Hello world, how ya all doing? I`m ian from the North East Coat of England (UK), in a place called Sunderland.
Oooh, where to begin! It`s a rather huge story actually that can be traced back some 35 years to when i was about age 11, and so, not wanting to alienate myself from everyone when i`ve just stepped through the door i shall try to be as concise as i possibly can. (cos when it comes to gear oh god i can talk).
- Age 11, joined school ramblers club and got my first rucksack
- Around age 12 or 13 i got my first ever stove(ahhhh its a right of passage is it not folks). It was a camping gaz globetrotter - i still have it lol.
Got older, employed, money, older, olderrrrrrrrrrrrand bought a small amount kit (you know how it is
), and foreverrrrr i have always camped in a tent
Booooo..... Hisssss hums the forum walls. and until now was perfectly content.
I began looking through peoples kit bags on you tube one night (i love to see gear - i`m a gear freak, but arnt we all), and i kind of bumped into a lot of people putting together Bug out Bags or Every Day Carry bags and that really got me thinking about things. I must say here that i dont consider myself to be a survivalist in the slightest so please dont get me wrong. I carry a survival kit in my backpack and for 3 decades it has not seen the light of day (Im sure thats a good thing though), but i did become concerned about the state of affairs in the world these days, especially as i have just obtained my degree in Community and Youth Work Studies (sorry, did i mention i was a Youth Worker), and i found myself agreeing with a great deal of these videos in principal.
Now im a (talker - yes we can see!! Im sorry, bare with me i will get to a hammock i swear i will) type of backpacker who packs the `kitchen sink` out with him. I know, i know! the craze these days is all Ultra lightweight and all, but i just cant be doing with that folks. I likes me comfort, and me comfort these days all fits into a Karrimor Sabre 60-100 with an extra 30 litres of side pockets on. (Oh god, how i love my bergen).
Anyways, i decided to put a rig together that, in the event of an emergency, i could ditch my bergen and carry on my waist only, a bug-out-bag. But i didnt want just survival bits and bobs, i wanted something that was going to be exactly like my bergen. Something practical and functional, i could use for actual Backpacking (only on my waist instead), and that would not just keep me alive for 72 hours in major discomfort, but provide me with a real shelter and camp environment.
So, that was the tents out. Only option i could think of was a net hammock.
Off i went to you tube again and sat there til 4 or 5am getting myself an education in hammocks (told ya id get there in the end didnt i), when i happened upon someone showing the new DD travel Hammock. When i saw the size and weight, that was it, i knew i was having it but after 30 years in a tent, still needed that little push in order to pull the plastic out. That was when, per chance, i just so happened upon "The Shugmeister".
I never got to bed folks. i watched EVERYTHING this man had to say and that was it, i bought it there and then. I cant remember the last time i laughed so hard. Aside from a absolute wealth of knowledge old shug provided me with, he did one massive thing for me. He made me remember what it was like to camp as a kid. You know, the whole venturing into the unknown....the total buzz of it. Ohhh man, i really, really wish i could shake the mans hand for that. I`d became `safe` you know, to the point of every outdoor experience was regimental and methodical. it was ok but the `real` buzz had slipped away and i didnt even realise.
I have it back now, and i havent got a clue what im doing, but im loving doing it!!
And that folks, leads me to here.
I plan on venturing out into the wilds armed only with my hammock and a tiny amount of backpacking gear compared to what im used to. So, i came here (with not being suicidally inclined and all), to ask a few questions if needs be and get to know people of this new world of hammocking (well, new to me that is). Hey, i`ll probably pitch it (do you pitch a hammock by the way?) and fall out the thing the instant i climb in it. I think some nights out in the back garden are required first here).
Anyways, i best shut up now.
Just want to say thanks for having me here to the admin, much obliged. And i look forward to getting to know a few people and learning....especially learning, as im a complete hammock noob.
Woooooooohoo Buddies
Kind Regards to all.
ian
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Originally Posted by Bomber
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