Backpack capacity for hammocking

Printable View

10-29-2007, 21:18
Cuffs

Backpack capacity for hammocking

Me again with another silly question...:p

Ive hiked several hundred miles with my Osprey Atmos 50 while I was still a ground dweller and all my gear fit nicely.

Since converting to a hammock, though the gear is lighter, I find it is slightly bulkier (particularly the UQ).

1. Am I the only one who notices this, or am I just imagining things? (or am I doing something wrong?!)

2. What capacity pack are you using? (not looking for brand/model recommendation, but include it if you know it.)

3. How should I be packing my shelter? (on this last trip to the Smokeys, I just stuffed the hammock, fly and UQ into the lower "sleeping bag compartment" and let it fill that space.)
10-29-2007, 22:10
FanaticFringer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuffs

Me again with another silly question...:p

Ive hiked several hundred miles with my Osprey Atmos 50 while I was still a ground dweller and all my gear fit nicely.

Since converting to a hammock, though the gear is lighter, I find it is slightly bulkier (particularly the UQ).

1. Am I the only one who notices this, or am I just imagining things? (or am I doing something wrong?!)

2. What capacity pack are you using? (not looking for brand/model recommendation, but include it if you know it.)

3. How should I be packing my shelter? (on this last trip to the Smokeys, I just stuffed the hammock, fly and UQ into the lower "sleeping bag compartment" and let it fill that space.)

I use this pack www.fanaticfringe.com/page5.html the Thompson peak pack.
3600 cu. I've packed all my gear for a 10F hang last winter in it. About 20lbs.

I usually stuff my hammock in the bottom of the pack in skins. The UQ is in the stuff sack and trash bag. The fly is in the outer pocket.
10-30-2007, 05:22
mataharihiker

I usually want to deploy my hammock first so it's one of the last things to go in my pack..since I have a +5000 cu GoLite Trek pack I have more than enough space...it's one of the reasons I bought the thing...my gear is not heavy but it can be bulky depending on the season...and, EVERYTHING fits inside the pack...there is nothing dangling on the outside...
10-30-2007, 07:43
txulrich

I have 2 packs. The large one is a Jansport external frame with about 5500+ ci. I use it when I go to summer camp and need to carry everything but the kitchen sink. For weekend camps, I have a 3100+/- ci internal frame. I put the hammock, 2 quilts, 4 stake pegs and the fly in the lower section (all in skins or their own stuff sacks). I put the rest of my gear in the top. I don't usually have to carry any food for scout trips, but there is still room for a couple of days worth.
10-30-2007, 08:10
Quoddy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuffs

Me again with another silly question...:p

Ive hiked several hundred miles with my Osprey Atmos 50 while I was still a ground dweller and all my gear fit nicely.

Since converting to a hammock, though the gear is lighter, I find it is slightly bulkier (particularly the UQ).

1. Am I the only one who notices this, or am I just imagining things? (or am I doing something wrong?!)
For winter use my pack size increases anyway, but now has a bit extra with the UQ.

2. What capacity pack are you using? (not looking for brand/model recommendation, but include it if you know it.)
I'm presently using a McHale demo pack at 3280ci which easily holds my Speer, Peapod, and MacCat Deluxe, along with all the normal winter gear and supplies for five days. I'm ordering a pack very close to this size as soon as my personal physical measurements are perfectly established.

3. How should I be packing my shelter? (on this last trip to the Smokeys, I just stuffed the hammock, fly and UQ into the lower "sleeping bag compartment" and let it fill that space.)
I have the UQ and hammock near the bottom for good weight distribution, but have the tarp near the top in case I have to pitch it in the rain or other inclement weather conditions before taking the other gear out.

Hope this helps.
10-30-2007, 08:16
Lorethian

I am considering buying the Gearskin for this very reason. I have noticed that the gear is great in weight but bulkier to deal with. And I dont have a UQ yet.
10-30-2007, 08:26
Rapt

Hmmm... I'm not sure where the "bulkier" part comes in... Its probably all relative.

Compared to a tent/thermarest/tarp/sleeping bag I'd say its less bulky to carry a hammock/tarp and two quilts that work out about the same as a single sleeping bag. There's no poles, there's no need for a big thick BULKY pad unless you really WANT to bring one. That's part of the advantage of hammocks IMO.

I haven't got my whole system together yet but I see it being both lighter and less bulky when I carry my hammock, with rope, not webbing adjustments and just short webbing for the trees. Sleeping warmth will be a pair of down over and under quilts, and tarp will be a sil-cat cut.
10-30-2007, 08:37
Dutch

I went out for the first time with my potomic UQ last weekend. I also took my DIY over quilt and blackcat tarp. I had to cram everything in my ULA p2 which is the biggest pack I have. Now I have to rethink things because I need iether a bigger pack or and more compressable UQ. I may save the potomic UQ for back yard. Even the down UQ I've seen are pretty bulky. One thing pads have over UQ is it can go on the outside of you pack. I have a GG 1/4 pad I haven't even unrolled yet. Maybe that and a z-rest will be the way to go until I can make a decent down UQ.
10-30-2007, 08:52
nogods

I only save about a pound using a hammock and tarp instead of my tent. The hammock, tarp, and straps however, can be stored in my pack ( a hugh EMS 7000) along with the big agnes insulated air pad. The blue walmart pad is in a stuffed sack tied vertically to the side of my pack, just as it would be if I had a tent instead. If I used my tent, it would be strapped across the top of the pack. For me, the attraction of the hammock over the tent is ease of setup and sleeping comfort.
10-30-2007, 09:07
Rapt

My tent is an expedition grade two person tent weighs close to 9 lbs... :eek:

My DIY hammock and suspension takes up about a third the volume and weighs about 2 lbs. Adding a siltarp (I have a 10x12 rectangular) that weighs about 1.5 lbs. So far thats a HUGE savings for me close to 6 lbs and is about 2/3 the volume of my tent when packed.

I too carried my tent outside the pack, but still I can do the same with the hammock in a nicely made stuff sack. I happen to have one that's the size of a TIGHTLY rolled thermarest. It'll hold hammock, suspension and tarp without a problem.
10-30-2007, 09:42
Cannibal

I use a ULA Catalyst (4,600 ci) and it holds my hammock, DIY KAQ, tarp, top quilt, and everything else I need for at least a week. I think I could carry a little more if I had to, but stuff would start getting straped to the outside of the pack which I'm really trying to avoid. Pad and kitchen stuff on the bottom, food on top of that, hammock and UQ on top of pack (plus all the misc crap shoved somewhere in between). My tarp has never seen the inside of my pack; it lives in the mesh outer pocket for rapid deployment. My favorite thing about this pack is the number of external storage areas. Most of my small frequent use items are in locations that never require me to crack the pack.

I'm actually worried I'll be carrying too much pack once it warms up and I can drop or reduce much of my winter weight/bulk. I'm horribly impressed by this ULA pack and giving some serious thought to a Circut or Conduit pack for the summer months.
10-30-2007, 10:10
GREEN THERAPY

Since we are on the subject of packs and this is a BYO site, I have now made two g4 packs with a capacity of 4400 + per pack... total empty weight 12 oz. Following the directions that are online they are relatively easy to make and each pack holds all my gear. sleeping bag inside on the bottom, clothes in stuff sack on top of that, hammock on top of that, a rolled up reflective foam pad and a close fitting flycover for hammock inside, with room left over. Cooking gear and food in one side pocket so its handy. Tarp in other side pocket so its handy with raincoat, tyvek tarp and a pair of disposable tyvek coverals in the front mesh pocket. Wal Mart CCF pad in external pad holder pockets that double as an external frame of sorts.Total cost for pack was 6 dollars from Wal Mart bargin bin.
10-30-2007, 10:14
headchange4u

I also have a ULA Catalyst. I have found that for the most part my hammock setup (hammock, tarp, and bottom insulation) take up about the same amount of space, maybe a little less, than my tent did.

IMHO, I wouldn't really count my sleeping bag/top quilt when figuring how much space my hammock setup takes up in the pack because that is an item that I would be using regardless of sleeping in a hammock or a tent.

Things stored in snake skins seem to take up a lot more space than they should, but that may be all in my head. That's one reason I use a BB sack for my hammock and a stuff sack for the tarp. Gives to 2 nice compact bundles.

My hammock bottom insulation normally goes in the bottom of the pack, then clothing and other stuff, with my hammock and tarp near the top, and my food bag and kitchen bag at the very top. Pad is on the outside of the pack.
10-30-2007, 11:02
GrizzlyAdams

Quote:

Originally Posted by headchange4u

...

Things stored in snake skins seem to take up a lot more space than they should, but that may be all in my head.

I also believe that to be the case. It has to do with compression. If I fold a hammock or tarp by hand into a rectangle, compression out air along the way, it will fit into a smallish bag, which will then "retain" the compressed form. You could get more compressed footprint using snakeskins but that would take another bag.

Grizz
10-30-2007, 11:08
hangnout

I second (or third) the ULA packs. I have the conduit which works great for my setup. I have a gearskin for those really bulky winter trips with my kid.
10-30-2007, 11:12
NCPatrick

I've got the ULA Circuit, but I am still working out some details for packing everything, plus I keep making new stuff to add to my winter setup. So far, so good.
10-30-2007, 19:34
slowhike

[QUOTE=headchange4u;34301].
Things stored in snake skins seem to take up a lot more space than they should, but that may be all in my head. That's one reason I use a BB sack for my hammock and a stuff sack for the tarp. Gives to 2 nice compact bundles.
[/ my QUOTE]

it seems to me that the snake skins only seem more bulky if they are of minimal size for what you're trying to put in them.
when a set of small snake skins pull tight around a tarp or hammock, they form a stiff, sausage like package that you are trying to bend, fold, & stuff.

but if the skins are slightly over sized, they & their contents can be flattened out, releasing the excess air w/ no problem, just like a stuff sack except you slide instead of stuff.
and the extra fabric to over size them is a minimal weight & bulk.