BackPack Gear Test - Warbonnet Blackbird
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I ran into Ray Estrella last weekend - he mentioned that Backpack Gear Test had been provided three BB's. He looked at but didn't try my hammock.
Thanks for posting a link to your review...
I can see how a glossary would be helpful...:lol:
One question? If I understood your picture, you run the suspension strap around the tree (or post) and clip it back into the tri-rings?
If so, that is a new idea to me (no bad, just new)...typically, the biner/strap go around the tree and the biner hooks around the strap at the tree.
Example
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...4/img_0388.jpg
I would caution your use Vs. the rating on the biner. The forces put on the suspension of the hammock are not your weight, but MULTIPLES of your weight. The general rule of thumb here (and maybe overkill) is 1200lb capacity on anything that supports your hammock. A biner used like the above pic is not supporting your hammock. A biner used like your pic on the review is supporting the hammock. Read more here
How do you know Wah Wah wrote the review? I thought the reviewer is in Florida - Wah Wah is in Walla Walla...
I found the review interesting to read, seeing how someone who is brand-spanking new to hammock makes sense out of what she gets from the manufacturer. This ought to help him think about what information and instructions he includes in the package.
Her mis-understanding of the intended use for rings and carbiner is just one instance. A picture here would have helped the reviewer a lot. She had some issues with loosening and tightening. Small wonder!
She didn't know from the WBG site what 1.1 or 1.7 meant.
She also thought that the outer shell of the two body hammock might be silnylon. I doubt it.
Glad she likes the hammock though and that this product got some air time on that site.
Grizz
I found that very interesting too. In researching the purchase of my Clark I spent a lot of time getting to know the quirks of hammocks and I remember thinking it was a little overwhelming. Tents were not difficult to understand functionally but hammocks had angles, knots, rings, biners, buckles, drip lines, ridgelines, and sag. My learning curve was steep and still not totally done.
It's easy to forget how much you need to explain to people who are not nearly as familiar. Suspension is one area that is often glossed over quickly but when you are new it's the most confusing aspect of it or it was for me. It's also one area where clear, detailed, pictures and diagrams are worth a 1000 words.... literally.
Sounds like a favorable impression though and that's worth a lot. WBG got some great feedback in that article I think.
This suspension thing is why I really like Speer's 4 wrap knot (with Risk's slight modification) - simple and easy to understand and explain.
TH
Interesting is a word that seems to fit well, but entertaining is another. :)
I found myself reminiscing about my initial hammock experiences...and I was already lurking on HF at the time, plus had the tutelage of Hammock Engineer (now Coffee) on my side. It really is a confusing time for a lot of people trying to get over their ground training. I remember quite clearly trying to make sense out of rings and webbing over the course of the mighty ringbuckle thread.
But, she managed to get it hung and comfortable. I hope she finds her way here to HF; imagine how much happier she will be with it when she figures out the details. Ya know, like clipping the biner to the webbing instead of the rings.
I'm glad Brandon got such an overall positive review and I'm glad the reviewer has accepted hammocks as backpacking items rather than solely a 'camping' luxury. One more with her Warbonnet ON! :D