Hammocking is getting way too complicated

[oldsoldier]

Just remember. A lot of people like to tinker with their rigs. Hammocks do give you a tinker factor that is not found so much with tents. This is not necessary, just get the hammock and tarp, go hang, then you may find you want to tweek it a bit. Just start off simple

This is undeniably true. I dont understand all the mathematical stuff, I dont count weight out in grams, I couldnt tell a 30* angle from a 50* one. I started off with a DD hammock, which worked fine (I still own it). I then went to an HH exped...no mods. Sold that, got a WBBB. NOW I tinker. I have been hanging for only about 4 years, give or take, and I tinker now simply because I can-I do it for personal amusement, I suppose. But, I started off very simply, with a hammock, tarp, and thats it. I used a sleeping pad, as the whole underquilt thing hadnt really taken off at that point. I knew only climbing knots, most of which are long since forgotten. I now use 3-4 different knots, and thats it: half hitches, marlinspike hitches, truckers hitches, and prussik knots. Thats it. If I cannot tie it with one of those, then I am out of luck. I havent had that happen yet...
Dont overthink things, and dont make it a chore-once it is a chore to you, then it is no longer fun. We dont want that to happen, now do we??? Take it slow, and enjoy the trip.

[samjaynes]

Indeed - What starts out very simple, can be become complex. I recall many days being a kid, when my parents would end up not going camping because they wanted to plan it out to the tee... so either it was cancelled, or we left very late. Point is, as others have said... take it slow, it doesn't need to be perfect, nor top notch. There will ALWAYS be something better, but do you really need it? Yeah, it is nice to hear about, read about, and get the DIY'er shakes about, but in the end, if it is preventing you from getting out and hanging, cut your losses, and GO, ENJOY, and be satisfied with where you are at today, and not tomorrow.

(stepping down from my soapbox - face first)

[neo]

I've been lured into hammocking, from the tarp/tent world, by the siren song of comfort. So, what do I want, a cold, hard tent floor or a warm, embracing, cocooning, and comforting hammock that surrounds you with love?

Now that I've ordered a hammock and am past that lure, I feel like the siren song has me ready to crash into the rocks like Jason and the Argonauts.

Frankly, I'm overwhelmed with three thousand knots, four thousand slings, whoopies galore, reverse tensions lines and innumerable combinations of all of those that can not possibly be calculated.

Honestly, it's turning me off. I've watched all of Shug's videos, and they are immensely helpful (and entertaining too Shug!). Kudos. However, I still feel like I am a babe in the woods. This is from a guy who has taken wilderness survival courses and could live off the land without benefit of almost anything much less a hammock.

I'm at a point where I don't know how to proceed. Do I spend the next week learning knot tying? Do I spend the next week getting up to speed with lines, cords, carabiners, and the like?

Help.....I'm completely overwhelmed.

no biggie lol.its simple.all you need is a hammock,tarp,and what ever that keeps you warm.the 1st 4 years all i used was a pad and a stock tarp and my hennessey hammock.sure things change,but most people spend more time on forums than they actually do hanging.i started hanging at trail days 2002.i am one of the original 10 members here at HF.i dont come on much except for posting events.talking about hammocking 24/7 is way to boring lol.neo

[canoebie]

Simplicity is a choice. Choose it and it is yours. Choose complexity and you will experience that as well. Each of us enjoys different things for different reasons. I think I enjoy hammocking primarily for the comfort, ease, and being out of that nylon cave called a tent.

The tinkering part is fun because of my innate curiosity. My wife says I am a nine year old boy in the body of a 58 year old man. That is a good thing.

I hang more nights than not during the year. I don't ever let all the nuances of the event prevent me from enjoying what I want most, to be out of doors.

Having fun hanging is like happiness in life. It has to be a deliberate choice, we cannot expect it to just happen.

My $.02

[neo]

i really like the changes that have evolved in suspension over the years.i sent my original hennessey non asym hennessey ultralite to zq and 2q for mod # 3 zipper and foot slit to be sewn,i also converted the suspension to warbonnet tri buckle suspension.same 9 year old hammock,but the new mods make it betterneo

[campcrafter]

I agree with all - I don't come around here a whole lot anymore cause I found what works for me for now.

The thing to do is take what you got and go hang. Then after a few or several times of setting up you say to yourself - I think there is an easier, faster better way to do such and such and then you try something new.

OR you are satisfied with the way your set up works - you visit here occasionally - to see what's new (especially whether or not Shug has any new videos) and you go find another forum to learn something else - like say fly fishing or canoeing - then you find out all those guys get complicated and fanatical too!

Hang your own Hammock and Enjoy!

Blue Skies

cc

[zukiguy]

My hammock is now a good 7 years old (HH EULA). For the first 6 it was bone stock and got used maybe a few times per year. I no longer have a project car to tinker with and my home electronics are pretty aged. So, I basically needed something to play with.....enter the Forums.

About a year ago it started pretty innocently with a chance meeting of a fellow AT hiker where I saw a 2QZQ zipper mod. That led to a mod of my own then a few casual searches here on the forum. From there it has spiraled into a new tarp/ridgeline, whoopies, longer tree straps using toggles, etc.

My setup is much more complicated than when it started but it also gives me a lot of added functionality and flexibility. You don't have to "pimp out" your hammock but it's a lot of fun.

As mentioned before....Take it slow. Use Google to search for the Noob questions since the tools on here don't work very well. No matter what question you have it's pretty likely someone has already asked and answered it.

Don't get in a rush to go out and plunk down your visa card. You'll end up with some nice gear but a lot that won't suit your needs down the road. Luckily you can likely recycle that gear here on the forums with only a marginal loss on your investment. There's always someone right behind you that's learning too.

Once the sickness sets in hard you'll start looking at most everything through a "hammocking filter". Soon you'll be able to judge the ideal distance between trees with just a glance and scrutinize every piece of rope/webbing/biner you come across as to it's hanging merit.

[Barefoot Child]

It's like Canoebie said ..."It is all about choices." Or as Shug would say..."It's all about options man."

[NCPatrick]

I think it is what you make it. If you want simple, stay simple. If you want complicated, you can most certainly do that too. Many simple solutions have come from frustrations with complicated ones.

[MrClean417]

There is a ton of information on this site, most of it is superfluous. It can be overwhelming but it covers folks that do through hikes to folks that just want to hang in the backyard on the weekends.

Just skim the titles of the New posts once a day. if you have a question use the search function first and then post a question next. You'll learn what you need to know that way and by skimming topics you'll learn what is probably stockpiled here.

Go at your own pace towards your own goals.

Just relax. I came to the site about 6 months ago. It was frantic for maybe a month.