Tenth Wonder Grey Hornet Hammock

Just got one of these bad boys delivered as an exchange
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hornet-Jungle-...t_10326wt_1139

and I have to say first impressions are good, I'm very impressed. yet to try it out though.

First the bad, it's no lightweight - it's a heavy duty double skinned waterproof breathable Nylon. But the bag it ships in does have compression straps and it's not expensive either.

Now the good

It's longer than my DD and slightly wider 2.8m x 1.5m

It's mozzie and midge proof like a DD with a fine weave mesh covering the hammock. My netting was black as in the picture (not white as stated in the blurb). But unlike the DD aluminium spreader bars are provided (fitted but removeable) with two tie points fitted with shock cord and adjustable tie out lines. These hold the spreaders bars up to give you plenty of room under the mozzie net. The spreaders mean using a snakeskin would be tricky unless you remove them, which is no big deal.

Access to inside the hammock is via a zip along one side , there is another other zip on the other side, but this is to access to the cavity between the layers, ensuring a mat won't slip out, or make do insulation can be used

A line runs the full length of the hammock inside under the net to tie and hang things on to. At one end a fully waterproof pouch hangs off the line.

Inside the hammock there is a pocket at one end and a loop at the other. The hammock includes a free 80l rucksack liner which if stuffed with clothes clips to this loop to act as a pillow.

The head and foot sections of the hammock are fully enclosed with material instead of mesh to prevent draughts.

It comes with a nice bunch of accessories to get you started - Stuff sack, storm rings, tree huggers straps, green webbing (threaded into the hammock) and two extra hanks of green webbing.

I've replaced the webbing with my whoopies but still impressed at the quantity you get compared to a more expensive DD hammock.

i'm yet to sleep in it, or even hang it up.

But first impression are, for the price, very good.

Will let you know how it performs in the woods very soon.

Cheers

Mike

Mike - It's been very soon. How about that update, how's it doing for you? Still holding up well? What is the actual weight?

Fate has conspired against me and I haven't had chance to hang in it yet....

Please post some pictures too, so that we may see this thing up close and personal. :)

Took a look at it, looks good. You're right, it's not a lightweight or even close to it. They also have a Jungle Hammock which is 1kg, much more backpack friendly than the Hornet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bristolview

Took a look at it, looks good. You're right, it's not a lightweight or even close to it. They also have a Jungle Hammock which is 1kg, much more backpack friendly than the Hornet.

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The jungle is a bit on the short side. There is an ultralight range which pack down very small.

Ok here we go with some piccies. Took it for a test run with first born son today - didn't sleep in it but gave it a good test and comparison to the DD travel.

First off. Once I'd swapped the suspension around a little the Grey hornet still comes in heavy at
1.7kg, (including my whoopies, Srl, 2 x 2" 3m Webbing, Maillons, Marlin spikes and snake skin)

the DD came in at 1.4 with TW webbing, TW storm rings and short DD webbing loops

This is how they looked stuffed up with a snugpak response to compare
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...2/IMAG0258.jpg

Size wise if you ignore the midge net spreader bars there aint much in it really. If I removed all my suspension gear from each bag I think the DD would win given most of the suspension on the TW is now 2.5mm Amsteel.

OK as stated the travel is longer, wider and also made of much tougher material which is not only waterproof but "breathable". This last point is important as I've suffered from condensation issues in the DD.

Here's a piccy of it up in action
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...2/IMAG0255.jpg

The feel of the material on the inside was much nicer than the travel - not as "sticky" so if you want waterproof and comfy the TW grey hornet is a good bet.

It also has a few tricks.

The midge net had dual ties out and comes with shock cord and ties out (a very generous length) already attached
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...0/P6011064.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...0/P6011076.JPG

At one end of the hammock there is a pocket sewn onto the base for phones, headtorches etc.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...2/P6011068.JPG

at the other end is a loop you can clip a pillow stuff sack too to stop it wandering off in the night. It came with a free 80l rucksack liner clipped to this loop.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...0/P6011070.JPG

running the length of the hammock on the inside of the midgie net is a convenient "washing line"
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...2/P6011073.JPG

on which at one end hangs another waterproof pouch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c...2/P6011069.JPG


here's the DD and TW side by side
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...0/P6011077.JPG

the TWGH even fits neatly back (SRL whoopies and all) into my DD snakeskin
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/P6011085.JPG


For the £30 it cost me (I got it as an exchange) or the £36's new this is a bit of a bargain and I'm very pleased with it (about $59 USD). Its size is an improvement on the the DD as are the enclosed head and foot areas. It's softer than the travel and waterproof (although I suspect not to the same degree the DD travel is) It's also breathable.

It's bulky and heavy but I don't intend to be trekking further than a mile or so from a car with it.

Cheap, Comfy, Fully featured.