RidgeRunner woes

[Freakin Farmer]

This is a first for me hearing the the Ridgerunner had any fiddle factor. I find the gather end hammocks and under quilts to be 10 times more fiddle factor but hey to each their own.

Maybe fiddle was a poor word choice there. It wasn't really a fiddle thing.

[Passinthru]

Some folks don't use the short, center section of the head end spreader bar. That probably gives a little bit 'deeper' lay so your shoulders would not feel so exposed. The other issues probably just need some getting used to. Moot point since you are selling it already...

[Carbon]

That brings me to my next concern, the spreader bars. I started unpacking my gear to set up and a rush of panic set in when I couldn't find one of the footend spreaders. After a few agonizing minutes I discovered it had nested in one of the headend bars. Not a deal breaker...but fiddle factor points deduction.

Hmm. I've always nested the bars to minimize bulk.

I've since made my own spreader bars using shorter pieces where all 3 foot end bar pieces nest inside the head end pieces.

[Freakin Farmer]

Hmm. I've always nested the bars to minimize bulk.

I've since made my own spreader bars using shorter pieces where all 3 foot end bar pieces nest inside the head end pieces.

It's a nifty feature, but didn't realize they did that so the first 20 minutes were me sifting through leaves on the ground looking for a lost spreader. When that proved fruitless I assumed I had left it at home and pouted for another 10 minutes that my first trip was going to be spent in a half bridged hammock.

[Freakin Farmer]

Some folks don't use the short, center section of the head end spreader bar. That probably gives a little bit 'deeper' lay so your shoulders would not feel so exposed. The other issues probably just need some getting used to. Moot point since you are selling it already...

That may be worth a try, but I am a few lbs north of the recommended 250, so I think that may be more the issue. Too much mass in a narrow space.

[SkraM]

The lynx is 4 inches smaller (narrow) than a standard gatherend UQ. Maybe that's the reason for the cold shoulders.

[winterbeard]

Now, I briefly had an XLC from warbonnet, before trading it for the Ridgerunner, which I am ecstatic, about.
I never had an underquilt for it, so I can't really relate to the shoulder cold bit, (and it was mid summer, as well).
When I switched to the Ridgerunner, I had Brandon send me a full length 20* quilt, to go with it. As SkraM indicates, it IS a little narrow, but it is sized to the width of the Ridgerunner. I just kind of figured my top quilt, or in my case wide sleeping bag, would have to compensate for the coverage on the shoulders.
The MSS bag is 60" wide, so there is plenty of cover for the sides. At least, that's been my findings.



"Mahwedge...
A bwessed awangement...
A dweam within a dweam..."

[Cragdwella]

I agree with TS, having used a blackbird for five years, now a ridgerunner. There is zero fiddle factor ! To each his own !

[drsolarmolar]

Sometimes you gotta test drive a few hammocks to find "The One." I wanted to love the Blackbird (XLC), tried two versions (1.1 DL and 1.7 SL) and even the Wooki with it and just never could find my bliss. The Ridgerunner for me checks all the boxes. For you it might be something else. That's part of the fun!

[OlTrailDog]

Depending on who, and if you are married, this isn't like a "until death do you part" deal.

After you have done your best to make a go of it, you may want to give a 90 degree hammock a go. Flattest, best side sleeping, and most comfortable hammock I've had. They have their own challenges to work through, e.g. tarps and insulation, but well worth being an over comer. Speaking from 'been there, done that' experience.

PS: I have found that using an insulated pad in my GE makes calf ridge impossible. Augment with a 3/4 or light UQ if temps are toooo low. Of the pads I've used the Exped Downmat and Synmat have been the best.