View Full Version : Tobit tries a DD
FishinFinn heard about my trials and tribulations trying to find the perfect hammock for me and wanted me to give a DD hammock a try so he offered to send me one of his to try out. Nice guy, eh? :cool:
So far, a Trek Light Double fits me the best. However, I really like the double bottom style hammocks with integrated bug netting. The last hammock I tried was a Claytor Jungle but it was way too narrow and I could never get comfortable in it.
The DD arrived today so I put my favorite suspension on it, cinch buckles with seatbeat webbing, and tried it out. So far, the DD is a lot more comfortable than the Claytor Jungle I tried previously. However, I'm wondering if it is going to be wide enough. I do like how I can lay almost flat in it. I haven't tried rolling over on my side yet (I'm traditionally a slide sleeper).
Here is a picture of me in it. I don't have the bug netting rigged up yet, I'm going to do this in a little bit and play with it some more. Does this look small on me?
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6258/dd3ah4.th.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dd3ah4.jpg)
Here is how the current sag is currently set:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1130/dd1je1.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dd1je1.jpg)
Looking good!:cool: But you have to get the net up and try it. You'll be amazed at how much room it has internally with the bug netting up!:cool:
Well, I rigged up the bug net and loosened the sag just a little bit. I am making some progress, this DD hammock might just work although I do wish it was a little bigger. There is simply no way for me to lay diagonal in this.
It's quite hot here today so I can't spend a whole lot of time inside of it testing but this is a lot better than my Claytor Jungle was so far.
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8519/dd4qi3.th.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dd4qi3.jpg)
When you get a chance, throw a pad in the pad pocket and try it that way. I have also been known to use a piece of carpet padding cut to fit in my DD's pad pocket.:D:eek: Too heavy for backpacking, but it makes a great backyard insulation/cushion layer in the DD.
headchange4u
08-01-2008, 13:43
I have found that the DD works best hung with little or no sag. When hung this way your lay in the hammock is more down the middle and less diagonal than any other hammock I have tried.
I just re-hung it in a different spot in the yard. Going to try and sleep in it tonight. The trees are a bit far a part so the suspension doesn't look pretty but we'll try it and see what happens.
The only pad I own is a 1/4" thick torso length pad, may try it though but I don't think it's going to matter much. Now that the netting is spread out, there is definitely more width inside this vs. my old Claytor.
It just hit 90 degrees here right now, no more testing til later tonight as the sun is directly over head. phew!
This DD with my cinch buckle suspension, biners, and 24' of webbing weighs 2.8 lbs. Not too shabby at all. :cool:
FanaticFringer
08-01-2008, 15:00
Oh great another hammock I now have to try out.:D
Alright, she is all set for sleeping in tonight. Ignore the ghetto suspension, these trees are way too far apart but I was able to rig it up so it's comfortable to lay in. I also don't have very much width for the tarp side ties.
Forecast for tonight:
Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9445/dd5qi3.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dd5qi3.jpg)
Alright, she is all set for sleeping in tonight. Ignore the ghetto suspension, these trees are way too far apart but I was able to rig it up so it's comfortable to lay in. I also don't have very much width for the tarp side ties.
Forecast for tonight:
Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9445/dd5qi3.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dd5qi3.jpg)
I hope this works for you, I really do. :) We all need a reliable, comfortable hammock. I'm glad I could help. You are the first person who has taken me up on one of my offers to loan out a hammock, so I really hope that I could help in some small way and that you find something that works for you, even if it isn't this one. But I do hope the DD works out for you. It's a great hammock. :)
Weather forecast has improved for this evening: Some clouds. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. 20% chance of precip.
Going to head out to the hammock for the night in a little bit. :D Added my Gossamer Gear Torso length pad to help give it some structure and minor insulation just in case.
Well, my sleep last night was a moderate success. Slept from approximately 10:30pm til 4:30am. Waking up around 4:30am is quite ideal when hiking so no complaints here.
I wish the hammock was just a little bit bigger; slightly longer and wider would be nice. I am a side sleeper in a regular bed and this was difficult to do in the DD for me. There is also a fair amount of pressure applied to my feet at the end of the hammock. I was afraid I'd wake up a little sore in my knees and feet as a result but, thankfully, I didn't. However, this may end up working out ok for spring time hanging when the bugs are the worse and I can use my Trek Light Double in late Summer and Fall.
The only real complaint I have is the lack of a closure on the top shell fabric. Sometimes it is a bit difficult to adjust this under you after you get in the hammock.
Think I need to play with it some more before making a final decision but this is very promising still. :cool:
slowhike
08-02-2008, 18:20
You're probably trying to avoid using a thicker pad (& I can certainly understand that), but if you did try one, it may help w/ the pressure on your heels if you hang them off the end of the mat.
Having some kind of a pillow (air pillow or stuff sack w/ extra clothes?) below my knees when I'm on my back & between my knees when I'm on my side is also helpful.
Also, if you don't want to use more pad, hanging w/ more sag & laying more diagonal may help w/ the leg comfort issue by raising the center & alowing your legs & shoulders to hang a little lower.
Diagonal in this hammock is unfortunately not possible, there just simply is not enough material for me. I had a fleece blanket in the hammock with me last night, although I did not need it because it was so warm, I did find it under my feet in the morning.
Definitely going to have to play with it some more. Unfortunately, we have thunderstorms coming in tonight and I don't have room to properly hang the tarp for rain protection.
slowhike
08-02-2008, 18:52
I would NOT have wanted to get caught out in the middle of no where in what I saw today.
Traffic on I40 came to a complete stop because of the heavy rain & high winds.
Reminded me of a video I saw were some people went under a bridge while a tornado went by & had it on film.
The way my truck was starting to rock w/ the hard, rapid blasts of wind, I was thinking I should get out & find a ditch. I took my seat belt off for a moment, then thought, no, if this truck is going to get picked up, I better have my seat belt on:eek:
The more I play with the DD, the more I like it.
Saggy DD's is no bueno, the hammock definitely prefers to be hung tight as mentioned by others and the DD website. I can also now hang slightly diagonally, relieving stress on my feet. The tricky part with this hammock continues to be how loose the two bottoms are and lack of full closure. It is very easy for the top layer to bunch up under you and, at least for me because I'm so big, it can be difficult to un-bunch from under me once I am in it. I'm getting used to it though, I just had a nice little 45 minute hang while I waited for some showers to pass.
I think I am going out to the woods with it on Thursday. :cool:
slowhike
08-03-2008, 12:08
Yep, keep experimenting. I think some folks make the mistake of just laying in whatever position seams to come natural when they first get in & never get to the point of learning how you can (to a degree) manipulate the hammock & the way it feels by how you hang it & lay in it.