Originally Posted by
thejennabird
Hey Johnny, I'm a new hanger too! While I'm currently working on my first DIY hammock, here were some things that pushed me to favor the WBBB over the HH.
- Comfort. From everything I've read, the footbox in the BB is a great addition and makes this hammock more comfortable than the HH. While the HH is roomy and can be nice, the BB footbox tops it and allows for both more room and more sleeping positions.
Nope, Brandon himself has said that the footbox doesn't change the lie. If you've ever laid in a WBB and another hammock you will see that you get just a little more width but not much. That's really the only difference.
- Features. The WBBB has a "traditional" hammock entrance on the side versus the HH "womb entrance". (Not sure where I heard that one, but I liked the metaphor). Furthermore, the standard BB comes with a zippered entrance, while most HHs are Velcro. I spoke to a Speer owner on the AT who told me that his biggest gripe was the how fussy velcro can be. Yes, I know zippers can break and are harder to fix, but on a daily basis they're much less hassle IMHO.
Nope, most HH's have zip entries now. If anything is "traditional" it would be the bottom entrance on the HH, they came waaay before the WBB.
I like the concept of the DL Blackbird because I'm a pad-sleeper who will need to go to ground at times. That second layer holds the pad and keeps it "tucked away". HH are all single layer (I believe) and therefore your pad's gotta go inside the hammock. Both are conducive to underquilts though.
Partly wrong, the DJXL is a double layer hammock. That is the only double layer hammock in HH's line-up at this point, though.
And who can forget the pocket on the WBBB?! It's a great little feature that gets stuff off of your ridgeline. Some don't like it because they don't use it (hence extra weight), or it lays against the side of the hammock, so if you don't like the idea of the pocket, the HH might be a better option.
-Manufacturing. The HH is manufactured overseas I believe, while the BB is manufactured by hand here in the US by a HF member.
You are correct here but I challenge you to find a difference in quality.
- Suspension. You get different suspension options with the Blackbird, and - from what I've read - it's easier to convert a BB to a whoopie-sling system than it is to convert a HH. Plus the Blackbird seems to have a pretty downright simple setup on its own!
You are correct, partly. Yes, you get different suspension options with a WBB and yes, it's easier to convert a WBB to WS's. It's not hard by any means to convert a HH, though. The HH has one of, if not the most simple suspension system out there.
However, here are some points for the Hennessy:
- Weight. The featherlite weight of the HH includes a tarp! If you're really counting ounces, the HH is slimmer than the WBBB.
Kinda, it depends on the model. My DJXL is heavy compared to a WBB. The HH, depending ont he model, is slimmer but longer.
- Cost. The cost of the HH includes a basic asym tarp, whereas you'll chuck out another $80+ for a tarp for the blackbird. However, I don't like the small size of the HH tarp (I've seen it in action) and as a beginner I want a little bit of room for error so that, if a sudden downpour came, I'm not learning on the spot how poor my tarp-pitching skills are. =P
You can always ask for just the hammock and not the tarp. You get a cheaper price this way as well. That leaves you some extra cash to get the better tarp. Also, you can switch the stock tarp for the PU coated Hex tarp for free if you want, on most models.
-Availability. You can get a HH pretty quickly from REI or similar manufacture, while you may be waiting a few weeks or more to get your Blackbird. So if you want a hammock ASAP, you're only option may be the HH (unless you snag that used BB on the Sale forum right now)
There is a WBB for sale in the for sale section of the forum all the time, just wait and pull the trigger right away or you'll miss it! There are more hammocks out there than just WBB and HH, btw.
Hope this helps!
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