Well folks, I am currently lounging in my insulated hammock! I think the project is more or less a success... There's a bit of compression of insulation under my bum due to the unexpected stretchiness of HyperD 1.6 but it still feels well insulated. The final weight of the hammock, insulation, bottom shell, ridgeline, and continuous loops is 1lb 8.3oz. Once I can pull myself out of here (it's very comfortable!) I will get the photos edited and posted.
Next up is adding the integrated bug net!
I should also point out that it is currently 27°C and I am in shorts and T-shirt and I don't feel too hot. Perfect!
Can't wait to see the pics. Don't keep us waiting too long!
My head is an animal
Picture time!
First, assemble your lovely new materials:
Hammock-0001.jpg
Then, oggle over your snazzy new hi-tech fabric:
Hammock-0002.jpg
Gently caress your 0.5oz bug net:
Hammock-0003.jpg
And start cutting!
Hammock-0004.jpg
I didn't take many pictures of the first few sections because it is a VERY generic channelled end hammock, doubled over in the channel and triple stitched. Here is where it starts to get interesting:
Hammock-0005.jpg
Starting to figure out the general shape. I ended up using the full width of the fabric instead of tapering it because I really didn't want to end up having the insulation be too narrow:
Hammock-0006.jpg
Sewed in darts near to each corner to give it a droopy box shape to allow for loft:
Hammock-0007.jpg
My wife helping out in her amazing sewing station!
Hammock-0008.jpg
Getting closer to the final dimensions:
Hammock-0009.jpg
3 edges are now sewn and I cut the insulation (poly-down batting):
Hammock-0010.jpg
Once the insulation is in place, get some weights in there so nothing shifts about:
Hammock-0011.jpg
And start pinning where the quilt loops are to be placed! I did them every 10" around the perimeter and then every 20" for the rest of the hammock body (more on this later):
Hammock-0012.jpg
I'm not going for extreme winter camping, and the insulation is only ~3/4" thick so I wasn't worried about sewing right through. Plus, there are only 6 little loops in the "sleeping area" of the hammock body:
Hammock-0016.jpg
A couple stitches forward, a couple backwards. Trim your threads long so you can reef knot them after!
Hammock-0017.jpg
Hang it up!!!
Hammock-0018.jpg
More details to follow!
Kevlar straps (soon to be mule tape if I can ever find some in Canada!) to Amsteel continuous loops a-la Anti-Gravity Gear:
Hammock-0019.jpg
Convince your wife to drop what she was doing and take pictures of you!
Hammock-0020.jpg
Foot end detail (notice the huge amount of coverage from the insulation):
Hammock-0021.jpg
And the head end:
Hammock-0022.jpg
Okay, so here are some final thoughts:
1. The insulation is compressing a tiny bit in the bum area. This baffled me at first because I left plenty of room in the under shell but then I realized my screw up: I pinned the quilt loops with the hammock on flat ground. The insulation was puffed up nicely and sitting even all around, but when I got in the hammock the loops closest to where I was laying were holding the under shell tight and leaving it puffy above where I was laying (does that make sense?). I'm going to pick out the loops and re-pin them while I'm in the hammock and I think this will solve the little bit of compression.
2. It's **** comfortable! Super easy to set up and fairly light (1lb 8.3oz for hammock, insulation, under shell, ridgeline, and CL). Once I re-do the quilt loops this thing is going to be perfect for spring-summer-fall camping here on Vancouver Island.
3. Next up is the bug net. I'll try to keep up on photos, but it's basically going to be the XTrekker Integrated net with a couple modifications.
Thanks for everyone's interest and input!
Thank you for the detailed illustration. A similar thing will likely be my next project and I am very encouraged by your example.
That end result looks great. I'm glad to see it work out for you.
Wow that's beautiful, I hope you can get the compression issue sorted, it looks so much slicker and easier to set up without all the suspension gubbins.
That is a great looking hammock, and a creative solution with the positioning of the insulation. Well done.
Sweet looking hammock. I like. A lot.
My head is an animal
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