I like my HH. It has its strengths. I think for a simple all in one hammock it is pretty good. It is hard to beat the bug protection. I have switched to a homemade. But mainly because I like the top loader and sleeping under the stars. If the bugs are out in force, I will definitly take the HH.
Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".
Miguel:Not really. Remember, the sleeper and pad lie at a diagonal to the entrance. True, the left edge of a 20" wide pad is over a small part of the sit down part of the opening. But I don't find it to be a significant problem. I just sit down on that edge of the pad and lie back in the normal fashion, and I'm all done. And if I already got mostly in my bag before sitting down, that's all done also. If not, a few minutes extra getting in the bag once inside the hammock ( there were some tricks to learn for this maneuver, but once you figure it out, that's no longer a problem). I guess there are a few seconds of additional fiddling around at sit down time, to make sure you don't displace the pad from where you want it to be. And that makes it a little bit quicker to just sit down on the pad from the top as with the Speer. But I just don't find it to be a big deal, at most a minor inconvenience compared to my top entry. For me, the biggest attraction to my Speer is being able to reach out of the Hammock, maybe even to objects on the ground, and the webbing instead of rope. Now, keep in mind anything I just wrote is based upon using the SPE with the required 20" wide pad. The HH used with a wider pad or without the SPE, particularly with multiple pads for extra warmth, is probably a totally different story! I'm thinking that would be quite inconvenient.Let's keep in mind "denial" is a river in Egypt.
Seriously though...if you have a pad and who knows what else lying in the bottom of your hammock, don't you have to move it aside to enter your hammock? With the Claytor your pad isn't even in your hammock. All you do is slip under your underquilt/sleeping bag. It just seems like there would have to be quite a bit of rearranging resulting from entering from the bottom of your hammock.
Hey, Neo may indeed convert us all, because this jungle hammock sounds great in several ways. The way I see it, the more good hammock designs and research going on re: hammocks and hamm. accessories, the better. If I didn't already have a Speer and HH, I would probably be looking real hard at the Claytor! But regarding the HH bottom entry vs. the Speer top entry, I have both and can't make up my mind which I like best. They both have distinct pros and cons, and I find both very comfortable. I love being able to just quickly "drop out" of the HH, and I may even find entry quicker and easier if not complicated ( just a little) by pads and SuperShelter. And one of my original preferences of the Speer, ease of sitting and lounging, are no longer as strong of a preference since I figured out how to use the HH as a chair and/or lounger, thanks to Shane Steinkemps (SP?) great video. Now, chair use couldn't be easier.Regarding your poll....Claytor hammocks haven't been around that long and he doesn't seem to advertise his products even within the backpacking/hammocking community. The exact opposite could be said about Hennesy. Bottom line....use what pleases you. Until recently I'll bet very few people on this forum or Whiteblaze have ever seen Claytor.
It's only a matter of tome before Neo will convert you all!
Have a great day, Miguel
On the other hand, for extreme cold conditions, there is something very attractive to the simple as dirt approach of just putting the required thickness of pads in the Speer and lying down! While at the same time, being all set for unexpected ground duty ( ) sense you have plenty of pads with you. And saving the few ounces by leaving the bug net and/or ridgeline behind. Of course, some hate pads in hammocks, which would be the fly in that ointment! But I find them pretty usable. But I also wonder about what kind of development Tom Hennessy might be up to now regarding cold weather hammocking? I bet he is up to something, an advance or improvement on the SS!
But either way is good, and the Claytor sounds like it might be just as good and maybe better than either. Have you used the Claytor and one of these others? I'm sure Neo has. The reason I ask is, forgetting about the pads for the moment, do y'all claim that it is easier to get inside a sleping bag with the Claytor? I don't know why it would be, but if it is that could be a major selling point.
Last edited by BillyBob58; 02-26-2007 at 13:26.
The only other "high quality" hammock I've used is a Clark, which is a top entry. The things I like about the Claytor are, the top entry, the double bottom, and the spreader loops for the netting. You must also keep in mind that I'm not into real cold weather camping so I'll probably never invest in an underquilt. A cc foam pad will be fine for my needs. The double bottom was a big selling point for me. Once the pad is inserted it stays in place regardless if it's CC or a Thermarest type pad. Any size/thickness pad can be used and just about any shape including extenders etc. I like the idea that the only things in the hammock itself are me and my bag/topquilt. Nothing moves or bunches up under me regardless off how much I move around. The netting spreader bars really open it up....it's not claustrophobic at all. Regarding weight.....compared to the tent I'm used to, the Claytor hammock feels like I'm carrying a marshmallow! Well...maybe two. I also like the idea of being able to set things on the ground such as a drink etc and still be able to reach it while in the hammock. I'll take a zippered hammock any day. That's about it in a nutshell. The only thing I might change on the Claytor is to continue the zipper up to the top so the netting could be flipped up and out of the way on one side, similar to a Clark. Having said all that, I'll try to keep an open mind and look forward to trying my first HH. Oh yeah....I also like the extra length of the Jungle hammock.
Can't wait until Spring. I'm retiring in June and plan on hammocking my way all the way to California and back. Prolly have to pick up some longer straps for those California trees!
Miguel
Last edited by Miguel; 02-26-2007 at 14:54. Reason: Spelling!
Postscript to the above post!
If you look closely my answers are within the quote. I didn't think it would come out looking like that. Apparently I'm just not that computer literate. I thought your print and mine would appear differently.
How do you repeatedly take short quotes from one post and have them appear seperately from your answer?
Miguel
teedee... i'm another one that lays pretty much strait w/ the hammock supports.
but i also hang w/ less sag... tighter hammock... more horizontal.
and i use an insulated air mat that's only about half inflated, so i'm laying pretty close to flat. ...tim
I too will something make and joy in it's making
The package from Jacks' came today!!!! The package from Jacks' came today!!!! The package from Jacks' came today!!!!
OK, I feel calmer now. My Nest and Jeff's design pack cover/hammock storage/water carrier/washbasin have arrived.
It's kind of misty yucky out so I'll be setting everything up inside (can't get in the hammock in the house) for a trial fitting and look see. On first inspection though everything just looks top notch, and GREEEEEEN.
Does anyone use a Nest with the Hennessy supersystem? Any benefits/detriments warmth-wise? Again, I just don't want to re-invent the wheel or revisit old topics...
Best,
Jeff
Skeenut,
Glad you got your JRB gear..... BTW, that is green.... we looked into red but the manufacturer wanted twice as much for red... something about long way from China... color options are shrinking in US made 1.1....
FWIW, please do not put a Nest inside the HH SS, as it is too close fitting.... Thus the Nest will not fully loft and the trapped condensation will exaccerbate the contrained loft problem, thus greatly reducing the value of the Nest.
Back yard testing in yukky weather is good practice for the AT....be a real hanger and go outside...
pan
Ounces to Grams.
www.jacksrbetter.com ... Largest supplier of camping quilts and under quilts...Home of the Original Nest Under Quilt, and Bear Mountain Bridge Hammock. 800 595 0413
I know its been said before, but it should be reiterated....The Jacks make a high quality product and are very knowledgeable about quilts in general. I learned alot from them at the Hammock Forums Winter Hangout. BD
Just Jeff made me do it
Bookmarks