What to do what to do

[surreal_trip]

Hey folks!

Toronto, Ontario resident here and looking to get started right with a Hennessy Hammock. Good question though... I need to be packing as light as possible (not ultralite mind you)... I'm 5'11 265lbs waist size is 36 but shoulders are a bit of a problem at 28inches across... so most sleeping bags dont work... I need some help with getting geared up in general, most of the people at the local outfitters are just stunned, had one even suggest i buy two narrow bags and zip them together(weight and mass would not work).

Thanks!

[Joey]

Jacks r better sells top quilts and top quilt wings to extend the width a bit. They even have double sized quilts, very large that would definitely fit you!

http://www.jacksrbetter.com/Products.htm

[Dblcorona]

Yeah, my suggestion is not use a sleeping bag. Just extra weight. Going with a quilt is just so much easier in a hammock. As far as insulation under you, you've got a number of options. You could go under quilt which is what I prefer, or Hennessy's super shelter, or a closed cell type pad. Lot's of different ways to go. Lot's of options on the hammock too. Not trying to talk you out of a Hennessy, just saying there are a lot of ways to go here.

[surreal_trip]

Thanks for the tips! On that note what hammocks do you recommend for a big guy? I'm thinking the 7' deluxe 300lbs weight cap one.

[ragnall]

I am 6'1" and 265 lb I would definitely recomend the explorer over an expedition for the hammock.

I had the same problem finding a sleeping bag that I could zip and feel comfortable in. If you are dead set on a sleeping bag you might look at a Marmot Sawtooth x-wide/long. I can comfortably zip up in it without feeling restrained or trapped. I have recently switched to a Sierra Sniveller from JRB it is more than wide enough to tuck in the sides while I am in the hammock, and much lighter. I have not tried it on the ground, so I don't know if I would like it there. They do sell an option for a full length omni tape and you attach it to the sides of the pad rather than trying to wrap it all the way around you.

I have used both a super shelter and an underquilt successfully, but I did not have any luck staying on top of a pad inside the hammock. I move around a lot when sleeping and would end up off of the pad and freezing.

Ragnall

[mbiraman]

Hennessey explorer,,WL night owl,
I would also suggest Jacks r better top quilt

good luck

[Dblcorona]

If your looking at a hammock with built-in bug net, I use the Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7 dbl layer.

Lots of others if you want to just use a bug net around you.

http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/travelers.php

http://stores.tttrailgear.com/-strse...ear/Detail.bok

http://wildernesslogics.com/Night-Owl-Night-Owl.htm

[DivaB]

You don't want to lay on your insulation, as it will do you no good in a hammock. You can lay on close celled pads...but not really anything else. Most top quilts are made very wide at the top in order to tuck under your shoulders. We do have a cottage supplier here that makes an extra wide top quilt, but I can't recall which one that was (hopefully someone will chime in on who).

If your going to use a sleeping bag, you unzip half way down leaving a footbox at the bottom and you put it on top of yourself and tuck the corners under your shoulders. Having it open like that will give you more coverage anyways because your not worrying about it under you..you'll have some kind of other insulation under you (underquilt or pads).

[surreal_trip]

Excellent stuff! good question though... have any of the warm sleepers found that if they layer clothing will that help the whole cold butt syndrome? I'm trying to grasp this as I'm used to camping with shirt/sweater/quilt and underwear/pants/overpants/quilt and then strip layers as required... I'm hoping I can pull this off as I wont have a chance to order a uq before my mid-august camping trip! temps get down to 50*.

On another note does anyone have any good beginner hiking camper websites that go over suggested equipment that I can give to my first-timer friends... I helped a friend pack a trip this past spring and a few things slipped my mind and they had a wretched time of it. I felt pretty horrible.

Cheers for all the help

[Owl]

A cheap CCF pad can help you prevent CBS for a very low price...just not as comfortable or as 'cool' as a UQ.

If you've got all the gear you need to be comfortable in the woods...invite your friends to take a look at what you use...and/or make a list of the problems that need to be solved while camping. Shelter, clothing, cooking, etc...