ok, I bought it, now what???

[DawgU]

Thanks for your help. I ordered a Hyperlite today. They had a deal for a free Hex tarp, but agreed to take $60 off of a SS instead, so that will be the beginning of my insulation for the winter. Seemed to but a much cheaper alternative to the JRB route. Here's what I'm thinking, but I would appreciate your opinion:

Get the GG 1/4' wide pad for starters. The Shenandoh (or probably the Stealth) quilt will hopefully carry me into fall here on the lower AT. Trying to decide between the standard or the deluxe MacCat.

Would you leave the suspension the same for starters or go ahead and make modifications from the beginning?

Any other tricks for someone who hasn't been in a hammock since they were a kid?

[FanaticFringer]

Thanks for your help. I ordered a Hyperlite today. They had a deal for a free Hex tarp, but agreed to take $60 off of a SS instead, so that will be the beginning of my insulation for the winter. Seemed to but a much cheaper alternative to the JRB route. Here's what I'm thinking, but I would appreciate your opinion:

Get the GG 1/4' wide pad for starters. The Shenandoh (or probably the Stealth) quilt will hopefully carry me into fall here on the lower AT. Trying to decide between the standard or the deluxe MacCat.

Would you leave the suspension the same for starters or go ahead and make modifications from the beginning?

Any other tricks for someone who hasn't been in a hammock since they were a kid?

I cant believe I'm about to suggest this.
Go ahead and use the tree huggers to suspend the hammock for a short while then upgrade to the ring/buckle system. It will make you appreciate the ring/buckles more as well as give you knowledge to give to others.
I'd go with the MacCat Deluxe cause it is bigger.

[Shadowmoss]

I got my HH Scout. I had previously passed by the lengthy ring/buckle thread as too techy and of little interest. I hung my Scout in my yard using the tree huggers and the figure 8 wraps. I then came in and read every post in the ring/buckle thread.

Do definitely hang with the standard rig. Then, and only then, will you understand the ring/buckle modifications, and more importantly, the why. Then go out and hang a large tarp with rain starting to fall as you hang it. You will then come in and beg Slowhike to explain the figure 9's and how they are used for hanging the tarp.

[angrysparrow]

Get the GG 1/4' wide pad for starters. The Shenandoh (or probably the Stealth) quilt will hopefully carry me into fall here on the lower AT.

Don't overlook the Potomac quilt.

Trying to decide between the standard or the deluxe MacCat.

The deluxe for sure. Nobody ever wishes for a SMALLER tarp, but a larger one can come in handy for all kinds of reasons.

Would you leave the suspension the same for starters or go ahead and make modifications from the beginning?

Hang with the standard suspension only until you can get some spyderline, webbing, and CC buckles delivered. Once you get that setup, you'll see that it is the most evolved suspension currently available.

Any other tricks for someone who hasn't been in a hammock since they were a kid?

Practice, Practice, Practice.

[funbun]

Just go hang it and have fun.

[Miguel]

Don't overlook the Potomac quilt.



The deluxe for sure. Nobody ever wishes for a SMALLER tarp, but a larger one can come in handy for all kinds of reasons.



Hang with the standard suspension only until you can get some spyderline, webbing, and CC buckles delivered. Once you get that setup, you'll see that it is the most evolved suspension currently available.



Practice, Practice, Practice.

Curious....what size spyderline are you using in the picture?

Miguel

[blackbishop351]

Curious....what size spyderline are you using in the picture?

Miguel

If you're referring to the "setup" link, that's not Spyderline. That's one of my hammocks, and it's some of the Spectra I cut off my HH ULB.

[DawgU]

I'm trying to stay light, but everybody keeps saying MacCat deluxe, so I'll defer to your wisdom. What kind of guyline do you use? I want the lightest that won't be a pain to deal with. Thx!

[Hooch]

Curious....what size spyderline are you using in the picture?

Miguel

In regard to spyderline, I'd probably go with a 3.8mm, which is rated to about 1900#. Better safe than dropped!

[angrysparrow]

Curious....what size spyderline are you using in the picture?

Like BB said, spyderline isn't in that pic, I just linked it to show the CC setup. However, I have a similar arrangement and I'm using the 5/32" spyderline. I'll try to post a pic later today.