New New Virgin New

**Jay Jay** · 08-16-2016, 12:00

Hey everyone I'm JJ. Im new to a lot of things. I have very little experience hiking. I have not done any backpacking. I don't have any backpacking equipment. And I've never joined or posted on a forum. I do have a decent knowledge of the woods, and survival skills, and I've done tons of camping out of a tent and hunting. That being said I'm absolutely dieing to get all the equipment I need and start backpacking. I'm definitely wanting to try a hammock as Ive done tents my whole life and well mehhh they are ok. But I love the advantages of the hammock now that I'm starting to reasearch them. My issues are that im a bigger guy 6'3" and about 250lbs. So I am looking for a good hammock, bug net, tarp, full length under and over quilts, while I'm not looking for cheap I also would like to stay under $600 hopefully less (for the hammock setup. hammock, net, quilts, suspention, etc..). But I dont know what things to look for as I have no experience.

**zukiguy** · 08-16-2016, 12:16

Welcome.....hit up YouTube and search for "Shug". Watch all his videos. These will answer lots and lots of questions and probably spawn quite a few.

Once you do that you can check out the "sticky" subjects here on the forums. Look through the various areas: insulation, weather protection, etc. The "Sticky" posts are where a lot of the distilled wisdom ends up being placed for new and old alike. These should show up at the top of the list in each section.

Use Google to search the forums. It's unlikely that you'll have a question that hasn't already been asked. Unfortunately, the search engine on here stinks because we use tons of acronyms and the tool needs at least 4 characters in the search fields. Fortunately, Google does not so you can put in multiple search terms and specify the site like this: "tarp UQ Hennessy site:hammockforums.net" and get lots of results (just type the terms and then the site:hammockforums.net into the search window).

After all that reading and video watching you should have a really good idea what you're looking for. When in doubt, you can also just go buy Derek Hansen's book for maybe a 97% solution to many hammock-related questions: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hang...ammock-Camping

**Jay Jay** · 08-16-2016, 12:22

Great place to start! Thank you kind Sir!

**johnspenn** · 08-16-2016, 14:13

Hello and welcome to the forums from Marietta GA. Good luck in your search and happy hanging!

**Fangfarrier** · 08-16-2016, 14:16

Could you not call yourself Jay Jay?

**Scubahhh** · 08-16-2016, 15:02

What Zukiguy said, but spend loads of time on this forum too. There are centuries of experience and some great hammocking pioneers here! Take everything with a grain of salt and figure out for yourself whose opinions make the most sense to you and away you go!

A couple years ago I decided to give hammocks a shot and did tons of research. I ended up getting a hunch and betting a bunch on Warbonnet (XLC double 1.7, Superfly, Yeti) for about $540, using a sleeping abs as a top quilt. I'm big, too (6'4", 220#) and love every piece.

I spent a few days figuring out how put everything together, take it apart, and stow it in daylight, nightlight, no light, rain, sleet, snow, pestilence, locust storms, etc... and fiddled around with all kinds of Dutch Gear, Night Ize, fancy lines, line locs, snakeskins, bishops bags, etc. until I found what worked for me. Man, that was fun!

The only real changes I've made are trading the Yeti for a new Wookie, and picking up a quilt.

have fun and don't be shy about buying good gear if you can afford it: if you buy crap you're stuck with it, but if you buy good stuff and it doesnt' work out for you, there's always someone on this forum who will buy it used at a fair price!

Welcome aboard and have fun!!!

**xrayit** · 08-16-2016, 15:30

Welcome, you have come to the right place. I too started with an interest in getting off the ground. I have spent the last two years refining what that meant to me. I just ordered the last pieces of my puzzle a few weeks ago and that was the 0 degree top and under quilts and what a journey it has been!

**Jay Jay** · 08-16-2016, 15:51

Yes I probably could have called myself jay jay. And now I feel pretty small lol.

**NarlocB** · 08-16-2016, 15:55

Originally Posted by just JJ needed 5 letters

Yes I probably could have called myself jay jay. And now I feel pretty small lol.

Which i'm sure is hard to do being 6'3".

Welcome to the boards. You will find every make and model of person here.....tall, short, twig....tree.....etc. There seems to be a hammock just right for everyone.

**gbrugs** · 08-16-2016, 15:57

Its going to be a fun journey. I just started mine. Purhased full setup for around that dollar mark from Cave Creek Hammocks and am very happy. Minus the tarp which i already had.

People are so friendly around here, its almost scary.

Hopefully you can make the September backpacking hang. Looking forward to it.

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