Seeking some general advice

[Pigpen]

I have been lurking a good bit here lately, and i want to thank you guys for all the vast amount of knowledge you have already bestowed upon me. I have tried to research a bit, as not to ask stupid questions i know all us noob's continually ask repeatedly. First let me tell you a little about myself and experience so far.

A buddy of mine introduced me to hammocks a couple of years ago but i didnt really try it out until just a few months ago when my brother (sgeary28) wouldn't stop raving about his Hennessy explorer hammock. I burrowed my other buddies older Clark northern american. After a few trips i am def been bitten by the hammock bug. I have not really mastered the comfort part yet but its leaps and bounds better then a regular lay on rocks in a tent. I think the comfort will really come with trying different angles and such but that is probably my own issue.

So my main question has to do with warmth. I am a warm sleeper i think... I generally take a good bit more to stay warm then say my brother. For example in the Clark NA, i had stuffed the side pockets with clothes, had an air mattress below me, fleece homemade lining i was lying inside + used my 20ish degree sleeping bag for cover and a had a wool cap on. I slept with all of this maybe down to the mid 30's and was OK. I have been looking at purchasing a Hennessy hammock, likely an explorer or similar lighter version IE backpacker or the ultralight as my first hammock but I have some questions.

1. Will the "ultralite" or the "hyperlite" hammocks be inherently colder due to the thinner more lightweight material?

2. Would it be a fair estimate that the super shelter + top cover + emergency blanket stuffed in the SS = similar insulation and warmth values to what i had described above with the Clark?

3. is a bottom quilt going to be a considerable amount warmer then the Super Shelter?

[Pipsissewa]

...So my main question has to do with warmth. I am a warm sleeper i think... I generally take a good bit more to stay warm then say my brother.

---That makes you a cold sleeper, I believe.

1. Will the "ultralite" or the "hyperlite" hammocks be inherently colder due to the thinner more lightweight material?

I never heard anyone mention a difference. If there is, it's minimal. Nylon or polyester fabrics just don't insulate at all, whether thin or heavy.

. Would it be a fair estimate that the super shelter + top cover + emergency blanket stuffed in the SS = similar insulation and warmth values to what i had described above with the Clark?

I'm not familiar with the foam pad that comes with the super shelter; so, I can't really guess how warm it will keep you. If you were warm with an air matress, clothes stuffed in the pockets and a fleece liner, I imagine a pad would keep you pretty warm too.

. is a bottom quilt going to be a considerable amount warmer then the Super Shelter?

That depends on the under quilt, of course. A zero degree down bag will keep you warmer than any foam pad, I'm pretty sure. If you can get to a group hang in your area, you can try a lot of different gear before buying. Welcome, and good luck!

[Cannibal]

1. Will the "ultralite" or the "hyperlite" hammocks be inherently colder due to the thinner more lightweight material?

If you're the Princess from The Princess and the Pea, probably. Otherwise, nothing realistically changes.

2. Would it be a fair estimate that the super shelter + top cover + emergency blanket stuffed in the SS = similar insulation and warmth values to what i had described above with the Clark?

Probably a bit better with a little practice. I played with a SS and Overcover a bit last winter and was surprised how low I could go with it, but it took a lot of tweaking to get it right. Don't remember for sure what the bottom temp was that I stayed comfy, but do remember being snug at 22F one night. Impressive for what it is, but a lot of initial effort and both bulky and fragile in the pack.

3. is a bottom quilt going to be a considerable amount warmer then the Super Shelter?

Yes, maybe, and no.
Like Pipsissewa said, depends on the quilt. I'll put up my sub zero quilts against the SS any day, but they also cost a WHOLE LOT MORE.

[Pigpen]

If you're the Princess from The Princess and the Pea, probably. Otherwise, nothing realistically changes.

LOL makes sense...
thanks for the quick reponses.

My choice just got a lot easier i was talking to the father in law last night about hammocking and he said he tried it once hanging with a boy scout from a cliff and didnt really dig it. I asked him if he burrowed that hammock said that he bought it and it was laying around somewhere, if i could find it i was welcomed to it. Went hunting through the attic and found a 1 time used Hennessy ultralite backpack

needless to say i was ecstatic!! so now i just need to decide on either a Super shelter or UQ but for the money i think im gonna go with the SS.

Any ideas where to locally purchase some tree savers??

[Ramblinrev]

I have been down to 12*F with my super shelter, a crappy 0* Coleman sleeping bag and a base layer. I cut the stay short, not because I was cold but the back yard was simply not a good hanging site what with parking lot lights and semis on the highway all night. Funny how those things seem worse on a crisp cold night.

I believe the record with an augmented super shelter is -27*F unless some of our Klondike hangers have gone even lower. But it does take some tweaking.

[gordonfreeman]

arrowhead has the poly webbing, or your harbor freight

[Owl]

Both Weasel and I have been out in our HHSS setups in temps down to 20F, with gusty 20mph winds.

Neither of us used the overcover. He was in a cheap coleman 0deg bag, I was in a cheap 20deg bag with a fleece liner and poncho liner. We both were using hex tarps (he's got the WB BMJ, I've got the HH Hex 70d), with no doors.

The only way to know if it'll work for you or not is to try it out and see. Either try to make it to a group hang in the area and weather you're likely to use it in, borrow from someone you know, or purchase and see how it goes.

I plan on picking up a 20 deg UQ and TQ soon, but honestly don't know if that'll keep me warmer or not, since I've had what I consider some pretty solid success with the HHSS.

[Troop2011scoutmaster]

Eastern Mountain Sports website says they have ENO slap strap pros in stock at the location on Route 28 near Dulles Airport.

[Pigpen]

just read they have them at my local REI but then did some research on this site and pretty much everyone says stay away from them since they are made from nylon. Gonna go see if rei has polyester webbing for climbing ( i dont mind tying my own knots) if not thinking about getting the "Marlin Spike Hitch Whoopie Kit" another user posted from "arrowhead equip"... anyone else purchased that kit and like them?

[Cannibal]

Arrowhead is outstanding. You will have zero issues working with Paul.

On REI, I'm willing to bet they won't have polyester webbing. They cater to climbers with their webbing offerings and climbers want the built-in stretch of nylon. It acts as a sort of shock-absorber when they do fall. Worse still, I've yet to go into an REI where the folks working knew for sure if what they had was nylon or polyester. I've probably done 60 burn-tests at REIs over the years and have yet to stumble into some polyester webbing.

Much less hassle to simply order it from one of the vendors. You also won't have to worry about the material, or the quality when ordering from one of the vendors around here.