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  1. #1
    New Member
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    Amazed at the possibilities and amount of futzing...

    Hi all, I'm not even brand new to hammocking yet as my HH UB was just ordered (hopefully on its' way), and I discovered this forum shortly afterwards while Googling to learn more about rigging.

    I'm planning a solo, cross-Canada bike tour this summer and hammocking piqued my interest not only for the potential space and weight savings over a standard tent setup, but more importantly because I think I'll get much better sleep this way.

    Thus far I've read the entire (90-some page) epic thread on descending rings, a bunch of other threads on various rigging options, and have watched Shug's 10-part youtube series on rigging and tarps. I'm soaking up info like a parched sponge, and and am pretty amazed at the variety of options out there.

    Standard HH rigging vs straps/spectra cord & descending rings (or CC clips), whoopie slings and a marlin spike hitch with huggers and a 'biner or Dutch clips... and somehow I get the feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg!

    It's probably foolish to even ask, assuming that there's no consensus on what's "best", "lightest", or "most optimal" - hell, I'd wager that my choice of hammock could come under fire just as easily (I see a lot of love for the BB, though I don't fully understand why it's "better").

    So aside from just reading a bunch of conflicting opinions, and having no real experience of my own to rely on, where do I start from here?

    Space and weight are my primary concerns, followed by ease/speed of rigging. Tying backup knots (a la rings) is no bother to me as I come from a rockclimbing background, so redundancies and failsafes are pretty well ingrained.

    Your opinions and advice are appreciated.


    Thanks,

    Khai

  2. #2
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    Muskegon MI
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    Easiest and lightest, whoopie slings.

    Takes a few days to read all the info in that thread.

    Good luck.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  3. #3
    Member
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    Jun 2009
    Location
    Dartmouth N.S. Canada
    Hammock
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    Welcome to the forum khai.
    Are you going West to East or East to West? We have a group of hangers here in N.S. that could be ground support while you are in our area.

    My advice is practice, practice,practice. If you can get to a group hang you can see and try out different set ups prior to your trip. We all have our own prefered set ups but what will work best for you is very personal. You are looking in the right spot. Pull up a chair and continue reading. As soon as your hammock arrives get out and try setting it up, again and again and again. It does get easier.

    Good luck and keep us updated.

  4. #4
    Senior Member sir White Wolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Clarkesville, Ga.
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    Welcome khai,
    Sounds like a great trip. Cant wait for the posts and pic's.
    I want to do an Algonquin Solo Canoe Trip one day

    have fun and Hang in there
    <a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/kiltedhiker/ART/?action=view&current=BWPH3.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/kiltedhiker/ART/BWPH3.png" border="0" alt="BWPH"></a> Alchemist : EGO SOLVE et COAGULA, illic pro EGO sum : Welder

  5. #5
    New Member
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    Thanks for the welcome! I can't wait until my hammock arrives and I can start making the neighbours scratch their heads and wonder...

    The ride is West to East, and I'm not really sure how far I'll make it as I've only got 8 weeks to cover some 8000km. By most estimates that's an "aggressive" schedule, but we'll see... Montreal is pretty much a lock. PEI should definitely be doable. But making St John's in that time will require great weather, and not just a bit of luck (tailwinds, few to no mechanicals, good health, etc).

    This is a rough plan of the route: <click here>

  6. #6
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    West Kootenays,BC,Canada
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB DL 1.1 &amp; Lite Owl
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    Hey Khai; When do you leave??
    There's allot of stuff you could do to customize your hammock but nothing you have to do to get a nights sleep. Three things i would suggest is getting a slightly bigger tarp to protect you from wind and driving rain and if you have time get the zipper mod from 2QZQ and the SPE pad unit from Ed Speer , in the vendor section. The zipper mod allows side entry and everyone loves it once they get it. The SPE helps stabilize your pad under you, Important!.
    I came to HF last fall via bicycle touring ideas and lighter equipment. They haven't let me out yet. Also am an old climber. Use to go to Squamish in the late eighties , before the crowds, and do the apron, bluffs, Exasperator etc,,Good ole days. You can Stealth camp in BC, alberta is going to take some looking for hanging sites . I'm over in the Nelson area
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

    www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com

  7. #7
    New Member
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    Hmmm...

    I leave on June 19th, so I really ought to get out and ride some more (and not spend all my free time reading about hammocks!).

    The suggestion to add a zipper mod sounds like a good one; but now I'm wondering if I should send back the HUB and just go with a different system altogether. I ordered it with the large hex fly (in silnylon) and the Supershelter, so the coverage and warmth should be taken care of. Adding a zipper adds 5oz though, sort of negating the point of going with the UL in the first place. It would seem that I'm no longer convinced that the HUB is the best option for me. These are the problems of having found HF after I placed my order! **** you all!

    I want it to be small and light. If I were to go in another direction and replace the HH getup with the following, it would cost about the same (possibly a touch more) - but I'd save a little over 13oz*. It might pack down smaller, too...

    Hammock - WB Double, 1oz fabric
    Tarp - Big Mama in Spinn UL (can/will he add panel pulls?)
    SPE + Thermarest ProLite (would one stick that in between the base layers, or lie right on top of it? With the double layered base, is the SPE even necessary at all?)

    *not really a fair comparison as the Supershelter is supposed to be winter rated, and the above is certainly not...
    *But for the purposes of a summer trip, it's legit enough.


    ~ NB - I'm open to suggestions as well. Better options for a tarp (MacCat)? Something instead of the SPE? ~





    Funny - I don't typically suffer from buyer's remorse...

    ****.
    Last edited by khai; 04-13-2010 at 00:33. Reason: new logic & obsessing...

  8. #8
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
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    West Kootenays,BC,Canada
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    Quote Originally Posted by khai View Post
    Hmmm...

    I leave on July 19th, so I really ought to get out and ride some more (and not spend all my free time reading about hammocks!).

    The suggestion to add a zipper mod sounds like a good one; but now I'm wondering if I should send back the HUB and just go with a different system altogether. I ordered it with the large hex fly (in silnylon) and the Supershelter, so the coverage and warmth should be taken care of. Adding a zipper adds 5oz though, sort of negating the point of going with the UL in the first place. It would seem that I'm no longer convinced that the HUB is the best option for me. These are the problems of having found HF after I placed my order! **** you all!

    I like the idea of small and light. If I were to go in another direction, where should I be leaning?

    Hammock - WBD, 1oz $175
    Tarp - ?
    Insulation - Is there something better than an SPE? Packability is a concern as well as weight...


    Funny - I don't typically suffer from buyer's remorse...
    There's nothing wrong with your choices. Lots of folks love their HH stuff and allot of them get the zipper mod because it just opens up possibilities not afforded by the original design.Put a post out asking folks why they like their HH zipper mod and do they think it was worth the change and see what happens .If you have the super shelter you don't need the SPE. The thing about UL gear is you have to go minimal or high end meaning more $$. So in other wards if were talking tarps you save weight by having a small tarp or a more expensive Spinn tarp. Most people kind of end up in the middle and eat a few ounces.
    Some people love bottom entry in their hammock , others not. If you were to change now you'd have to change everything . You've got a few months so maybe take some time to read more . Out of the 3 things i suggested there's really just the zipper mod left. Check it out.
    bill
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

    www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com

  9. #9
    New Member
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    Whoops - that was a typo. I leave on June 19th. That's not an awful lot of time for procurement and testing, especially when a lot of the purveyors are small operations who don't just pick items off a shelf in their warehouse and ship. Still, I've spent the better part of the weekend and this evening reading HF, and that ever so slight sinking feeling started to settle in a little while ago. It's not that I think I might be unhappy with a HH setup, but I get the distinct impression that I could do better for a similar investment. Changing will never be easier for me as right now I don't have anything at all. Yes, I have HH stuff on order - but that should be pretty easy to send back.

    Before I stumbled upon HF, HH and hammocking in general was a new discovery to me. It seemed like the best thing going, having only experienced really cheap quality canvas hammocks with spreader bars that forced a banana like position. I never envisioned camping in a hammock before late last week. Now my eyes are open to what's possible, but my vision is still a touch fuzzy - and yes, I've still got moisture behind my ears. I'm now trying to make the best decision possible given a bit of time pressure.

    I read a bunch more threads on the BB, other hammocks, tarps, HH, and the SuperShelter, and I'm now leaning toward sending the HH box back unopened and going with the following:

    WBBB double 1.0 - 702g
    MacCat Deluxe Tarp (SpinnUL) - 285g
    2x2 SPE + 1/4" pads - 145g
    Thermarest Prolite - 310g
    ===============================================
    Total weight: 1442g

    The cost is pretty close to the HH package (ULB, large hex fly in sil, SS) but it's over 400g lighter and has the advantage of being able to sit up/reach out of the bug netting without modification. I like the idea of the shelf, too.


    One thing I've noticed is that most people seem to go with the 1.1oz fabric over the 1oz. The weight rating is only 20lbs less, and I'm nowhere near 240lbs. Unless there are a lot of people worried about pushing the limit of the 1oz fabric, why not go for the lighter one (or the 1.7 if weight isn't a major concern)?

  10. #10
    Senior Member MedicineMan's Avatar
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    Roan Mountain,TN
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    whoopies hands down=quick/light/hugely adjustable
    hammocks-what you've got is ok, the WB BB is just more 'liveable' via enhanced features and many using a BB dont get the calf 'crease' often associated with an HH
    fly-spinnUL either from WB or OES....forget the pullouts--just more lines to tangle and get in the way---get a pole mod...sweetest mod since sliced bread and if you get a cf pole only a 2 ounce penalty (you might have that much weight in added lines on the pull out mod)
    You do the math on the cost of a zipper mod or the BB which comes with it.
    Bottom entry is cool-rebirth every morning; but being able to unzip and reach you pack on the ground right beside the hammock or being able to fire up the stove while lying in bed.........
    Weight? a BB single 1.7ounce/whoppies=1 pound 6 ounces not counting tree huggers variable depending on size of trees you expect.
    Dutch cips--most def., lighter than carabiners, weight tested, and double phallic symbol.
    Which ever tarp you decide do the one piece tarp line from tree to tree (one one tree go around the tree and clip to the line with an s-biner, on the other tree go around and to a figure 9 night eyez (sp?), then on the tarp on each end have a clip (mini-biner) connecting to prussics; this allows super fast line to tree attachment and super easy centering of the tarp over the hammock....for the line use zing-it from Opie-super light stuff and very strong.
    Get a WB 3sYeti, 12 ounces and good to 32F (i've proven this over and over).....

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