Backpacker Pains

**somt1033** · 09-10-2015, 00:42

Hi,
i have a Backpacker Ultralite Asym Zip in combination with the Super Shelter. It's my first hammock and i have had countless wonderful night s in it over the last two years.
Anyway, there are two little annoynces:
1. The bug net hangs into my face. I cannot get it stretched out to the sides enough, especially since i have the Super Shelter installes. The SS Limits the amount of pullout to the sides.
2. I have the felling that the ridgeline on my hommock is longer than that of other Backpacker species i have seen on the Internet. I am saying this because my sag seems to be less. Also i feel that it is hard to get a real diagonal lay in it.
As I said these issues are minor ones. I can still have a good sleep in it.

Hence my questions:
Did you experience the same?
Are there production variations?
Is there an easy way to fix these issues?

Thank you,
Marvin

**Roche** · 09-10-2015, 06:03

Sounds like too much sag. Visit the Hennessy website and view the set-up videos a few times, then practice, practice, practice. Viel Gluck.

**somt1033** · 09-10-2015, 10:07

Trust me if i tell you that i tried every concievable hang during the last two years.
As is said: The problem is too little sag. My understanding is that the bigger the sag the easier it is to get a diagonal lay.

**captaincoupal** · 09-10-2015, 13:15

Marvin, I'm surprised that you're getting that much sag in the bugnet - I've been hanging for 4 years now in the BPUL and don't find the same issue. I'd guess that it's very possible that you've got an issue with a production unit. My first question is probably the most obvious - have you called Hennessy?

If so, and they haven't helped, there are a couple of other things that I'd be curious about. For instance, does the ridgeline sag when you are laying in the hammock? Or is it tight? I assume that you set it up the way that they show in the video. A second question would be about the pull-outs with the Super Shelter. I have that as well, and I find that I'm not really compromising the pull-outs when I use it. What is the distance between the two pull-outs internally? I can measure mine and compare it to yours.

If the ridgeline is sagging, there is a very simple way to adjust it without compromising the integrity of the hammock, but it would require that you disassemble one end of the gather to do it.

**somt1033** · 09-10-2015, 13:53

As it is my first Hammock and i don't know anybody over here who is hanging, i wasn't sure if it was normal or not. Also i have to repeat that the issues are not severe. If at all, the sag is minimally smaller than "normal".
And yes, the ridgeline is tight. I am proficient in setting my hammock up (i am kind of perfectionist and experiment alot).
Since i am planning to DIY one anyway, i will un-whipp my old BPUL and shorten the ridge line a bit. I will tell you how it goes.
Thank you for helping!

**Bubba** · 09-10-2015, 16:34

Maybe you can rig up an internal pole of some sort to lift up your bugnet. Might require a bit of sewing.
To quickly shorten your ridgeline you can take a carabiner and wrap the ridgeline around it. One wrap will shorten it around an inch. Increase the number of wraps until you get your desired sag. It's a temporary solution but can be left on if you don't mind the carabiner being there.

**somt1033** · 09-10-2015, 23:46

Originally Posted by Bubba

Maybe you can rig up an internal pole of some sort to lift up your bugnet. Might require a bit of sewing.
To quickly shorten your ridgeline you can take a carabiner and wrap the ridgeline around it. One wrap will shorten it around an inch. Increase the number of wraps until you get your desired sag. It's a temporary solution but can be left on if you don't mind the carabiner being there.

Good advice, thanks. I will be hanging tmorrow again and try it out!
My Buddy and me will be cycling the 200mi from Hamurg to Mount Brocken.

**Grumpy Squatch** · 09-11-2015, 07:15

I've never completely eliminated the sag in my Hennessy bugnet, but have learned a couple of tricks. The SuperShelter does make it worse as the undercover seems to limit the tension that the side pull outs can give. One reason I switched to an underquilt most of the time.

If you have the pack/pannier space and weight isn't an issue, finding a wide pad for inside the hammock can spread the fabric a bit and keep the net off your face. I've also used a small clip to gather some of the bugnet and tension it a bit. I get the most consistent results when setting up with the 30 degree angle on my suspension, especially if you intend on using the integrated tarp hooks rather than a seperate ridgeline for the tarp. You might also be able to find a pillow that you can push a bit to the side to add some tension to the fabric/bugnet. I use an inflatable one. Finally, you can always try reversing your lie depending on how you sleep, so your head is either closer or farther away from the zipper. If I have the zipper on my right side, I have fewer bugnet-in-the-face problems.

**somt1033** · 09-25-2015, 05:04

I tried the carabiner trick to shorten the ridgeline. Works like a charm!!! The hammock feels roomier and it is easier to get the diagnoal lay. Also it reduced the bug net sag. Thanks!