Anna's Hammocks

Hello, I am a brand new member on these forums. I am also new to hammock adventuring and all of its goodness. In a few weeks I'm going away on my first backpacking trip and I wanted to find a hammock to sleep in instead of a tent. I'm going away to the Manistee North Country for two nights and I want to try my hand at hammock camping. So thanks to Google I have been floating around here and some other places in search of a good hammock.

The right fit for me needed to be a reasonable fit and of decent quality. I recently purchased a Hennessy A-sym Explorer through Amazon which I didn't like very much and I couldn't justify the cost of. It was a great hammock but it just wasn't for me. It was too heavy and bulky and I just wanted something more simple and bare bones. Plus the price was just too high for me as a beginner. I figure I'll save my monies until I get super serious and decide that I need all of the included accessories. I returned the Hennessy and was just about to pull the trigger on an ENO DN (simpler, of quality, fun colors, and well-liked) when I was informed of a local hammock maker.

My grandparents told me about an article they read in the newspaper a couple weeks ago. Our local press wrote an article about a freelance field biologist in the area who started a small business making hammocks. She just opened this month. I quickly jumped from the article to her website. On there I found some nice looking hammocks for a really low entry price.

Anna's Hammocks remind me of a cross between the cheap Grand Trunk Ultralight and the nicer ENO Doublenest ($20 for the former and $50-70 for the latter). Made of a high strength Taslan fabric, they measure 9' by 5' which is a little bit shorter and a little bit wider than the Grand Trunk UL. Also unlike the cheaper Grand Trunk UL, this has that certain finish and quality you can only find in a handcrafted product. It feels strong, durable, and most importantly loved. It definitely doesn't feel cheap. It feels like somebody put thought and care into what they were stitching. I do wish it was a bit on the bigger side, like the ENO DN, but it's still a great size for me and I can't wait for my first trip. At a little over a pound, this should do the trick.

This hammock came stuffed in an attached pocket with an attached set of polyester or nylon ropes running through the end channels. I might change out the ropes for something else. Also the stuffable pocket is just that, it doesn't have a drawstring or any way to fasten closed. A solution might be a stuff sack or maybe even a strap or fastener like "velcro". For me and my needs I love that just starting out I found a great, no-frills, locally made hammock for less than $50. Now if I want I can mod it in the future any way I please. Anyway, just thought I would share my experience.

Through my experience I had the pleasure of meeting Anna, her husband John, and their baby girl in person and they were very nice. They gave me tips on how to set up and take care of the hammock. We also chatted about their future ideas for their products. I guess John has mosquito netting attached to his hammock and Anna has had many requests for a camo color. She will do custom orders if you send her a request via e-mail. You can check out their website here www.annashammocks.com and let me know what you think.

Sounds interesting. As you spend time looking around the forums here, you may find some better suspension systems than heavy-duty rope. We have found that 1" polypropylene straps work best for reducing damage to the trees, and suspension adjustability is also an important issue.

Welcome to HF!

Interesting way to advertise. You do realize there will be a significant increase in cost to add a better suspension, bugnet and tarp for camping. Then there are tree huggers, I don't see them listed but they are a big issue. 9 ft of fabric comes up about 3 ft short in my book. YMMV. ;-)

Have you gotten rid of your Hennessy?

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Originally Posted by Ranger77

Have you gotten rid of your Hennessy?

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He mentioned that he'd returned it...

Its amazing to start producing hammocks and - with all the information available (especially here) - one ends up delivering a hammock without a thought-through suspension. :confused:

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Originally Posted by Womble

Its amazing to start producing hammocks and - with all the information available (especially here) - one ends up delivering a hammock without a thought-through suspension. :confused:

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If one were to believe the "About Us" page at Anna's Hammocks, the idea didn't come from Hammock Forums, but from a trip to Costa Rica. I've been to half a dozen Central and South American countries since I've gotten into hammock camping and not once have I seen anybody using a lightweight suspension. So, from that perspective, it's easy to understand why the suspension is that way. I know of at least one 'major' camping hammock manufacturer in the US that still sends their hammocks out with industrial strength marine quality rope for their suspension, so it isn't outside of the ballpark.

Given their stated love of backpacking and now exposure here, I suspect they will make a change to that aspect if they want to compete. At least, I would hope they do. But even if they don't, how many still have their original suspension? I know it is usually one of my very first mods to any hammock I purchase. Nobody does descending rings with their webbing anymore. :crying:lol:

OP, any idea of the weight?

I asked Anna "It is 15 oz without rope and 1 lb 2 oz with rope."

She'd likely have a better product if it'd been a bit longer. I usually get my best diagonal out of a longer hammock. She could probably get amsteel for not much more than that rope too.

Good Luck on your venture and +1 to the following.

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Originally Posted by Cannibal

Given their stated love of backpacking and now exposure here, I suspect they will make a change to that aspect if they want to compete.

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Notice the page on the site states "warm on chilly nights (simply add a sleeping bag)."
and it shows a guy laying in his sleeping bag on top of the hammock. We all know that doesn't work!!

They look like a great place for me to get starter hammocks for my boys. I think that with some patience and a little more exposure to this site Anna's Hammocks will make updates rather quickly.

Of course when I bought my Clark NX250 the first thing I did before I even had it in my hands was to order whoopies for it.

Why not give them a little leeway and help her understand what some of the new ideas and inventions are before criticizing them.

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Originally Posted by woodhunter

Why not give them a little leeway and help her understand what some of the new ideas and inventions are before criticizing them.

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That's what we are doing.

The OP requested that we check out the website and tell him what we think. We're doing exactly what we were asked to do, offering feedback to what we have seen on the site. I don't see it as criticism at all. We have "seen the light" here regarding simpler, lighter, and much more flexible suspension systems, and we are expressing that to a new vendor. Whether the ideas we present are accepted or are simply seen as criticism is entirely up to the owner of Anna's Hammocks.

Hi everyone- I am also new to this forum. I googled my sister's website and found this thread about her hammocks. I hope I can answer any questions that members may have about them. *Disclaimer* I am no hammock aficionado! The only one I have ever used is my hammock that Anna made for me in 2004. And just to be clear, Anna isn't either! She's really crafty with a sewing machine and started making them in '03 after witnessing the simple design during field work in Costa Rica. She made one for all of us (4 siblings) but had no intention of selling them. At her wedding in 2010, she gave a hammock to everyone in the bridal party including the photographer. He is the one in the first picture on her website having a snooze in his hammock at the wedding! My uncle saw them in action and thought they were great. He convinced her to start the company with him. I will certainly introduce her to this forum b/c there have been so many great suggestions for how to improve them.
A little about me -I live in an apartment in Vancouver, BC and in lieu of a big backyard I hang my hammock up on my patio all summer. It's perfect for a read in the sun and friends that come over to visit always fight to sit in it! My two biggest hikes that I have done (and brought my hammock with me) are the Coast to Coast trail across Northern England and the Juan de Fuca trail on the west coast of Vancouver Island. For each hike, I slept in a tent but hung my hammock up at each campsite to relax after long days of hiking. I am a small person (5'3, 120lbs) but both my boyfriend (6'0, 200lbs) and I can sit in it, head to feet, and relax. We spent a lot of time doing just that on a trip to Nordhouse Dunes (Michigan) last summer. If you are in the market for an affordable, sturdy and lightweight hammock, this is the hammock for you.
Anna's Hammock's just launched its website last month!
http://annashammocks.com/AboutUs.html
It's a brand new company so any feedback is welcome. She was just interviewed on her city's local news, the link is here if you'd like to have a look:
http://www.fox17online.com/news/morningnews/emily/
Cheers!

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Originally Posted by picya12

Hi everyone-

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Welcome to the forum.

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Originally Posted by picya12

If you are in the market for an affordable, sturdy and lightweight hammock, this is the hammock for you.
Anna's Hammock's just launched its website last month!
http://annashammocks.com/AboutUs.html
It's a brand new company so any feedback is welcome. She was just interviewed on her city's local news, the link is here if you'd like to have a look:
http://www.fox17online.com/news/morningnews/emily/
Cheers!

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That's a lot of marketing spiel for your first post.

Welcome. As you may (or may not) have read in the previous posts, we are ready and willing to offer Anna advice on how to bring her hammock suspension methods up to par with the other hammock manufacturers. Simple rope suspension will not fit the bill. My hope is that you both will do a little research here that will help greatly to provide the best, most desirable product possible. Again, welcome to HF!

interesting history. Should be fun to watch. I'd suggest some folks need to spend a night in a hammock.

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Originally Posted by nothermark

interesting history. Should be fun to watch. I'd suggest some folks need to spend a night in a hammock.

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Anna and her husband Jon sleep in their hammocks whenever they go camping. It's impossible to get them to sleep in a tent! I am way too chicken to sleep in my hammock! In my defense, Anna and Jon live in Michigan. Where I go camping in Northern British Columbia and Vancouver Island, signs about precaution due to Bears and Cougars are ubiquitous and enough to convince me to carry and use a tent all the way. I'm sure I won't get a lot of sympathy from the hard core hammock users that make up this forum. You all are brave!

Welcome to the HFs, picya12!

Bears & cougars abound here too, but they'll stay away. (Unless you accidentally call one up, like my buddies did last summer in the North Cascades. Injured rabbit call at about 1AM).

Thanks for your post Boomer. It makes me feel better about sleeping in my hammock despite the bear and cougar warnings. I'm not at all worried about cougars coming around in the night but I am super paranoid about bears. It sounds like you and friends had an encounter? Yikes.....

Hi there folks! Anna of Anna's Hammocks here. I want to thank you all for taking the time to review my hammocks and my website. We have gotten a great response since we launched the site about a month ago. While we are really pleased with the sales, we are also pretty surprised by all the attention. We expected to start slow and make adjustments as we grew. Well! We are making a few changes just as fast as we can! To start, we hope to have hammock straps ready for sale on the next few weeks. My friends and I have been using ropes for years and while they seemed fine to us, I am really excited to try out this new method. What a great idea! We will also look into making the hammocks a bit longer. I do want to respond to the comment that a sleeping bag in a hammock doesn't work. Let me assure you that this is an a actual unretouched photo of my friend Josh after a comfy night in one of my hammocks. I will admit that my wording on the website could be a little more precise though. I have experienced the agony of icy cold buns when I have overestimated the nighttime low temps! I will change the site to mention that crucial piece of gear: the sleeping pad. Although we have lined our hammocks with dry leaves on a pinch! :) So, that about covers it for now. Thanks again for all your input. I plan to incorporate all your excellent suggestions just as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to hearing your constructive comments in the future!

Welcome to the forums Anna.

Welcome to the fray Anna. I look forward to the growth. Of your company and your hammocks.

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Originally Posted by Anna

Hi there folks! Anna of Anna's Hammocks here. I plan to incorporate all your excellent suggestions just as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to hearing your constructive comments in the future!

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Welcome to the HFs Anna. Have you checked out DeJoha's book yet: The Ultimate Hang?

As far as a bag or pad, they work OK, but you could make some UnderQuilts to go with your products, too.

Again, Welcome!

Yep, welcome! I am very new here but I did like your site. As the others said it would be nice to see longer and wider hammocks available. Bookmarked your site!

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Originally Posted by picya12

Anna and her husband Jon sleep in their hammocks whenever they go camping. It's impossible to get them to sleep in a tent! I am way too chicken to sleep in my hammock! In my defense, Anna and Jon live in Michigan. Where I go camping in Northern British Columbia and Vancouver Island, signs about precaution due to Bears and Cougars are ubiquitous and enough to convince me to carry and use a tent all the way. I'm sure I won't get a lot of sympathy from the hard core hammock users that make up this forum. You all are brave!

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Learn something every day! I didn't know that tents were bear and cougar proof.:lol:

Welcome aboard picya and Anna. Good luck Anna.

Welcome Anna. Always glad to see anotherGood luck with your business.

There is a ton of great information here enough to have a major overload. But I'm sure if you look around you will get tons of inspiration and great advice.

Good luck with your business.

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Originally Posted by olddog

Learn something every day! I didn't know that tents were bear and cougar proof.:lol:

Welcome aboard picya and Anna. Good luck Anna.

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Hahaha! You've got me there Olddog! I guess it's purely a psychological kind of bear proof. I honestly have no idea what is more "safe" in bear country. However, I can't help the thought that to a bear, a hammock camper would resemble a giant suspended human twinkie!
Seriously though, does anyone know what to do if a bear comes around in the night, ie. clap and make noise or crap your pants as quietly as possible?

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Originally Posted by picya12

Hahaha! You've got me there Olddog! I guess it's purely a psychological kind of bear proof. I honestly have no idea what is more "safe" in bear country. However, I can't help the thought that to a bear, a hammock camper would resemble a giant suspended human twinkie!
Seriously though, does anyone know what to do if a bear comes around in the night, ie. clap and make noise or crap your pants as quietly as possible?

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Hammocks are just as safe (or as vulnerable) as tents, but there are great ways to minimize your risks outdoors.

NEVER EVER sleep near or downwind from "smellable" items like food, kitchen items, food-soiled clothing etc. Keep a pair of clean sleeping clothes separate from your hiking clothes that you change in to when you go to bed.

Animals are attracted by smell, primarily.

In wilderness areas where animals are still afraid of humans, you can often scare them away with sounds or sights. I've seen and read about places on the AT where the bears simply ignored hikers as they clawed through backpacks.

Hang or securely cache your food at least 200 feet away and downwind from your sleeping area.

I might want one how much are they

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Originally Posted by dejoha

Hammocks are just as safe (or as vulnerable) as tents, but there are great ways to minimize your risks outdoors.

NEVER EVER sleep near or downwind from "smellable" items like food, kitchen items, food-soiled clothing etc. Keep a pair of clean sleeping clothes separate from your hiking clothes that you change in to when you go to bed.

Animals are attracted by smell, primarily.

In wilderness areas where animals are still afraid of humans, you can often scare them away with sounds or sights. I've seen and read about places on the AT where the bears simply ignored hikers as they clawed through backpacks.

Hang or securely cache your food at least 200 feet away and downwind from your sleeping area.

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Thanks dejoha. Those are really good tips. I practice almost all of them - keeping food in a cache, not eating or washing dishes in my campsite etc., but the keeping sleeping clothes separate is a great point - a bit difficult on a long hike, but still very smart. I have been lucky enough not to have any trouble so far - even after finding an empty tuna wrapper in my pack one morning! I hope those aren't famous last words! Thanks again!

Hey Texas Longhorn- Anna's Hammocks are $39 + $6 S&H. You can find all the details if you press the link in my signature. Thanks for the interest!

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Originally Posted by picya12

a giant suspended human twinkie!

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The correct term is "bear burrito". :laugh:

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Originally Posted by picya12

Seriously though, does anyone know what to do if a bear comes around in the night, ie. clap and make noise or crap your pants as quietly as possible?

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The former is appropriate for black bears and the latter for grizzlies. :scared::lol:

Semi-off topic and not always appropriate but when I am in remote areas, ones where no one else will be using my "site", I pee liberally around my camp. On these occasions I have had zero wild life in camp. This includes stays in bear country during groggy, hungry bear time of year.

Could be a load of hogwash but it's worked well for me! :D

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Originally Posted by Spikemaulmaster

Semi-off topic and not always appropriate but when I am in remote areas, ones where no one else will be using my "site", I pee liberally around my camp. On these occasions I have had zero wild life in camp. This includes stays in bear country during groggy, hungry bear time of year.

Could be a load of hogwash but it's worked well for me! :D

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Totally off-topic : how much beer does it take to fully secure a camp-site ? :)

lol. Well I'd say it really depends on the beer...

Budwisery types = lots of water so good square yardage!
Dogfish Head, Old Rasputin types = fall asleep way to fast to think about bears!

It's been a few days since I've been on HF. I'm just back from a wonderful trip to San Fran and then Boulder, CO. Thanks for the bear repellant advice Spikemaulmaster! Though I'm not sure that I could pull off the feat, I will urge my boyfriend to next time we are in bear country!
Speaking of dogfish head, I just had a 90 minute IPA (ON TAP!!!) in San Fran. Oh how I love being back in the States!

90 min on tap you say? Oh how jealous I am! (apparently there is an elusive 120 min as well...) How was your time in SF? I was born and raised there so I love to hear what people think :)

Not sure why I didn't mention this earlier picya12, one thing I am not without in bear country is an air-horn. Will send any critter running for the hills! They have nice compact ones too. Perfect for backpacking. These work very, very well in my experience. Just be sure not to cuddle with it at night lest you set it of! Boat supply stores are a good place to find them. Much less expensive than bear-spray as well.

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Originally Posted by Spikemaulmaster

Not sure why I didn't mention this earlier picya12, one thing I am not without in bear country is an air-horn. Will send any critter running for the hills! They have nice compact ones too. Perfect for backpacking. These work very, very well in my experience. Just be sure not to cuddle with it at night lest you set it of! Boat supply stores are a good place to find them. Much less expensive than bear-spray as well.

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A 9mm with 16 personal protection hollow points works well too.
Against Bear, pittbulls, rabid raccoons, people who want your car key's and a lot of other things too.
Which is why I never go camping in a state that doesn't allow concealed carry.
Just saying.

We've gotten to bears and 9mms in a review thread? Really?
Let's at least pretend to stay on topic here and talk about Anna's Hammocks.