Jumping Right In vs. Extensive testing :)

[NJHeart2Heart]

So.. another of my posts brought a question to mind..

Which of you "tested the waters" and then "practiced, practiced, practiced", before doing your first woodland overnight, and which of you just grabbed a hammock and straps and dove right into the wilds?

Would you have done it differently knowing what you know now? How?

[Syb]

I just dove right in. In my opinion you learn a lot more that way. That said, I had some working knowledge so I wasn't completely in the dark. Reading up on info is great yet can lead to analysis-paralysis.

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[FLTurtle]

Jumped right in. Used a Walmart bugnet hammock, ratchet straps, a big tarp and a sleeping bag. Spent two rainy nights on an island. Loved it. Wouldn't have changed a thing because I learned so much about the basics: hammock, suspension, weather protection and insulation. All my stuff would not fit in my biggest backpack (65L Osprey Atmos).

Since then, I've changed everything. Went with lighter/more compact gear that takes up about 1/4 of that backpack.

[dkurfiss]

Bought cheap gear and jumped right in but it was in my back yard I don't take new gear to the field with me until I test it at home.

[OCDave]

While I "jumped right in", I did so in the shallow end of the pool. My first hammock set-up was the ENO One Link shelter system purchased for less than $200. I also used this system exclusively for front country camping for the first several months so, if a "bail out" was ever really necessary it was nearby.

The "extensive testing" testing was organic as the ENO One Link Shelter ststem is overall pretty sucky. Better straps were ther first item I discovered would be necessary. New straps lead to my first set of whoopie slings. Replacing my pad with an underquilt highlighted the problems of a very short hammock. Replacing the ENO DoubleNest with longer hammock meant the ENO Pro Fly would no longer provide adeuate coverage leading to more extensive tarp testing. Cuben Fiber vs silnylon, doors vs no doors ect. Half a dozen tarps later, I favor the SuperFly. Eventually, it also became clear the ENO Gaurdian bugnet would not fit my longer hammock. Enter additional hammocks including the Waqrbonnet Blackbird. So 2 years after "jumping right in" my "extensive testing" resulted in all my gear being replaced, duplicated repeatedly. I have a dozen different suspension systems. I am down to just 7 hammocks from the 12 that I have bought. My tarp count is 5, having sold 2 including the Cuben Fiber and the ENO Profly. Coming up on 8-9 years after "just jumping in", the "extensive testing" is just stuff I do just for fun.

[Tyroler Holzhacker]

Bought cheap gear and jumped right in but it was in my back yard I don't take new gear to the field with me until I test it at home.

This....

Didn't even know about HF until I started googling hammock info after my first ENO hammock purchase from REI back in 2016. It was then that I fell into the rabbit hole headfirst as I had to find a way to get an optimal hammock setup. It has been a fun journey, and HF members, Derek Hansen and Shug have been showing me everything I know. I now even have become better at tying knots properly to avoid hardware, although I find hardware to be useful sometimes. This hobby sure is fun, even though it is all about sleeping, not doing stuff per se.

[Heavyhiker]

I don't think I jumped right in because I read a lot of the posts here first and watched a lot of videos, especially all of Shug's videos so I felt pretty prepared when I went out on my first hang. My first hang was out at Round Valley with the Boy Scouts and although I didn't get everything set up perfectly, even with a Friday night thunderstorm, I was dry, warm and comfortable. For me at least, a hammock is way more comfortable than a tent.

[LuvmyBonnet]

I jumped right in. I'm a buy once cry once kind of guy. I went with Warbonnet Black Bird XLC, Superfly and quilts. No regrets. I did some solos in local woods. Then I decided to meet up with some internet weirdos called EGL. That's when the fun really began. I paddled and hung as much as I could up in Canada. Then I started hangin with some other good folks in Allegheny National Forest PA. Then I went to HangCon 18 and did a 5 day solo in the ADK's that was spiritual. I still want to do a solo Algonquin and BWCA. So ya, jumped right into the deep end of the pool.

[Grunt]

Jumped right in with a backup plan in the truck (bivvy).

[NJHeart2Heart]

Thanks all for your great answers and for sharing!

This event coming up is a bit of a jump, but I've done a ton of reading/watching, inquiry, done several daytime hangs with my setup, which have been wonderfully educational, and have lots of backup options.

Whooohoo! Here we go!