Greetings from the "Not Chicago" part of Illinois

[Armadillo Hanger]

Hi everyone. Very excited to discover hanging. I have been perusing the forums and other websites for a few weeks now and am anxious to take the plunge. I am going to be (hopefully) hanging with my daughter and slowly working our way from indoors to outdoors to backpacking together.

I pulled the trigger and ordered a Micro Lair from Jared with a UQP for my daughter in pink and purple and am working out the details on mine, but it looks like a Trail Lair will be the choice. Today I went out and bought the materials for a turtledog stand for my daughter's to try before I build mine. Then ready to get an UQ, TQ, winter cover, and tarp. But one step at a time.

Thanks for all the ideas already and I look forward to many more learning moments.

[BananaHammock]

Welcome! Looks like you have a solid plan. If you have tent camping gear, use it! A pad, sleeping bag, Menards tarp, and a Fronkey bug net will last you awhile.

[Armadillo Hanger]

Unfortunately, no gear. This is new for both of us, but if we decide we like the hammocks I am in the buy quality from the get go camp. My way of easing into it is to start indoors where you don't need all the extras right away. Then we will move outdoors only in good warm weather, then work oour way up to cold and rain, and then thru-hike the AT. (The lairs have integrated bug nets)

[Watertooner]

Welcome to the best forum on the internet. Just ask the folks around here to verify and they'll tell ya. I started out just like you are planning - indoors (full-time hanging, actually) during the deep winter, then went to an outdoor hang with great people in April (met them on the internet). By the next winter, I was addicted and enjoyed a frozen butt hang at -13*. I get out about 10-12 times per year now in any season, but still hang full-time indoors. Good luck!

[mr.tarp]

Welcome to the group!

[WanderingKansas]

There's a part of Illinois that isn't Chicago?! (Thank God, right?!)

Welcome to the forum. This is the best place to find out what is good hammocking equipment and what is not.

Two things that have been valuable for me to learn: 1) choosing between great cottage vendors, you won't go wrong. 2) There is no right setup for everyone. "HYOH"

[Groundskeeper]

Welcome aboard. I'm sure you and your daughter will have tons of fun learning together.

The Turtledog looks like a fine contraption, but you may want to also look into the Tensa... whatever stand. It seems to have less parts.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...-Hammock-Stand

[cmc4free]

Welcome aboard from somewhere "near" the Chicago part.

[Karla "with a k"]

I hope you are able to make it to a hammock hang in the area. You and your daughter will learn SO much! Plus, you'll meet a cool bunch of folks.

I keep a list of hangs I know of in my signature file (look below) and you can always find them in the Midwest section of the Trips. Hope to hang with you soon!