Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Senior Member Big Jim Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Taos, Missouri
    Hammock
    DIY CamoHammo
    Tarp
    DIY Catcut
    Insulation
    Body fat!
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    342

    First night out in my hammock

    Mailman delivered my long-awaited bugnet from REI so I got it set up Friday night, along with the Doublenest, ENO Pro Fly and the new carabiners and tent stakes I got from REI. After mowing the grass and taking care of some other chores, I decided to spend the night in the hammock. It was already 11 pm so plenty dark, but I grabbed my NF Cat's Meow bag and a Thermarest pad and headed into the woods. Don't recommend trying your first sleeping bag lay in the dark. I stuffed the bag and pad in the hammock, then stuffed myself in and tried to get inside the bag. You have to be a gymnast to pull this off which I am not at 6-1 and 210 pounds. Never could get the bag past my chest. The pad was another story, it was pretty much pointing straight up at the foot end and very little of it was under me. Still managed a pretty good night's sleep, using my pillow as a blanket for my chest. It was a relatively cool night. Woke up in the morning with an owl softly hooting and bullfrogs croaking in the nearby pond. BTW, I left the hammock set up and we had a big storm blow through this afternoon, tornado 60 miles south. Went out to see how it fared. No problems, and the ground underneath the tarp was completely dry.

  2. #2
    Senior Member RePete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Mishawaka, IN
    Hammock
    Superior Gear
    Tarp
    Superior Gear
    Insulation
    Down
    Posts
    781
    Interesting first night out. My first night out I struggled with my sleeping bag. Gargoyle gave me a great tip that drastically reduced the problem with getting in the bag. Put a tarp or small pad or anything you can stand on in front of your hammock. Then put your sleeping bag on like a big body sock. Then get into your hammock. The pad will behave much better when you are not wrestling with you bag. I hope this helps.
    Pete.
    The opinions expressed by this user are not those of a competent individual. If they were that would mean I know what I am talking about.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Denville, NJ, USA
    Hammock
    DIY Stretch-Side
    Tarp
    DIY Cat Cut Hex
    Insulation
    Phoenix and Nest
    Suspension
    cinch buckles
    Posts
    4,377
    Images
    227
    Bags in a hammock can be a bear. Bags that are long enough on the ground just don't seem to fit when in the hammock. Add the challenge of trying to stay on a pad and you might as well be a circus performer.

    All part of the fun.
    Knotty
    "Don't speak unless it improves the silence." -proverb
    DIY Gathered End Hammock
    DIY Stretch-Side Hammock
    Stretch-Side "Knotty Mod"
    DIY Bugnet

  4. #4
    Senior Member Big Jim Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Taos, Missouri
    Hammock
    DIY CamoHammo
    Tarp
    DIY Catcut
    Insulation
    Body fat!
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    342
    I had the same idea about putting it on first.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Hammock
    Blackbird
    Tarp
    MacCat Standard
    Insulation
    Winter Yeti, MWUQ4
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    7,924
    Images
    32
    When I use a bag in the hammock, I lay it over me like a quilt and zip it up as much as I can...about up to my butt. Then I grab the bag near my shoulders with one hand and my waist with the other hand, and roll over. Now I'm inside. A little readjusting and I can zip it up.

    Doing that on a pad ain't easy...

    Or you can just lay on the pad and throw the bag over you like a blanket, instead of climbing inside.
    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story

    - My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
    - Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB

    IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER

  6. #6
    Senior Member Big Jim Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Taos, Missouri
    Hammock
    DIY CamoHammo
    Tarp
    DIY Catcut
    Insulation
    Body fat!
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    342
    Funny, but I've been reading all these posts and you just don't get it until you get outside and see for yourself! I'm ready for some Whoopie slings, top and bottom quilts, etc.!! I'm working on a stand, at some point my ENO might end up there and I'll get something like the Warbonnet Blackbird for camping. Of course I have a couple of sons who will need hammocks too. It's a vicious circle...

  7. #7
    Senior Member Perkolady's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    NE GA
    Hammock
    diy
    Tarp
    diy 9x11
    Insulation
    JRB No Sniveller
    Suspension
    CBs + DCs
    Posts
    1,093
    Images
    29
    Congratulation on your first hammock night!

    I've been using a hammock for a lonnnng time now, but I still learn something every time. I find it's a process... (addiction)

    Enjoy!!

  8. #8
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Hammock
    WBB 1.7 Double,DIY traveler
    Tarp
    hennessy hex,DIY
    Insulation
    Pad
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    266
    Images
    9
    My first night in a hammock was spent about three weeks ago when we had the super Moon. I was on a Scout outing with my sons Troop at Red river gorge. Man I learned alot of things I need to work on that night. But still better than being on the ground right.

  9. #9
    HI,
    Haha nice post.
    Well I had an outing last week with my friends. My friends are very lean so they easily slipped in , but I am a little overweight, so it was a task for me to slip in my hammock., Still had a wonderful experience.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Fairfax, Va
    Hammock
    HH Explorer Hex Fly
    Tarp
    Hex
    Insulation
    Big Agnes Ins Pad
    Suspension
    Slings & Whoopies
    Posts
    114

    ENO Single Nest

    I used a ENO Single Nest for my first hammock night out. I tried out two different hammocks during the weekend. It was under freezing but using my BA Lost Ranger and Insulated pad was able to stay almost too warm. I too would not recommend trying out your bag in the dark until trying it out a few times in daylight to get used to sleeping bag and pad placement first. Also was helpful to not look stupid in front of my friends who laught at me wanting to hammock. They were waiting for me to fly out of the hammock or do some tumble. The hardest thing I found with using a bag was zipping the bag up. I still like the bag zipped.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. First night in the hammock for my son.
      By finskie in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 07-20-2011, 17:35
    2. 1st night out in a hammock
      By tree in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 10-21-2010, 11:45
    3. 1st night in new hammock
      By lungcutter in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 01-10-2010, 14:09
    4. My first night in a hammock
      By Binford in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 20
      Last Post: 03-15-2009, 21:28
    5. First night in hammock
      By montana in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 04-29-2008, 15:01

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •