The kewl guys have them now, too, and they are called "saddlebags."
The pockets on Clark junglehammocks are accessible from outside the zipped bug netting without unzipping. This is a potential security threat in environments in which raccoons have been selected for and evolved to have increased dexterity and it has worried me that the pockets are inaccessible from within the hammock without partial unzipping, so I am at a disadvantage at stopping the thief. In a reversal the patent-pending pockets on the Warbonnet Ridge Runner reverse the ease of access with
general purpose storage pockets on each side of the hammock which we are calling "saddlebags" [that] hang on the outside of the hammock but are accessible from the inside without having to unzip the netting, [and] they also remain fully functional when the netting is packed away
.
I am much relieved to learn that DWR nylon pockets I have carried are now no longer an embarrassing burden of weight and bulk except in true UL circles. I had been packing Clark, UQ, TQ, and fly all into one of those pockets as though it were a saddlebag and wondered about that for some time. I guess it is now safe to find and sew back on the cargo pockets carefully seam-ripped from all my pants in a compensating weight-saving gesture.
Also:
"The netting unzips on 3 sides and stuffs into a storage pocket at the foot-end of the hammock."
That feature, too, is familiar. I know how to do that when I try a Ridge Runner, what with experience on several Clarks (except the UL --now I know what makes that lowly model UL)
Finally: It seems that some work has been done perfecting interior warmth from below:
More design differences of the Ridgerunner Hammock.
Spindrift
The Spindrift is our sock for the Ridgerunner, a "sock" (named after a tubular windsock) is a giant fabric sack that the hammock hangs entirely inside of. They're made of fabric that is both wind and water resistant but is breathable enough so you can keep it zipped up. The entire hammock (including your under-quilt) hangs inside the sock, creating an enclosed protected space. Since the space is enclosed, you'll usually notice an increase of 15-20deg or more compared to the outside air temp, this can help alot when the temperature approaches the limit of your top or underquilt. Socks are normally used in colder weather. If conditions contain rain or heavy wet snow you'll want a tarp in addition to the sock as the sock is water-resistant, not waterproof.
Price: $110
All smilies implied. Complete respect for another innovator and first class hammock designer. Three serious jungle hammock makers -- Clark with the Flex 180, JRB with the UL Bridge, and Warbonnet Outdoors with the Ridge Runner -- have all introduced serious upgrades and structural innovations and improvements this year.
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