Point a newcomer in the right direction.

**Xi Bowhunter** · 06-30-2010, 09:03

I have been camping for many years, but I just got into backwoods camping, kayak camping, and extended stay camping in the last 5 years.

I have lightened my pack load a lot, but find it hard to sleep in my pack tent on the ground anymore because of problems with my back.

This site caught my attention, and after lurking for a while, I have decided to try a hammock out for camping, to see if I like it.

I see a lot of DIY articles here, but I am having trouble sifting through them all because there is just so much information.

Can someone please point me in the direction of where to learn more about this style of camping, when I can learn what the term "ridgeline" and other terms are? Any info will help out a lot.

I would like to make my own if I can, to try and save money just incase the hammock just isn't for me.

**Cannibal** · 06-30-2010, 09:07

If you want to familiarize yourself with some of the basics, check out the "Helpful Hammock Articles" link at the top of the page. Also, Just Jeff's hammock camping site is required reading for newbs.

Won't take long and you'll be throwing around words like whoopie slings, dutch clips, and CBS. Welcome to the Forums!

**mbiraman** · 06-30-2010, 09:14

Welcome to the forum Xi. Go to the video section at the top of the page and look up Shugs 10 part video series for new folks. Also try Jeff's "to the woods " site for easy laid out info and have a look at the page link below for a graphic of tarps etc,,good luck
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=16945

**Xi Bowhunter** · 06-30-2010, 17:17

Thanks for the advice guys. I really want to try this for my next outing. I wish I had thought of this sooner, as we are heading to the mountains of TN and SC this weekend for a back country trip.

My next kayak trip is planned for mammoth cave state park in KY, hopefully I will have everything in order to try it then.

**Hiking4life** · 07-01-2010, 22:10

Something tells me that you'll be hanging in a Hennessy this weekend.

**G.L.P.** · 07-01-2010, 22:12

Originally Posted by Xi Bowhunter

I have been camping for many years, but I just got into backwoods camping, kayak camping, and extended stay camping in the last 5 years.

I have lightened my pack load a lot, but find it hard to sleep in my pack tent on the ground anymore because of problems with my back.

This site caught my attention, and after lurking for a while, I have decided to try a hammock out for camping, to see if I like it.

I see a lot of DIY articles here, but I am having trouble sifting through them all because there is just so much information.

Can someone please point me in the direction of where to learn more about this style of camping, when I can learn what the term "ridgeline" and other terms are? Any info will help out a lot.

I would like to make my own if I can, to try and save money just incase the hammock just isn't for me.

you should watch Shugs videos...you will learn alot

and there fun to watch

**hiker_DC** · 07-01-2010, 22:19

If you just want to try out a camping hammock here is a cheap test hammock. I would add a structural ridgeline to though.

**Oxblood** · 07-01-2010, 23:24

JustJeff's site is awesome. I have learned so much there, and here in thr forums too. Don't forget Sgt Rock's hammock camping pages either http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock.html

Have fun hanging. I am a new, and very committed convert to suspended sleeping.