which hammock to buy?

[chrisx]

Looking for advice on buying my first hammock. I line in portland Oregon. I want a light weight 3 season hammock. I weigh 205 lbs. Should I buy a Clark ultra light, and order a Warbonnet spin ul tarp? I don't know, and I have to order sight unseen. I just want to get it right the first time, instead of up grading which cost more in the long run.

[mbiraman]

Well the easy answer is get the Warbonnet 1.1 DL Blackbird. Get the WB spin tarp. Get the Warbonnet Yeti 3 season UQ and ask Brandon for a discount.
Your going to hear lots of opinions and mine was just one. Here's the thing , the WBBB has proven to be an excellent hammock for most folks and those that own one been thrilled . I wouldn't worry about a few ounces of hammock weight here or there,,go for comfort and slim down your pack weight some where's else. The BB isn't expensive ( $170?) when you consider what you get. Other hammocks are Speer, Hennessy , JRB bridge. There's lots of good vendors here who make good gear so once you jump into the better gear end of the pool you won't be disappointed. Bablefish just did a nice review on his newly acquired Blackbird. Good luck and welcome to the forum

[lori]

I don't think you could go wrong regardless of what you get... you can always sell the hammock second hand if it doesn't work for you. There are plenty here who would take a gently used Blackbird or Hennessy or Clark off your hands. (Blackbirds in particular seem to fly off the forum.)

That said, if you like to sleep on your side, you might find a hammock with a flatter lay, like the Bridge, the Blackbird, or the asym Hennessy models, more to your liking. Stomach sleepers find bridge hammocks work well for them.

If you want to start out with a pad at first, getting a double layer might be easier for you. Blackbird would be again a good option for that.

[dejoha]

Picking a first hammock can be tough! There are a lot of great choices out there, and even more opinions. Here's mine:

Measure twice, cut once.

If you can, borrow, rent, or somehow try-out hammocks before you buy.

It's all subjective, really. Lightest? Most comfortable? Easiest to hang/pack? Least expensive? Depending on how you prioritize the variables, there are dozens of options, and most depend on personal preference.

I started out with a Hennessy many years ago and I'm now a fan of light stuff, so I often use the Grand Trunk Nano 7. It's a smaller hammock, and while some argue it isn't as comfortable as larger hammocks, I care more about weight. And since I still find the Nano 7 vastly more comfortable than the ground, it works for me.

I think most everyone on this forum would agree that almost any hammock is superior to the ground. After that, everyone has their personal preference.

What do I tell family and friends? Try an inexpensive hammock first, like the Grand Trunk Ultralight or ENO Double to get a feel for size and comfort. Find what works best for you!

[sir_n0thing]

I started with a Clark NX-200. Loved it. Sold it and bought a Hennessy. It's OK, but not nearly as nice as the Clark was (my opinion only). I'm think a Blackbird is in my future...
I'd say start off with a Blackbird if you can afford it. If you don't like it, you will probably be able to sell it almost instantly here!