NX150 or NX250?

I am sorry if this has been covered ad nauseam. I am 5'11" and weigh 180 lbs. According to the Clark Comfort chart, the NX150 seems like a no brainer; cheaper, less bulk, and 5 oz lighter. But is there extra room and firmness with the NX250 for someone my size that could increase comfort on cold rainy Northwest nights to justify the cost, bulk, and weight difference?

Also, do the NXx50 package costs include the drip rings and tarp tie out cords or are they "nickel & dime ya" add-ons?

Thanks for your guidance.

Not so easy as it may seem:

At 10lb less than your weight and 4" less height, I find the 8' models, which included the NX150, plenty long and comfortable. I'm an every (dry) night hanger, too. The NX250 is more than I need, especially after weight loss.

OTOH, if you intend to use the pockets for insulating pads, especially your own, be aware that on the NX150 the total width of the 3 pockets pockets adds up to much less than the 46-48" length on the NX250, which is the size of a typical fractional UQ.

Note that Clark has a third size hammock body,intermediate in length between the 8' and 9' models. The Tropical and (cheapest) "Ultra-Light" now share that 8.5' length with the North American.

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Originally Posted by DemostiX

Not so easy as it may seem:
At 10lb less than your weight and 4" less height, I find the 8' models, which included the NX150, plenty long and comfortable. I'm an every (dry) night hanger, too. The NX250 is more than I need, especially after weight loss.
OTOH, if you intend to use the pockets for insulating pads, especially your own, be aware that on the NX150 the total width of the 3 pockets pockets adds up to much less than the 46-48" length on the NX250, which is the size of a typical fractional UQ.
Note that Clark has a third size hammock body,intermediate in length between the 8' and 9' models. The... 8.5' length with the North American.

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More choices is just what a guy with analysis paralysis needs :D ... are there reasons to consider North American over the NX series besides the lower cost?

I get what you are saying about the combined width of the NX250 pockets providing a greater area of warmth if using the pockets (instead of an UQ) to hold insulation. I'm thinking of trying to build a DIY UQ from an old but good fiberfill sleeping bag but does the NX150 combined pocket width adequately cover the torso and buttocks of someone 5'11"?

On the website the North American sounds to be the more all around hammock, although I have the NX-200, which is a tall model of the north american, it is pretty much the NX-250's size with no bars, but the "all aroundyness" that they claim the North American has, with that out there, I am 6'6'' and I fit just fine, with the pockets covering my back and buttocks. When I ordered mine it came with drip rings and the tarp tie outs.

I had the North American and the NX-250 and I liked the NX-250 much better. It has so much more room to move around, and I'm 5' 10". I also liked the bars to open it up. That is just my $.02, hope it helps.

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Originally Posted by Oblique Angler

More choices is just what a guy with analysis paralysis needs :D ... are there reasons to consider North American over the NX series besides the lower cost?

I get what you are saying about the combined width of the NX250 pockets providing a greater area of warmth if using the pockets (instead of an UQ) to hold insulation. I'm thinking of trying to build a DIY UQ from an old but good fiberfill sleeping bag but does the NX150 combined pocket width adequately cover the torso and buttocks of someone 5'11"?

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On the first: I too obliquely suggested Clark might be closing out smaller sizes, so there might be a deal to be had on a "floor model."
On the second: keikepono doesn't disagree with me about pocket coverage. but, the bar-less NX-200 likely has the same 46-48" overall pocket length as the NX-250.

On BajaHanger: Who doesn't like the luxury of a queen-size mattress? Despite the fact that the slender spreader bars do not create more room, they open the unoccupied space to the eye. That's why I had 2qzq create fabric guides for rods for two 8' rod-less Clarks here, the old Tropical 2 and the old UL, making them much like NX-150's.

Last note about size: Clark uses the same-size stuff sack for all their (single occupant) hammocks. So, weight aside, there's a visible difference in minimum packed size between the lighter and heavier models, which in practice means there's more room to stuff a 20F down UQ in with the smaller models.

I'm in a NX250, love it and the roominess inside. For myself, I can't find any justification for down sizing. I do use mine on a nightly basis.

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Originally Posted by old4hats

I'm in a NX250, love it and the roominess inside. For myself, I can't find any justification for down sizing. I do use mine on a nightly basis.

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May I ask what your height and weight is?

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Originally Posted by BajaHanger

I had the North American and the NX-250 and I liked the NX-250 much better. It has so much more room to move around, and I'm 5' 10". I also liked the bars to open it up. That is just my $.02, hope it helps.

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May I ask what your height and weight is?

I have a NX150 and a NX200 (same as the NX250, but without the poles - they no longer sell it). I'm 5' 6" tall and about 195 lbs. I find the longer, but heavier, NX200 much more comfortable. But, if I were to carry a Clark on an AT hike, I'd probably go with the lighter weight NX150. It's still very comfortable, just not as comfy as the longer NX200.