At least it's a bridge... unlike the REI bridge(s).
Looks like it won't get funded regardless so not much to worry about.
Nothing really new here... but looks like things were at least packaged well in terms of highlighting some features of other models.
Simplest thing to say- is that it's a hiker dad/bic bridge in that it is just a rolled webbing design with no endcaps. Simple and cheap to build.
To be fair- the only relatively original item is adding the webbing slot onto a pole tip so that the pole tip can act as the receiver of the spreader bar... that gives you a hardware connection like the Ridgerunner or BMBH but cuts out a piece.
I have not seen anything exactly the same commercially but I'd put that more in the 'custom hardware' rather than innovation slot personally.
As WBJohn mentioned- the variable length poles is semi-unique (but something the Ridgerunner used to do).
Playing with spreader bar sizes, or even custom trimming them for users is common enough... but if you're not a bridge nerd with a pile of poles handy that is a hard thing to play with so I suppose nice to have them in the bag to start.
This would actually let you do something I describe to others when explaining other end bar models.
If you start with two 36" poles you'd have a BMBH.
If you did a 48" head pole and 24" foot pole you'd get a version of the ridgerunner.
As far as the cat cut ends... that doesn't actually do anything for the user... especially in an end bar bridge.
In my recessed bar bridges you can feel that line of force naturally occur which helps create a line of tension you can use as a neck pillow for back sleepers. But you can only take advantage of that geometry if you have an end bar... so useless on this one.
I suspect given the engineering emphasis that:
1-The cat cut looks cool and technical.
2-The cut lets them do the transition from sides to ends a bit more cleanly to form the tie out point for the end webbings.
3-When playing in the 3d modeling software they may have been encouraged to create that shape- especially if you don't think of it as a cut out, but an added on piece to an other wise straight ended bridge.
It is very heavy... My Big Guy Bridge is 2lbs 4 ounces. They mentioned a lighter version at 3lbs and a stock of 4lbs.
That's about on par with that REI couch thing that sucked badly and with the Chrysalis or some other bombproof items.
They won't be able to really cut that down as they have some structural issues I see that the heavy webbing/poles are solving for them... they'd have to revisit the design to lighten it up.
Bridges as a lounging device is always a dubious prospect, especially a rolled webbing design.
They pitched their own product incorrectly a few times in the video too which is always a tough way to go...
This is not realistically a trail worthy product but would at least provide a good nights sleep compared to the REI couch, a poorly set up ENO/amazon special, or other products. But folks haul their Amok so who knows...
It appears to be a functional bridge hammock at an acceptable cost for a casual user to toss a pad into and use.
Given the fairly small 'models' it's hard to say if it would work well enough for a bigger fella who wanted a bridge without spending big money... but there is some potential with the 4' bars if the rest of the structure is there.
It isn't awful, nor is it really intended for anyone here.
I don't see anything you could patent, but it's not my money to waste trying.
As the boom of younger folks who crawled into a starter hammocks for cheap has grown.. you're going to see those who stuck around and enjoyed it look for more sophisticated products. At first glance a bridge looks strange but they did an okay job of pitching it to the starter hammock crowd. The cottage camping hammock users here are long past many of the surface debate points they made... but your average college kid might not be.
Remember somebody at REI thought that couch thing made enough sense to bring to market... if anything this is a better version of that concept and would fit right in at your standard car camping basecamp setup your typical REI customer might have... so I'm a bit more cynically objective about stuff like this. It may not be our market, but it does have a market.
So to an extent... seeing someone going for it (even if doing it poorly) is a bit encouraging for me. At least the idea of a bridge is growing so from a self interest point of view that's good seeing as I build a few that are pretty darn nice.
I agree with some of the bridge vs gathered end ideas... but comparing with a poorly pitched cheapie hammock is not going to win over anyone here. Though bridges in general are still fairly unknown and likely a few folks reading this thread just saw a bridge for the first time. Most people associate them with spreader bar hammocks (there's a bar, must be the same) so often bridges get dismissed on first glance or confused with that 60's backyard staple.
There are people who do struggle with a gathered end, even if there are many here who don't. Bridges can offer some relief for that... not everyone plops into a GE hammock and agrees there is a sweet spot to be found.
In general... in choosing a hammock at all you are already willing to trade comfort for ounces... a bridge user is just willing to go a little further on that scale if they didn't find relief in the GE.
There is a decent argument to make for a bridge when you need a sleeping pad based system that will realistically let you switch between ground and air. Bridges tend to do that a bit better... and while it's easy enough to say that YOU won't go where you can't hang... some people do enjoy hammocks but would not stay away from a trip just because there is a night or two they need to sleep on the ground with a nice pad to visit that area.
In my opinion one solid way to sell a bridge is to reduce the weight impact of that change for backpackers. With some of my stuff easily clearing 16 ounces and slowly sneaking back to 12 ounces... that trade off isn't quite so bad if you do have some gathered end frustration. If you don't... you're already happy and there is nothing to sell you on. But there are lots of folks on the backpacking side of things who are intimidated, frustrated, or just plain annoyed with gathered end hammocks. A bridge can be a better solution for those folks if you don't ding them too much on weight. While they look foreign to long term gathered end hangers... to a backpacker used to sleeping on a pad... looks like a sweet way to get your *** out of the mud and use the pad you already own. No diagonals to find and you can skip looking up calf ridge, learning about UQ adjustment, or sorting through a huge glossary of terms. Bridges can cut through a lot of the learning curve for those aspiring to leave the ground.
The other way is to sell something unique... The Amok, the 90*, or my Luxury Bridge... you're selling a different sleep experience that will always find a limited audience.
With my Big Guy Bridge you're selling a floating cot that you can still take backpacking and sleep in comfortably if you're bigger than average.
So this hammock... meh. Nothing new here. Nothing to poop on really either other than perhaps poor presentation and a lack of knowledge about the product/market.
But overall... I think there is a lot of very exciting things happening with hammocks and expect to see more stuff like this.
A decade or two ago... the cottage backpacking industry blew up. We saw alot of neat stuff, then a little stagnation, then a big afterboom as the second and third waves of cottage guys got involved.
I think we're right in the middle of that with hammocks as some of the second and third wave folks are showing up...
That boom of eno/amazon cheapie buyers... some will pass with the fad... but lots will get hooked, get sophisticated, and continue on to here.
At the core of all the fad type outdoor activities is camping... at the core of that has always been a better way to sleep. So what ever fad you're chasing from fat tire bikes, climbing, slack lining, or whatever gets you out to start... everyone needs a decent place to sleep and hammocks tend to hook folks more readily than other items do. That and we all get older, lol. You can sleep anywhere on anything when you're 20... not so much as you hit 30 and beyond.
Not everyone can do a gathered end... no point in giving them a hard time about it if they want or need a bridge... just get them a better bridge.
Much like there was no point in me giving gathered end users a hard time about giving up on sleeping on the ground when that got too tough... even if a sleeping pad is lighter... if it doesn't do the job for you then it doesn't matter how 'light', 'best', or 'amazing' someone else thinks it is.
As many of us backpackers used to say- HYOH... which stood for hike your own hike before this hammock thing came around.
Needs change, we get older, get hurt, take different trips or flat out get bored with the stuff we use. The xtreme ultra light boom is over.. but as a result all gear is way lighter and there is now a pound or two to spare for those who want to 'splurge' on a good night's sleep.
Even if you make really nice stuff, not everyone wants to buy it... so there will always be a kickstarter or knock off around too from someone who thinks they can do better. And there will always be a slick marketing guy telling you how all your problems will be solved for one easy payment of $xx.99 too.
Hanging will be hanging around for a good bit... lots of folks are chomping at the edges looking to join in.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by ElMard
Bookmarks