A few random thoughts...

[Just Jeff]

So I made a zippered TravelPod. Not perfect yet, but I like it. Thing is, I made it barely to short to use with my most recent down hammock. So I made another hammock, shorter and wider, to fit the pod. I was kinda surprised at what I found.

- This one is much more comfortable than the down hammock. I started with 62"x114", hemmed, and used a zip-tie instead of whipping. I think I'm back to using full-width material.

- Also, with the shorter hammock I'll get better end-coverage with the tarp. Except I'll be more diagonal, so the coverage by my feet and head might be a bit worse. Doubt it'll make much difference either way.

- The two-way zipper on the TravelPod is much more convenient than the drawstring opening on the hammock sock. I think I made the pod too wide, though...haven't decided if I want it smaller or not. Right now it'll fit over the ridgeline and still give me some space underneath the hammock. I could remove an ounce or three of material, though.

- Here's the funny thing - the material I used for the hammock is very staticky. So that got me thinking. I bet if I used this fabric for the top layer of a down hammock, the static would cause the down to stick to the underside...right against my back. No cold spots that way!

- I made a 6 oz backpack, too. At first it was even bigger than my Speed, but I took some of the thickness out. Now it's probably 2300ci or so, with a water bottle pocket on each side and a mesh tarp pocket on the back. I put a panel against my back to hold a sit-pad and act as a frame. After making this one, I think a gearskin-type pack might be even easier to make than a normal pack.

I'll have pics and details of these up on the website sometime...hopefully before the move.

[slowhike]

that`s interresting about the static & the down. i wonder how consistant that would be? seems to be way to consistant on a few of my shirts<G>.
looking forward to those photos & other details.

[Coffee]

I love the 5' wide hammock I made. I just hem the edges and keep the starting width. I am still thinking about the zipper opening on the travel pod. The downside I see is it laying a little strange if you do not want to fully inclose the hammock. I like pulling the sock up to about shoulder level similar to a quilt. The big advantage I see is adding it after the hammock is hung and needing less material and saving weight.

Add some pics if you can Jeff. I would be interested in seeing your travel pod.

[Just Jeff]

I'll get some pics up when I can. This is a two-way zipper, so I can zip it closed from each end. So I can zip it right up to the back of my neck, then zip the other end right up to the front of my neck - so only my head is sticking out. Or open it up any amount in between.

The width is the problem right now - I like being able to zip it around the ridgeline like a full tent, but when it's not zipped most of the way, the bottom touches the ground. I can either keep it like it is, or remove enough material from the bottom that it hangs like Risk's TravelPod. Haven't decided yet...

[Grinder]

I couldn't agree more about the width. I've been sleeping in my hammock for over a month now. With 56 in. finished width and about 11 foot length I can lie almost flat.

I would also appreciate pictures of the pack. Reading about hiking has me ready to try an overnight on the Florida Trail up near Ocala. I would need a pack for that.

After toting my lavishly big homemades, I just might begin to obscess about ounces like the rest of you do!!<G>

Miles of Smiles

Tom

[Porkbutter]

- Here's the funny thing - the material I used for the hammock is very staticky. So that got me thinking. I bet if I used this fabric for the top layer of a down hammock, the static would cause the down to stick to the underside...right against my back. No cold spots that way!

Jeff,
Don't count on the static being constant. It may well decrease as the material ages, and will certainly vary with the weather. The static will likely go away in damp weather.

[headchange4u]

My first hammock is probably 53-54 inches wide, finished. Even with a ridge line to adjust the sag the shoulder area is a little tighter than I like. It's still comfortable but not as comfortable as my ~60" hammocks.

[Just Jeff]

Backpack is up.
http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearBackpack1.html

[headchange4u]

That looks good Jeff. 6oz for a pack. Wow.

[slowhike]

thanks jeff. looks good. i`ll be studying that more in the days to come.
i hope to make a pack too.

[Coffee]

Man if only I was an ultralight guy.

[Just Jeff]

Porkbutter - I think it's the treatment that's causing the static. But you're right...it'll probably wear over time. Hopefully. Although static popping inside the hammock on a really dry night (like in Yosemite) makes for an excellent light show!

Hammock Engineer - keep making your stuff and you'll be there. Though the 6 oz pack is probably only good for overnighters or summer weekends for me. I wouldn't try to bring this on a thru-hike. Not yet, anyway!

TravelPod is up.
http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearTravelPod.html

I made this hammock with a zip-tie instead of whipping, too. Scroll down here to see a pic...nothing exciting, just a zip-tie on a hammock.
http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockWhipping.html

[Coffee]

Hammock Engineer - keep making your stuff and you'll be there. Though the 6 oz pack is probably only good for overnighters or summer weekends for me. I wouldn't try to bring this on a thru-hike. Not yet, anyway!

Thanks. I'm working on it. I haven't added everything up in a while. But with the soon to be added gearskin instead of my heavy old pack I should be under 20 minus food/water.

Back on your pod. Do you think the bigger area inside vs Risk's version is good or bad? I wonder if the larger area will be harder for your body to heat. Or if after your body heats it, it will not make a difference.

[Just Jeff]

Not good or bad - just different. Mine has more surface area to lose heat to the outside, and like you said more volume for my body to heat. So strictly heat-wise, his probably works better. That's why I'm considering making mine smaller.

But it sure is convenient having more room inside...especially if I want to put my head inside to escape the wind. The Pod is nowhere near my face, my gear can fit inside so I don't have to lose all of my heat to get to my pack, etc. Just a different piece of gear.

I'll probably get some use out of it before I decide if I want to cut it down or not. Or maybe I'll just add a zipper to my HammockSock v2, and keep one big and cut the other one down like Risk's.

[FanaticFringer]

Your pack has mine beat by 4.5 oz. I'm jealous. My hammock has yours beat by 8 oz.:D

[Just Jeff]

Ahem. Systems approach. My DownHammock weighs less than the Nest. :D

(It's not as versatile but I have the NS for that.)

But I doubt I'll be able to carry this pack in winter...I can probably just fit my three-season gear with two days of food in there.