View Full Version : new claytor expedition inbound!!!
hi guys,
i haven't been on the forums here in quite awhile. i was tempted by a hammock last summer but didn't end up taking the plunge. well after doing a bunch of investigation on new shelter options i finally ended up biting on the claytor expedition - liked the room, weight, netting, and full zipper! actually my gf bought it for me as a present!!! hehehe
other than having to wait an unusually long time for it to arrive (as i've read in other threads) what can i expect from this? i have no experience hanging so this will be a brand new adventure for me. tips? advice? do's and don'ts of hanging? recommended reading?
thanks,
swoosh
ps. i'm excited like a little kid
Little trick when bugs are no problem and you want get the net out of the way.
Hang hammock as usual then insert foam pad if desired but do not install net spreaders and do not connect net shock cord.
Then flip hammock 180 (upside down) to put net on bottom :sleep:
good idea dually!
anyone else got any pointers or basics? like i said, i'm totally new to hanging
Tie overhand knots (water stoppers) in your suspension webbing. one or two on either side right before the webbing goes into the channel at the ends of the hammock. The stock webbing is a little stretchy but if you keep some sag in the suspension (tie high on the tree) you will lessen the forces and see much less stretching.
Enjoy!
WOOOHOOOO got it today after i got off work. gonna hang tomorrow night!!!
i need a tarp :(
any recommendations? 3 season AT usage, mostly in PA
ricegravy
04-17-2009, 11:47
Little trick when bugs are no problem and you want get the net out of the way.
Hang hammock as usual then insert foam pad if desired but do not install net spreaders and do not connect net shock cord.
Then flip hammock 180 (upside down) to put net on bottom :sleep:
Great advice dually. I do this in the winter months and it works very well.
Also the stock suspension is something that you might consider swapping out. It soaks up water like a sponge and will stretch a lot. Hang your hammock high and a little tight on the first night or your butt will be on the ground by morning. I'm speaking from personal experience. ;)
I went to Strap Works and ordered a Simple Sling (http://www.strapworks.com/Strapworks...ng_p/hss1s.htm) in 1 inch seatbelt webbing with a 1 inch loop at each end. 20 feet long and then cut it in half. There are your two lengths of webbing for $9.66 + shipping.
I then went to rei.com and ordered 4 SMC Rappel Rings (http://www.rei.com/product/471123) for a ring buckle system. $11.60 + shipping.
Cinch Buckles work great also.
Figure 9's for your tarp (when you get one) I don't know what I would do with out them (Tie a lot of knots I guess) I have them on all 4 of my tieouts. I like to attach the figure 9's directly to the tarp. I think that makes things nice and easy.
Congrats on the new hammock!
BillyBob58
04-17-2009, 21:17
Tie overhand knots (water stoppers) in your suspension webbing. one or two on either side right before the webbing goes into the channel at the ends of the hammock. The stock webbing is a little stretchy but if you keep some sag in the suspension (tie high on the tree) you will lessen the forces and see much less stretching.
Enjoy!
What he said. Without the extra knots, or some rings, you will get wet. The water will wick/run right down your webbing into your hammock. A drip line might work, but you will need two on each end, and I think the knots should be added even then.
Great advice dually. I do this in the winter months and it works very well.
Also the stock suspension is something that you might consider swapping out. It soaks up water like a sponge and will stretch a lot. Hang your hammock high and a little tight on the first night or your butt will be on the ground by morning. I'm speaking from personal experience. ;)
I think you may have had trouble with the stock webbing by hanging high and tight. I use the identical suspension for my claytor as you do(webbing/ rings), but swapped the claytor webbing to a cheap loaner hammock. The two people I loan this hammock to are 190-220 lbs and when you hang the hammock with plenty of sag there is very minimal stretch. I wanted the seatbelt webbing because you can hang it high and tight in a really neat spot that might not be ideal for hanging but do-able with the right stuff.
I went to Strap Works and ordered a Simple Sling (http://www.strapworks.com/Strapworks...ng_p/hss1s.htm) in 1 inch seatbelt webbing with a 1 inch loop at each end. 20 feet long and then cut it in half. There are your two lengths of webbing for $9.66 + shipping.
I then went to rei.com and ordered 4 SMC Rappel Rings (http://www.rei.com/product/471123) for a ring buckle system. $11.60 + shipping.
Cinch Buckles work great also.
Figure 9's for your tarp (when you get one) I don't know what I would do with out them (Tie a lot of knots I guess) I have them on all 4 of my tieouts. I like to attach the figure 9's directly to the tarp. I think that makes things nice and easy.
Congrats on the new hammock!
ahhhhhhhh a peaceful 8 straight hours of sleep! i woke up pretty much the same height as when i went to bed w/ the stock webbing. perhaps it'd be different in the rain. i'll look into that seatbelt webbing.
does the ring buckle system replace tying knots and take care of water running down the webbing into my hammock?
i need a rainfly/tarp. please recommend me some
BillyBob58
04-18-2009, 10:57
ahhhhhhhh a peaceful 8 straight hours of sleep! i woke up pretty much the same height as when i went to bed w/ the stock webbing. perhaps it'd be different in the rain. i'll look into that seatbelt webbing.
does the ring buckle system replace tying knots and take care of water running down the webbing into my hammock?
i need a rainfly/tarp. please recommend me some
Glad to hear it held you, it always held us 200+ pounders quite well. But, we were not pulling ridgelines tight, that may be the dif.
Yes, once the rings or buckle/webbing system is installed, there should be no more need for knot tying. Of course, once you have the bowline tied on one side of the Claytor webbing/channel( and I guess you have already done that part?), the only other knot you have to deal with is that slippery half hitch, and I can't really say that is a whole lot more difficult than just clipping the biner over the webbing and then adjusting the webbing length. That Claytor recommended sey up is about the same complexity as tying my shoe laces. The only complexity for a true knotphobe should be in the tying of the bowline, a one time deal during set up. And you are going bto have to do some sort of one time knot tying to attach rings or buckle to your hammock. It's all fun, though!
Although, I do like the way the webbing cinches on the tree when wrapping just one loop around the tree and then clipping the biner onto the webbing. Then, if you need to adjust the height of one end or both, you just need to give a little slack and move it up or down, or un-clip and move up or down then quickly re-clip. In addition, changing the centering between the trees or sag in the hammock is done by re-adjusting the buckles/rings. Very quick and easy, probably the easiest of all systems. Those are the big advantages of a ring buckle system to me, more so than than not having to fool with some knots.
While I was thrilled with this when I first got ( and it is the best/easiest/most convenient to use IMO), I came to realize that it really doesn't amount to much for me when on a hike. Once I get to camp, having to spend an extra few minutes to do a Speer 4 wrap, or a simple round turn and 2 half hitches ( my favorite) or the Claytor set up or even the relatively PIA HH figure 8 lashing with tree huggers, really doesn't eat up that much of my day. Considering once I have it set and adjusted, I probably won't fool with it again until I break camp. And it does cost a little money and time to switch, and add a little bit of weight added to the pack. It is nice, though, and might be worth it! At least it is fun to play with! :confused: ;)
i weigh 160 so i'm not too concerned w/ the weight issue. the knot tying isn't a problem, as you said, i only have to tie that half hitch. i am concerned w/ water running down that line into my hammock.
the other part of my question, the tarp issue. with the spreaders at the top of my hammock, do i have to tie a seperate ridge line and then just drap my tarp over it? like i said, totally new to hanging