Warbonnet VS Hennessy which to buy

**lazy river road** · 09-29-2009, 07:19

So Ive decided to sleep in the trees for my end to end hike this summer along the LT. I just joined and from what ive been reading Warbonnet and Hennessy seem to be the most popular and reliable hammocks. But which one to BUY should I buy the Warbonnet Black Bird (id get the double so i could put the pad in the sleeve or should I get a Hennessy hammock ASYM (but which one)...i want to do it right the first time....im not going to buy a tarp yet because i want to buy my hammock get it and play around with it first before I decided which tarp to get. What are the Pros and Cons to both kinds.....ill be using it in mostly early spring to early fall...I dont like to sleep in the cold

**Ramblinrev** · 09-29-2009, 07:31

The hennessy comes complete with a tarp... at least of sorts. Lots of folks replace it but for thru hikers and end to enders it is a nice small lightweight jobber which will keep you dry in a the rain if it is set up carefully. "Doing it right" the first time implies there is a "doing it wrong" which is really not the case. Hammocks are very personalized and as long as you stay with established brands or have the DIY chops it is hard to go "wrong." I am a HH advocate but that's because it solves some mobility problems I have with the bottom entry. Either brand is an excellent choice IMO and it would be tough to say one was right or wrong.

Blackbird has a waiting list. HH is due to start their clearance sale in a couple of days so you might be able to pick up a really cheap scratch and dent deal.

**lazy river road** · 09-29-2009, 07:38

im not so worried about the waiting list...im not leaving till june 22 so hopefully If i got the BB it would be here by then. I was considering on making my own tarp bc i hate the rain and really want something that covers me and possibly has doors on it. Im willing to carry a little xtra weight to stay dry espically bc Mid june in VT is pretty rainy from what ive been reading...I like the BB xtended foot shelf does the Hennesys have them as well...It also appears that the BB you can lay flatter in can some one shed some light on this as well....

**Mustardman** · 09-29-2009, 07:52

Unless, like Rev, you have specific reasons for needing the bottom entry, I see very little reason to choose the Hennessey. The only other reason I could think of would be if you bought the HH at REI, so you could take advantage of the generous return policy.

The top entry of the Blackbird is way convenient if you're stuck in the rain - I've reached out of my hammock to prepare a meal without ever getting out of bed in the morning. The Blackbird also comes with an easier to use suspension system, and most folks seem to think the blackbird lays flatter and is more comfortable. It's definitely more spacious on the inside, and has the shelf for storing gear.

Plus, Warbonnets are hand-made in America by a hobbyist and craftsman, while the Hennesseys are mass produced in a factory in China. I strongly encourage supporting our cottage industries, so the Warbonnet is not only a better choice to me, hammock-wise, but also a better choice to give yourself that warm and fuzzy feeling

**Ramblinrev** · 09-29-2009, 07:53

Originally Posted by lazy river road

I like the BB xtended foot shelf does the Hennesys have them as well...It also appears that the BB you can lay flatter in can some one shed some light on this as well....

The foot box is unique to the Blackbird. I have heard good things about the flattness of the BB. I have no trouble achieving a comfortably flat lie in my HH explorer. The key is the diagonal and a looser hang than the stuff sack instructions seem to recommend. The diagonal lie is the key in both cases. If flat lie is what is really critical you might want to consider a Bridge design. Them beasies as really flat.

**lazy river road** · 09-29-2009, 08:16

what is a bridge design is that another hammock company. And like musterdam said i like supproting US hand made companies probally why i will purchase a ULA pack as well if i can figure out how to get my weight down low enough once ive collected all my gear

**Bulldawg** · 09-29-2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by lazy river road

im not so worried about the waiting list...im not leaving till june 22 so hopefully If i got the BB it would be here by then. I was considering on making my own tarp bc i hate the rain and really want something that covers me and possibly has doors on it. Im willing to carry a little xtra weight to stay dry espically bc Mid june in VT is pretty rainy from what ive been reading...I like the BB xtended foot shelf does the Hennesys have them as well...It also appears that the BB you can lay flatter in can some one shed some light on this as well....

With what you are looking for, in a hammock and a tarp, I would go with the BB. Just a great piece of gear. I started out with a ENO Double, and quickly moved up to a BB. Not because I felt I got it wrong, just learned that two different hammocks serve two different purposes. Wouldn't get rid of my ENO for the world. But at the same time, love the BB so much, just got #2 in yesterday for my wife!

Now, for tarps, you will hear a lot about OES, and SWT, but I have to say again, Warbonnet makes a killer tarp. I have the Superfly, very large, incredible coverage, doors that are removable, so you can have it both ways, and a great stealth color. Pricey, but well worth it. And it sounds like you have the time to save and for the turn-a-round. www.warbonnetoutdoors.net

**Bearpaw** · 09-29-2009, 08:23

The Hennessy will always be important as a "first of its kind" hammock. Its mass market availability is also a definite plus for the company.

However, for me, the Warbonnet Blackbird is a much improved system. I often got frustrated with turning to a side in my Hennessy and my legs pushing through the velcro bottom opening. This can't happen in a side-entry Blackbird. I could never really sit on my Hennessy. It is a true joy in the blackbird. Anything (water bottle, book, etc) I placed onto the small shelf the guy-lines formed were pretty much guaranteed to fall on me during the night. The shelf in the Blackbird is spacious and slanted downward enough that nothing is going to fall out. Diagonal lay was good in the Hennessy, but I was amazed at how much better the footbox made the lay in my Blackbird. And I find the webbing-and-buckle suspension system of the Blackbird to be so much easier and quicker than the Hennessy that it is night and day.

To me, the tarp is virtually a lost cause with the Hennessy. My first hammock experience was 6 rainy days on the Benton MacKaye Trail in 2005. Cooped up in the tiny Hennessy tarp, I quit hammocking for 2 years. It wasn't until I got bigger tarps that I started to enjoy the ability to hang in the rain. I hung Friday and Saturday night this weekend in thunderstorms and my OES MacCat Deluxe tarp made a fine front porch to view it all as I lounged in my Warbonnet. If Hennessy begins to offer an "enhanced protection" version tarp (a much bigger one than the current stock tarp) then the tarp with the hammock may become a plus. But for long-distance hiking, the stock tarp just doesn't cut it, unless you intend to bail out to shelters to cook and do any thing other than simply lie in the hammock.

Just my two cents.

**Ramblinrev** · 09-29-2009, 08:26

Bridge design... check out

www.jacksrbetter.com
for the Bear Mt. Bridge Hammock. Or there is a lot of DIY data on the bridge here in the forum.

US made is one consideration. As I said, HH solves some mobility issues for me so I go with what works.

**Quoddy** · 09-29-2009, 08:36

I've used my BB on the LT during several hikes this year and have found it ideal. The second thing is, what type of entry do you want. It's a personal thing, and I prefer a side/top entry. Tarp purchase (or DIY) is something to think about, too. Few HH users stick with the tarp that comes with it. You might take a look at the OES Deluxe size and if you can afford it go for the very light Spinntex version. I've use the Deluxe in some really bad, stormy weather, and stayed completely dry. I like the flexibility and comfort that the Yeti gives for insulation, but if you want to stick to a double layer and a pad in between, that too is a personal thing. I ended up selling my double layer since I was so happy with the, lighter, single. Yes, I just mentioned some slightly pricey items... but you could save money in the long run by going with them instead of making replacements later on.

Weight and pack size can be worked out with a plan. I used a ULA Ohm on one hike on the LT, and (below on the LT) is my MLD Revelation pack in 1.5oz cuben fiber (6.1oz). Pack is 2000ci with another 900ci available in the stretch front and the pockets. For size reference, the two bottles are of the generic 20oz variety. The pack with food for 3.5 days, fuel, and full water bottles, weighed 12 pounds. I was carrying a WBBB single 1.7, Yeti, OES Deluxe tarp, Nunatak Specialist quilt, Montbell down under parka, ID Silcoat rain cape, and stove.