how long did it take you to get the hang of hanging

Hi there,

I have been on about 5 or 6 camoing/backpacking trips with my hammock setup - a Hennessy zip with whoopies, Phoenix UQ, and Maccat Deluxe tarp. I use my 15 degree mountain hardware down bag as top insulation. My main motivation for geting in to hanging is the availability of backcountry camping opportunities, particularly on uneven or wet terrain while backpacking.

I want to like hanging but each of the times I have gone I have found that I am not that comfortable sleeping. Not hugely uncomfortable but more comfortable in my Big Agnes UL tent and Neo Air mattress. In addition, I miss having a place to "throw everything" when I hammock. I hang my pack and make a "doormat" from a small tarp under my hammock to put items but the convenience of having gear storage and vestibules especially in inclement weather is a downer.

I want to like hanging - I don't think the problem is my setup or gear but rather my technique and maybe my expectations. The idea of being able to camp anywhere is great but I have found in places I go (Catskills, Adirondacks, Whites) I usually camp in designated backcountry sites anyway - where it is no problem to tent camp. I do this simply because in the middle of summer to dive off the trail 150 ft in the Catskills into the brush does not seem like a good idea.

Doe anyone have any insight on this or have a similar spiritual camping conflict? ;)

It took me about a year. I just knew it was something I wanted to do and just stuck with it. Keep the faith it will get better. Gotta find your sweet spot, even if you have to try a different hammock.

Don't fight it. Hammocks should not stress you out. Go with what and where your comfort lies. But as long as your in the woods your good.
It just does not "take" for some folks.
Carry Forth......
Shug

You may want to try tweeking it some more to find your sweet spot. Make sure your hang angle is correct, and go to a local hang if you can to get some help with it. You will be very pleasantly surprised how nice a local hang can be, and how helpful everyone is. Good luck to you. I hope you continue to hang, but as Shug says it's not for everyone and you may end up back in a tent. The most important thing is to get out into the woods. :)

I just got back from a week of backpacking and sleeping in the hammock! Every evening I went to bed with knees aching and tired all over. Every morning I'd wake up rejuvinated without a body ache anywhere. Even after sleeping 10 and 12 hours in the hammock. I can't do that on the ground. Heck, I can't even do that in my bed.

The place to throw gear isn't a biggie with me. It's just different now. With that said, I'm still tweaking my setup. And I've been at this for years.

I tear down pretty quick, but I still hate that it takes me a lot longer to setup than my tent. And I miss playing cards and backgammon in a tent. Something I've not done since starting to hammock. Just something very cozy about playing games and drinking hot chocolate in a tent, rather than under a tarp.

Gotta pick your priorities. A good night's sleep is a priority for me. So I'm staying with my hammock. Your priorities may be different. Go with what you like!

thanks for the replies - mechanically speaking...how do you deal with the lack of storage area that you lose when you hammock? maybe i am not losing any area and its just in my head that my gear isn't covered by a vestibule or in my tent. it just seems like certain things were less convenient (having to pack all my stuff back in my pack and not have it readily available)

thanks for the advice to not fight it - i will try more and see how it goes but if need be I will sell my gear at a certain point - i have all good stuff and it is lightly used so i am sure i won't have any problem recouping most of my investment

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Originally Posted by mrsmileyns

thanks for the replies - mechanically speaking...how do you deal with the lack of storage area that you lose when you hammock? maybe i am not losing any area and its just in my head that my gear isn't covered by a vestibule or in my tent. it just seems like certain things were less convenient (having to pack all my stuff back in my pack and not have it readily available)

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Sounds like a small 'gear hammock' that you can hang either under your your hammock or next to you under your tarp might be in order. I made a DIY hammock chair last fall that I don't use as a chair much that is about to be 'repurposed' as a gear hammock to have a little extra dry storage for my pack and such...

The main reason I have a Blackbird is because I love the side pocket for extra clothing. I have a ridgeline gear organizer for smaller stuff, like flashlight, mp3 player, glasses, ear plugs, pain killers. My pillow has a loop and line with a mini-biner and hooks to ridgeline so if it falls out of hammock, it stays off the ground. (Learned that from a Shug video.)

I also will hang clothing from ridgeline if it needs airing out. My shoes go under my hammock. I lay out my water bag and drinking tube under the hammock if I need a sip during the night. I will also put my stove setup under my hammock for coffee from the hammock in the morning. The rest of my stuff is in my pack hanging from my suspension so it is protected if it starts to rain during the night.

Checkout 2Q&ZQ's webpage. They have ridgeline organizers and peak bags for storage and other great stuff that may help you.

Do you have one of the mesh ditty bags? Get one of those. There are several people who make them, in different sizes. They loop over your ridge line inside your hammock. I put my glasses, head light on one side. I place my meds, ear plugs and other small stuff on the other. I have a tiny light also clipped to the ridgeline. Then I also have a Warbonnent and love the "shelf". Big stuff, a book, a water bottle, my hat or bag liner, anything sort of large that I "might" need, goes into the shelf. By doing that, everything I need is readily at hand. Under the hammock is my pack. I can put down some tyvek to sit stuff on also. Shoes and such.

I just toss everything below me on a small piece of plastic. only thing that worries me is a raccoon seeing something of mine that is shiny.

thanks for the additional replies - perhaps this is off topic of this thread...but not really...typically speaking a hammock setup is a bit bulkier and heavier than a light tent and pad setup? would that be a correct general statement?

I hang my backpack from the suspension line at the end of the hammock. There's nothing in the pack except empty stuff sacks at that point. My water bottle, head lamp and glasses hang from the ridgeline. My food, toiletries & kitchen kit is hanging in a tree far, far away. About the only thing left to deal with are my shoes.

Most people leave them on the ground under the hammock. However, I have had nightmares where some varmint runs off with my shoes and I hike out barefoot! :eek: This can be solved by putting them in a sack and staking it to the ground or hanging it within reach.

As to sleeping comfort, I slept like a baby my first night in my hammock.

i can't suggest to strongly, go to a hang, its analogous in sports, to getting a trainer or personal coach, it will save an enormous amount of time in the learning curve, like a golfer going to a good pro, they will look at their swing, set up, everything and in short order help improve instead of the frustration of self trial and error, imo, jim

there is a hang in my area in december - i am in nj - think i will go ;)

excellent idea to go to a hang-gathering and check out what other folks have. Perhaps you could even hook up with someone on a weekend in a park near you, for an hour and check out their gear and get some pointers and ideas.

On your bulkier question. Perhaps that is true. I got a cuben tarp, weighs nothing and goes outside the pack anyway. the top and under quilt are, to me, about equivalent to a sleeping bag. But warmer as the UQ isn't compressed. I don't necessarily take a pad with the hammock. But might take the therma-rest, partially inflate it, for extra bottom insulation. Comfort is my thing. I never slept well in a tent. My only trip so far with the hammock, it did take me longer than my tent-dwelling canoe buddy to set up. But when I hurt my back when we crashed the canoe, well one night in the hammock and I was good as new. Better than sleeping at home in the bed!

I've been hammocking for 3 or so years and I still have not got the hang of hanging. I feel like every time I get something figured out and tweak my rig to my likings I find a new and improved way to tweak it again.

As for figuring out comfort, some nights I find that perfect sweet spot while other nights I find I just cant get comfy. However I have always slept more comfortably in a hammock then any night in a tent.

Took me about 10 hangs before I figured things out and gained confidence in my set up. Going to group hangs helps a lot. Even when you don't need help with your rig, you get to try out different hammocks,see lots of cool gear and get ideas, as well as meet some great people. I now sleep about 3-4 nights a week out in my woods. I don't have as much pain after sleeping in the hammock as I do in my bed.

Gear storage is easy. Having the right pieces of gear coming out/going into the pack in the correct order takes a bit of technique.

I measure the tree distance using my trekking poles, then the poles are leaned against the chosen trees.

The stake/pitch kit is the first item out of my pack. Part of that kit is a line about 20" long that is strung loose between adjacent trees. That line is the temporary storage for insulating coat, under and over quilts. My stake bag is hung from this line. My waterproof map bag is clipped to this storage line.

The hammock is hung and the hammock bag becomes a peak bag to store the insulating coat.

There is a leash on my clothes bag that is attached near the peak bag, the clothes bag becomes a pillow. My damp hiking clothes sometimes are hung over the storage line, sometimes are added to the clothes bag/pillow, sometimes hung over the foot end of the hammock - depends on the weather.

My shoes are either under the hammock or connected with a carabineer and hung over the head end of the hammock - depends on the weather.

The kevlar food bag is tied to a tree some distance from the hammock.

The stove, fuel and water storage are together where I cook. Nothing in this kit needs rain protection, but is light enough that the wind might blow it away.

The contents of my pockets and glasses are stored in the hammock mesh ridge line pockets.

Head lamp is girth hitched to the hammock ridge line. Hygiene bags are clipped to the hammock ridge line with mitten hooks.

Water bottle, shell coat and radio/book/kindle are in the Blackbird shelf.

Nearly empty backpack is hung either on the storage line or hammock suspension.

It took me three nights to sleep well in the hammock, a year to solve the storage issues and another year to tune the set up/take down order

Really good thread and even better advice! I love HF!

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to get everything setup. I'm new to this thought :)

It is a mind set. Hammocks, tents whatever. Use the right tool for the job. Just cause I like wrenches doesn't mean I won't use a pair of pliers if I the task at hand calls for it.

A hammock is a sleep system. It is not really shelter. I never really understand why it keeps getting compared to tents. What you are comparing is using a tent verses a tarp. Yes there are differences and you will loose some things and gain others. All depends on what your objectives are. Base camping above treeline one would not use a tarp. Typically backcountry adventures are well suited to tarp camping. I like using tarps because they are easy to set up and I can look about when I want. Gear storage can be an issue when you tarp camp but I've never had a problem. 3 seasons I lay my pack on the ground beneath me. Winter time I use a gear hammock.

The issues of getting comfortable in a hammock really has to do with you and trying a bunch of different styles/types and experience. When I first started I could not sleep in a gathered end hammock. Since then I've trained my body to sleep in any kind. Takes time to get used to something new. Keep at it and good luck.

S

For me it was one summer. The first trip of the summer was 5 nights. The 2nd & 4th nights I slept in the hammock to see what it was like.
The next trip was another 5 night's and I used the hammock 4 of them.

The last trip was 6 nights and I took the tent just in case. I it the 1st night because of deer flies, the 2nd & 6th because there were no trees. Now I have a Lawson Blue Ridge, which goes down as a bicy/tent and has a bug net. No more te.ts for me.

I quickly found sleeping in a hammock to be more comfortable than any other tent or shelter I've camped in. But having said that, I also find that the more I'm on HF and the more I get to hangs to see others' set-ups, the more I want to tweak what I'm doing. There is always another idea that begs experimentation. Some of them work for me, some of them don't. It takes time to refine one's kit. In the long run I'll take the hammock. but as others have already said HYOH.

I am one of the lucky ones, I found my "sweet" spot by my second hang. To be sure, my first time was a real down experience, but I spent some time thinking it out in light of all the help given here, realized my mistake, made correction, and instant bliss. Seeing other setups, how other people lay in the hammock, ect. can only help. Best wishes for success.

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Originally Posted by XSrcing

I just toss everything below me on a small piece of plastic. only thing that worries me is a raccoon seeing something of mine that is shiny.

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Ha I was just thinkin how I just throw it all on my tyvek foot ground cloth and wondered if somethin like that could happen. But that's what I do, pile it all under my hammock on a sheet of tyvek. If it rains to crazy I just reach out and pull all the corners together and ball it up.

thanks again for all of the detailed replies

For the comfort of sleeping in a hammock, it took very little time at all, maybe a couple of trips. It took a bit longer to get my speed of setup and teardown right (especially since we almost always leave after work, so we Usually arrive after dark). I tend to sleep very cold (my body dumps heat very efficiently, which makes it difficult to keep warm in winter, even in Texas), so it took me a couple of years and lots of money invested before I finally got an underquilt setup I'm happy with -- the earlier options get kept in case I ever need to layer them. Pretty much the last thing I'm looking to upgrade will be to get a tarp with some doors, for when I go out under rain with shifting winds.

Gear storage? I'm not really a backpacker -- my wife and I mainly car camp at state parks, so if it's not something we're likely to need during the night, it goes back in the car.

As for playing games in the tent? We try to have a spare tarp to string up over the picnic table, or else, we're usually in a triangle of trees with our tarps overlayed to have an open area in the middle -- sorta double-porch mode. Plenty of space to sit and hang out.

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Originally Posted by mrsmileyns

thanks for the replies - mechanically speaking...how do you deal with the lack of storage area that you lose when you hammock?

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To the original question, I hung in my hammock 2 or 3 nights at home to figure out the right amount of sag, angle of hang, etc. Then I went car camping where I hung overnight while I had a tent nearby in case it just wasn't working.

So I'd say about 5 or 6 times to sort of "get it". Now my hammock just feels like home.

For the storage question, my Tarp is 12'x10'. I have plenty of room to store my backpack next to me under the tarp. I just keep my clothes in my clothes bag in the pack next to me.

I have a piece of Tyvek about 2'x3' that I use for my porch so I don't stand in the dirt. My hiking shoes and hiking socks go there. I change into my sleeping clothes and the daytime clothes either hang on my tarp line or go back into the pack.

My down jacket is packed at the top of my pack so if I get cold at night I just reach down to my pack (which is within reach right next to my hammock) and grab it.

I'm still waiting for my first decent night... :(. The problem I have is that I only ever get a single night out at a time - it's easy to see how to improve things after an uncomfortable night but then I have to go home before I've tried it again!

I've just had my UQ modified so it should fit well now but no time to try it (or the new tent I've just bought either) :o

Regarding storage, my hammock (TW Hornet) has an internal pocket but I either use a mesh gear hammock or sling a low ridgeline on the sides of the trees I'm hanging from so I can hang my pack on there out of the way but still under cover

Tarp = Tent Rain Fly

Hammock = Tent

Top Quilt = Sleeping bag

Under Quilt = Pad

You may not save any weight over some of the light weight tents out there but what you can gain is a more comfortable nights sleep. As I learned in the Marines, with a good nights sleep, you can put up with anything.

Make sure you foot end is several inches higher than your head end.

As other have said, go to group hang and have some other folks check out your set up. While you might have a great hammock, it might not be the right one for you. I own a bunch of different hammocks but I find my BB is the most comfortable one for me.

I remember my first time out. I set my hammock up between two trees just fine. Then realized my tarp wouldn't fit between them as they were too close together. (Lesson learned; set up tarp first).

Then I pick another pair of trees and attached my straps. I then proceeded toward the second tree, while letting the straps and hammock play out of my Bishop's bag, and was still 3' from the tree when I ran out of slack. (Lesson finally learned; pace off the distance between trees before removing backpack).

It's no wonder I slept so well that first night. I was dog tired from setting up my hammock! :eek:

First off thank you Mrsmileyns for you initial question. I love how a simple question can produce sooooooooo much awesome information and help so many others who may be wondering the same thing.

As for me, I bought my hammock in 2011 but have only gotten to spend like 12 nights in it. My wife likes to backpack camp with me and with two dogs it just makes much more sense for us to sleep in a tent. However, the cost of spending quality time in the tent with my wife and our two "furry children" is a sore body the next day...even on an Exped 3.5 inch thick pad.
In those few nights spent hammocking I have gotten progressively more comfortable. Night 1 was cold and I kept sliding down in my ENO DN. Night 1 would have had me second guessing hammock camping had it not been for my pain free body when i awoke. It was worth learning how to get more sleeping comfort and warmth over the past year. This past saturday night was my most recent night spent in it and I slept great...warm into the 40s, dry in the rain, and as always in my hammock, no pain when i woke up. The addition of my DIY ridgeline and DIY UQ have added much comfort. Oh, and hangin the foot end higher. (sounds so counter-intuitive but stops the sliding) As others have said, it is often just test, modify, test again....repeat until....well for me forever....I like the tinkering aspect of Hammock Camping.
As for Storage, my DIY ridgeline organizer keeps needed items close at hand and my other things just lay under the hammock under my Superfly. A gear bag hung from a ridgeline also sounds like a great and simple idea as well. I also like being able to get into my pack / stuff without having to unzip a tent, crawl in, crawl out, rezip...all while letting bugs and dirt in.

One additional thing I have noticed is the peace of mind my hammock gives me....Now that I have my comfort figured out and trust my suspension, i Know i will awake rejuvinated. With a tent I am always concerned with rain somehow getting in my tent some way i did not anticipate and eventually getting me or my gear wet....not with my hammock. This past saturday night was my 4th night of our trip and the only night we got rain. This was my first trip using my WB superfly and it performed beautifully thoroughout the 4 hours it rained. Once the rain woke me up, i looked around to see my tarp perfoming properly and fell back asleep worry free. When I woke up me and my gear, even the stuff sitting on the ground, was dry thanks to my tarp and good site selection.

As shug said, it isn't for everyone but I hope you find the comfort that makes it for you. My setup is ever evolving and to answer your orginial question, I would say by night 3 I was comfortable....by night 12, I was truly cozy, relaxed, content...all together overjoyed with my sleeping experiance...and I owe it all to HF and its members.

I have to agree with everyone who says "go with what you like". I am discovering something new every time I go out with my hammock, and I'm always finding some new innovation on the forums.

I CAN'T sleep on the ground, or on a cot, or a mat even. I've never been comfortable with any of those set ups. I prefer sleeping in my hammock to my own bed nowadays, but that's just me. I like being creative, and realize that I can indeed make most of my own gear, and that gives me lots of variety and excitement for the next adventure.

With all that said, I am still learning the ins and outs of hammocking, but I know that it's something I deeply enjoy. All my friends think I've gone overboard with it, but it's the cheapest and easiest way to enjoy the wilds for me on my time off.

If you find that you enjoyed tent camping more, and it doesn't feel like hammock camping is as exciting, it may just simply mean that you prefer tent camping. No harm done! Just get out there and enjoy yourself! Really, our quality of life isn't measured by the things that hinder us, but more so by the things that we truly enjoy. If it's within your power to enjoy things more, then you should by all means do so!

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Originally Posted by ringtail-THFKAfood

Gear storage is easy. Having the right pieces of gear coming out/going into the pack in the correct order takes a bit of technique.

I measure the tree distance using my trekking poles, then the poles are leaned against the chosen trees.

The stake/pitch kit is the first item out of my pack. Part of that kit is a line about 20" long that is strung loose between adjacent trees. That line is the temporary storage for insulating coat, under and over quilts. My stake bag is hung from this line. My waterproof map bag is clipped to this storage line.

The hammock is hung and the hammock bag becomes a peak bag to store the insulating coat.

There is a leash on my clothes bag that is attached near the peak bag, the clothes bag becomes a pillow. My damp hiking clothes sometimes are hung over the storage line, sometimes are added to the clothes bag/pillow, sometimes hung over the foot end of the hammock - depends on the weather.

My shoes are either under the hammock or connected with a carabineer and hung over the head end of the hammock - depends on the weather.

The kevlar food bag is tied to a tree some distance from the hammock.

The stove, fuel and water storage are together where I cook. Nothing in this kit needs rain protection, but is light enough that the wind might blow it away.

The contents of my pockets and glasses are stored in the hammock mesh ridge line pockets.

Head lamp is girth hitched to the hammock ridge line. Hygiene bags are clipped to the hammock ridge line with mitten hooks.

Water bottle, shell coat and radio/book/kindle are in the Blackbird shelf.

Nearly empty backpack is hung either on the storage line or hammock suspension.

It took me three nights to sleep well in the hammock, a year to solve the storage issues and another year to tune the set up/take down order

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Ditto! You have to have an organized system with recognizable stuff sacks, pack and unpack in the correct sequence every time to ensure and enjoyable experience. Every piece has a place and every piece is in its place.

As far as comfort, can't help you there.

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Originally Posted by gunner76

Tarp = Tent Rain Fly

Hammock = Tent

Top Quilt = Sleeping bag

Under Quilt = Pad

You may not save any weight over some of the light weight tents out there but what you can gain is a more comfortable nights sleep. As I learned in the Marines, with a good nights sleep, you can put up with anything.

Make sure you foot end is several inches higher than your head end.

As other have said, go to group hang and have some other folks check out your set up. While you might have a great hammock, it might not be the right one for you. I own a bunch of different hammocks but I find my BB is the most comfortable one for me.

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I would have to differ.

Tarp = tent

hammock = Earth

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Originally Posted by mrsmileyns

thanks for the additional replies - perhaps this is off topic of this thread...but not really...typically speaking a hammock setup is a bit bulkier and heavier than a light tent and pad setup? would that be a correct general statement?

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Depends on the set up you're comparing it to. If we're talking tarps and 1/4" thick foam pads then yes, it's gonna be heavier and bulkier. But if you're comparing it to an average weight backpacking tent and self inflating or blow up pad then it can go either way depending on the specific set up.

Look at it like this,
Hammock+tarp= Tent
Underquilt/pad= Pad
Topquilt= Sleeping bag

If you have a tent set up already then compare the weights of your different components and see which is lighter. My set up is definitely lighter than my tent setup, and I have a BA UL tent and Neo Air pad. So again it depends on the specific set ups you're comparing.

My first half a dozen nights in the hammock really kinda sucked. I didn't sleep well and I struggled with proper setup of the hammock suspension and rigging the tarp. I kept patient and went through a lot of trial and error. I also read a great deal here on hammock forums which taught me a lot. Nothing better than learning from those that have been using hammocks awhile.

I did not read all posts, so maybe I am repeating, but may I suggest you try to get to a group hang? That may be a BIG help to you.

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Originally Posted by mrsmileyns

thanks for the additional replies - perhaps this is off topic of this thread...but not really...typically speaking a hammock setup is a bit bulkier and heavier than a light tent and pad setup? would that be a correct general statement?

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I would certainly dispute that notion. My Buttinasling 60" Weight Weenie Micro hammock is 7 ounces, as is my BIAS NanoBuginator bugnet. My HG Cuben Fiber 4 season tarp is 6.5 ounces. Find me a comparable tent that weighs 20.5 ounces. And when I leave the bugnet at home I'm at 14.5 ounces. Yes, the CF tarp is expensive ($300), but the total cost of my shelter/sleep system is $425. A tent simply can't compete in bulk to my setup.

My 20 degree HG TQ/UQ weighs 38.8 oz., but I no longer have the bulk of a pad.

As to your original question, Hennessy is one of several great hammocks on the market - but you might not have found the one with whom you want to spend forever. My first hammock was a Hennessy Expedition. It was light years better than sleeping on the ground, but I was a bit claustrophobic with the built-in bugnet. Eventually, I went to an 11 ft. hammock (BIAS DL) and noticed a tremendous difference. Where I slept good in the Hennessy, I slept excellent in the BIAS. I also like the independent bugnet so I can get out easily without putzing with a zipper - swing feet onto ground and stand up. Easy peasy.

Clark Hammocks have pockets out the wazoo that can be used for insulation or gear. You might want to look at those, if weight is a non-issue. And people love the Warbonnet gear shelf. I just wouldn't base the answer to "Are hammocks right for me?" on a single manufacturer.

Usually I just toss my stuff on a piece of Tyvek. It's all right there and I can reach down and grab it without getting out of the hammock. However, some psychotic red squirrels in the Adirondacks made me rethink that entirely. One of them stole my Swedish Bahco Folding Saw. I caught him before he took it up the tree.

Now I hang just about everything from my hammock ridgeline - shoes, clothes, pack. Since I lay on a diagonal feet to the left and head to the right, I can hang the pack to the right of my feet and it doesn't interfere with my sleep. I can easily sit up and get stuff out of it. Sometimes I put the pack cover on it and hang it from where the whoopie attaches to the hammock.

If the convenience & comfort of laying on the ground is attractive to you, by all means do so. However, you might want to check out some other hammocks before going back to ground dwelling. And you might want to develop a system, as many have suggested, so that you can have some of the convenience and accessibility to gear that you crave.

Is there a December group hang in NJ I'm not aware of? Are you sure you don't mean the NJ Winter Hang in January?

my interest for camping overnight in a hammock came after i got a byer single. it was easy to bring along on trips at only 10 ounces. i then got a grand trunk (before they were grand trunk) on some promotional deal, and tried it out once. i used my TNF 30° bag in temps about 50 degrees. that DID NOT work! i basically went to ground without a pad (it was much warmer - comparitively)
that didnt stop me though, i went online searching for hammock camping and found Jacks R Better. used a hudson river as a top quilt, with a ccf pad. still, too cold (CBS) so i tried various pad thickness, to a point where i was so frustrated for temp/bulk ratio that i figured there must be a better way.
upon searching for hammock insulation, i found just jeff's site and (even tho i realized UQ's existed, like the JRB quilt i had) decided i needed both down quilts on top and bottom. started tinkering. started sewing. that is actually how te-wa quilts was borne...

long story short, about my 10th hang i was happily comfortable with a hammock camping rig, although they have come and gone and i've tweaked my gear to be the best that works for me.

i am proud to say, at least, that since the day i slept in that old grand trunk ultralight, i have only gone to ground ONCE (grand canyon) in +/- 6 years.
that was about 3000 backpack miles ago... ;)

yes - I meant the January hang - my bad

I think part of my issue has been the foot end not being higher enough (bad grammer?) than the head end. As far as gear organization goes I think I just need to refine my system - possibly go with a different organizer, or like others have suggested, a different hammock (WBBB for the shelf). But I am not giving up yet - I don't think I have tried enough times to really have formed a valid experience - especially in light of some folks who have said it took them 10 plus trips to really start refining their technique. Not to mention those that have been hanging for years that are still working on it ;)

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Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

Is there a December group hang in NJ I'm not aware of? Are you sure you don't mean the NJ Winter Hang in January?

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