Questions for WBBB users

[mountainlaura]

Hi there.

I'm a NOOB, trying to decide which hammock to buy. It's a little overwhelming to say the least so I'm grateful for advice. I probably won't be able to afford multiple hammocks so I want to make sure the one I get is the BEST one for me. To start off I figured I'd ask about the blackbird since that's what I've heard the most about. From what I've read about it, it sounds great, although maybe heavier than some? Is the slightly higher weight due to the side pocket? I'm wanting a hammock for backpacking so weight is somewhat of an issue.

Those of you who have one, what do you like/dislike about it?

It seems to be more costly than some other ones. Do you feel the cost difference is worth it?

It's described as being asymmetrically cut. Is this a unique feature or are there other ones cut this way?

It sounds like the side pocket can also help to keep the screen off your face. Is this somewhat of a problem with other hammocks?

[JSH]

You'll find that there are a lot of hammock options out there, each with its adherents. I bought a WBBB XLC about a year ago as my first hammock after lurking the forum for some time. It's served me well this past year. I passed 70 nights in it last week. One day I'll add to my inventory of hanging stuff but I'm glad I have my WBBB. It has the design details that helped me learn how to hang. Service and support from WBBB was and remains very helpful. Brandon continues to answer questions that I have, most recently about how to clean my WBBB when it becomes necessary.

I have a double layer, again because I wanted the flexibility to understand pads and quilts. I'm carrying a bit extra weight I know and actually heading out in the morning for an overnighter in the Blue Ridge. But the double layer option has been worth it. I use quilts now but began with various types of pads, including some DIY ones.

I've found the shelf very helpful. It's just to the side, out of the way but real easy to stow stuff that might be needed during the night. For instance, I put a stocking cap there, sometimes a fleece when it is cooler. If I'm cool about 3 AM all that is necessary is to reach up, poke around until I feel what I'm looking for. Pretty handy.

There are pullouts for the screen that you can adjust to keep the cover from getting too close to your face.

The integrated mosquito net and optional winter cover have been useful as well. I found the winter cover added about 5-10 degrees during cold nights.

If you're on the fence regarding a WBBB, don't trouble too much. It's a good foundation for your hammock journey. I believe well worth its cost.

Good luck.

[Tumbleweed]

Rather than waffling between different hammocks and different vendors, I decided that I would get the one tarp that consistantly had good reviews as well as resale value if I decided to switch to a different hammock. I also chose to stay with one vendor to minimize complications with compatability of components during inset-up.

I like everything about my WBBB 1.7 double. I am 6'1", 220#, old person. I love the comfort, size, shelf, net.
There are lighter, cheaper, simpler hammocks out there, and a person should strive to be content with their equipment choices.
I saved until I could get what I wanted. Love the footbox and shelf on my WBBB. Lots of annoying bugs can ruin a good nights sleep.
Would I buy another WBBB? Oh yeh! Use the shelf every time I am in the hammock. Footbox is a great place to jam gear ( TQ and clothing) until needed.

ps, I eventually purchased two Yeti underquilts in both temps , the Black Mamba top quilt and the Mammajamba tarp from WB
Not cheap, but the gear also retains it's value if cared for. My gear never touches the ground, and only the tarp gets wet.

Lots of great gear available from our vendors in addition to WB. Buy once/cry once/smile after the money ache is gone. Get the best you can justify.
Cheap is cheap...

[mountainlaura]

Thanks guys on the input so far. With the attached bug net, just wondering if that makes it hard to adjust your underquilt? Do you have problems with the underquilt shifting around?

[gunner76]

I have been using a BB for 5 years now. Great hammock. I find Triangle Thingies very good at keeping my UQs in place on the BB.

[Kvothe]

I have had no need to adjust the underquilt much, but I had no trouble fiddling with it through the bug net without opening it. I would say the WBBB is somewhat of a luxury hammock, but the increase in weight is absolutely minimal compared to the great gimmicks and comforts it offers me. You can save some weight by going with whoopie slings. Apart from that, I would rather save weight elsewhere.

[hutzelbein]

I probably won't be able to afford multiple hammocks so I want to make sure the one I get is the BEST one for me.

A lot of people start out that way. Unfortunately nobody can tell you which the best hammock for you is. Features are easy to decide on, although with growing experience, you'll probably change your opinion - but comfort is very personal. You will have to sleep in different hammocks to find out which one suits you best. That's why many people go on buying and/or making hammocks, even though they are happy with their current hammock. By all means, read as much as you can about the different hammocks on the market - but don't be disappointed if your first hammock turns out not to be "the best" one. If you buy from cottage gear vendors, your hammock will retain a high re-sale value. And some, like Warbonnet, have a generous return policy.

From what I've read about it, it sounds great, although maybe heavier than some? Is the slightly higher weight due to the side pocket? I'm wanting a hammock for backpacking so weight is somewhat of an issue.

I don't think the WBBB is on the heavy side. The question is "heavier than what?" Any integrated hammock will be heavier than a no-net hammock. But not necessarily heavier than a no-net plus bug-net. An 11' hammock is heavier than 10' hammock. A double layer 1.1oz hammock is heavier than a single layer 1.6oz hammock. And so on.

The best way to go about it is to work out what you need and want. Then compare the hammocks which fit the bill and make a decision. Lack of weight is only great if you don't have to sacrifice the comfort you're after. Otherwise the lightest option is always to go to ground... While I own a lot of hammocks - bought and DIY - I would always pick my WBBB DL for any hike. Even a thru-hike. I'd rather save weight somewhere else, than sacrifice comfort.

Those of you who have one, what do you like/dislike about it?

[Disclamer: all my BBs are old-style, with the no-net footbox. I don't know if any of my likes changed with the re-design.]

I love the design of the hammock. It's ingenious. The footbox makes it a larger hammock than it really is (in my opinion), because it gives you more usable space. It also helped me with the calf ridge.

I also love the shelf. While it's great to have a proper ridgeline organizer, you can store much bigger stuff on the shelf - like a sweatshirt. It's also much simpler to use than any other storage device I have seen. Just stake out the shelf, and when you're in the hammock, throw your stuff in it.

I like the way the double layers are designed. They have a much larger opening, which makes it easy to put insulation in between, and move it around - even while you're in the hammock.

I like the way the BB is whipped. Very simple, but it gives a really flat lay. From all hammocks I own (from 8' to 13'), it's the one that provides me with the flattest lay. I *think* it has to do with the whipping, but I can't be sure since I was never able to replicate it 100%.

I love the webbing / cinch buckle suspension. Simple, no frills. Reasonably lightweight, considering that you get a much larger adjustability than with most other suspensions.

I don't like that WB doesn't offer more fabric choices for the BB. I would love to own a 1.0oz Hexon DL WBBB or a 1.0oz HyperD DL WBBB. But I guess it would increase the quite reasonable prices due to the extra effort that would go into offering choices.

The only fault I can see with the hammock directly is the tie that is supposed to hold the net back when you don't need it. It never holds longer than a couple of minutes of moving around in the hammock. There would have been better solutions. Including no tie at all; I usually throw the net over the ridgeline anyway. That works perfectly.

Oh, and the cord locks could be smaller/lighter. But that can be easily done by yourself.

I think that's it.

However, be warned: it takes most people quite some time to learn to set up the BB correctly. It tends to be more fiddly than other hammocks. But then it also provides me with supreme comfort

It seems to be more costly than some other ones. Do you feel the cost difference is worth it?

Not at all. It's actually one of the cheaper integrated hammocks (I'm talking about the standard BB, not the XLC). Of course simple no-nets are cheaper - but that's not a fair comparison. But I have never been sorry to have spent money with Warbonnet.

It's described as being asymmetrically cut. Is this a unique feature or are there other ones cut this way?

No, it's not a unique feature. Most integrated hammocks are asymmetrical. This refers to the way the net is cut. The net is usually a parallelogram, with two attachment points for the hammock ends, and one edge where your head goes, the other where your feet go. This is to save weight (by not cutting the net as large as the hammock body, like the Switchback, DD or Claytor hammocks) and to be able to have the net go over the ridgeline (with the other designs, you have to tie out the net individually). The assymetrical cut means, that the direction of your lay is fixed. It is possible to sleep the other way, but that puts a lot more pressure on the net and doesn't give you much room.

It sounds like the side pocket can also help to keep the screen off your face. Is this somewhat of a problem with other hammocks?

Not sure what you mean by this. The only areas where you are likely to have contact with the net (provided you lie correctly) are your feet and your face. My head has never been even remotely close to the netting of the shelf (if that is what you were talking about). I usually use the tie-outs, which keep the bug net away from my head. Most integrated hammocks have tie-outs for that reason. Some people don't use them, because even without them they don't come near the net. Must be the way they lie in the hammock.

With the attached bug net, just wondering if that makes it hard to adjust your underquilt? Do you have problems with the underquilt shifting around?

It depends on what you mean by "hard". With any integrated hammock, you have to open the zipper to be able to get to your underquilt. If that is too much bother for you then yes, it's hard. But I don't think so. After my underquilt is adjusted, I rarely have to reach out to fiddle with it. This usually only happens when it's very hot, and I push the underquilt aside when I get into the hammock. I inevitably get cold later on, and have to open the zippers, reach out, grab the underquilt and pull it back in its place. Close zipper - done. Once my underquilts are set-up correctly, there is little to no shifting.

[Five Tango]

We all go thru this dilemma about hammocks.Finally,someone suggested to me to get a netless hammock from Dutch for winter use.They sell for $35 now I believe.So I keep mine made up with the JRB Nest (which mates to my original HH Exp.) and an undercover from 2QZQ and leave it hang in the basement year round.I plan to use it tonight so it's just a matter of stuffing the whole rig into a stuff sack(it compresses down well) and then hang the whole thing in one fell swoop.If you want to have a net year round you could go with a Dutch Half Wit or have a Fronkey net.I like having a pad in summer because I use it rolled up to sit on at times and slip it into the WBBB 1.1DL.The convenience of two hammocks cost an additional $30 at the time I bought it.(note:the Half Wit was not available when I got my first Dutch Hammock)

[GreatBigDave]

Wow! hutzelbein hit every point. I can echo that I love my XLC and SuperFly. I think I spent more on an ENO DN + bugnet + suspension + ridgeline + ridgeline organizer than I did on my 1.7 DL XLC.

I have a three season Yeti that tended to pop off my shoulder (I'm a big guy); one of the XLC hangars here posted that he uses one of Dutch's Clip On Quilt Hooks right where zipper starts. I've done the same and the quilt stays right where I need it now.

The only other thing I can add is it really does help me to hang the head end lower(10"-12") than the foot and then I slide myself toward the head end a bit after I get in.

[mountainlaura]

Wow! Thanks Hutzelbein for all the detailed answers to my questions! That really helps a lot! The BB is certainly sounding enticing!

The only areas where you are likely to have contact with the net (provided you lie correctly) are your feet and your face. My head has never been even remotely close to the netting of the shelf (if that is what you were talking about). I usually use the tie-outs, which keep the bug net away from my head. Most integrated hammocks have tie-outs for that reason. Some people don't use them, because even without them they don't come near the net. Must be the way they lie in the hammock.

Ok, I was thinking it was the side pocket that kept the net off your face but it sounds like it's the tie-outs, which other hammocks may have too.

it gives a really flat lay. From all hammocks I own (from 8' to 13'), it's the one that provides me with the flattest lay.

This is the only thing that might not work for me. One reason I'm looking into getting a hammock to camp in is that I need to sleep on a slight incline to help prevent possible vertigo episodes. I probably need an incline of maybe 20 degrees. With the flat lie, is it still possible to sleep partially inclined? Do you think if I tied the head end higher or something then the footbox would keep me from sliding down? Does that make sense?