.

Other questions? Where do you go for ultralite hammock backpacking information? Is it dedicated to ultralite techniques and gear for hammocking? Am I just not finding the right spot? I haven't been on the forums very much lately so if this is covered somewhere else, point me to it!

**motorapido** · 02-04-2011, 08:46

I agree that it would be nice to have a forum exclusively for ultralight hammocking, but as I thought about it I realized that there wouldn’t be much information to post in an ultralight forum, since, unlike ultralight general backpacking, with all the many types of tents or bivvies or tarps and gear to choose from, in ultralight hammocking, it all boils down to a minimal amount of choices. Grand Trunk Nano 7 hammock, throw out the biners and use whoopies. Cuben fiber MacCat tarp with whoopies for guylines. Titanium stakes. For cold weather hanging, 800 fill down mummy bag with zippered foot box unzipped and bag pulled over/around hammock for winter hanging, and blue CCF pad inside hammock.

Top quilts, bottom quilts, all the other hammock gear? Too heavy for ultralight. Pull an ultralight 800 fill down bag around the hammock. End of story.

Are there other ultralight options that I’ve overlooked?

**MAD777** · 02-04-2011, 08:48

BackpackingLight, where Iv,ve been a long-time member, started a "hammock" sub-forum last year. It doesn't get much traffic though. I think that's because hammocking in general isn't seen as ultralight. I know that's why it took me so long to switch.

I'm glad I did. The comfort is worth the weight to switch, but, the UL pack wasn't worth the wait to switch! (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun).

I think our Sgt. Rock is out there on the cuting edge of UL hammocking.

**NCPatrick** · 02-04-2011, 08:51

I agree, Sgt. Rock started this thread a while ago. Might have some info for ya. Otherwise... ???

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=20614

**kayak karl** · 02-04-2011, 09:09

Originally Posted by motorapido

Are there other ultralight options that I’ve overlooked?

i got my eye on the cuben quilts. waiting for more people to start making them.

**MrTiles** · 02-04-2011, 09:28

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

I agree, Sgt. Rock started this thread a while ago. Might have some info for ya. Otherwise... ???

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=20614

I honestly don't know how I missed that one

I'm not going down the path of UL 100% but I like mixing UL bits in my gear line up. With my weight, I can get away with some of the tricks like DG whoopies - which I hope to be making in the next few days for my Light Hiker. I just want to get my pack base weight down to a consistent 12-13 lbs and be comfy for most weather situations...

**Bat** · 02-04-2011, 10:19

I did find it difficult to find info but I guess I was willing to spend A LOT of time searching. I too am waiting for some of the lighter weight fabrics to be used with quilts.

**bear bag hanger** · 02-04-2011, 10:26

I like the idea of a ultralite hammock forum. There might not be a lot of info right now, but if a separate forum was available, more information might become available.

**motorapido** · 02-04-2011, 10:45

My hammock/bag/tarp in winter (20 degree bag) is a total system weight of 3 pounds 4 ounces, and with my 40 degree bag 2 pounds 8 ounces, and in hot summer, just 15 ounces. The only lighter option is to sleep on the bare ground with no tarp at all.

**NCPatrick** · 02-04-2011, 10:47

Originally Posted by bear bag hanger

I like the idea of a ultralite hammock forum. There might not be a lot of info right now, but if a separate forum was available, more information might become available.

Maybe you'd lighten (ultralite) the Post load, only writing every third word per post?