Bike tourist exploring hammocks

[agilous]

Hello all,

I'm just getting into bicycle touring, having completed a couple overnight rides of 150mi. I was packed pretty light for both of these rides as I had booked a hotel room for the overnight stay.

I'm now looking at my first extended tour, four days down the Great Allegheny Passage in May. Clearly hotel stays drive up the cost of touring and limit flexibility when considering where and when to stop.

Tents are the obvious first choice as an alternative but a friend (and fellow Hammock Forums member, dougalcorn) suggested I look into hammocks. I like the weight savings of hammocks over tents but I'm concerned about having to go to ground, which seems like it would be required on relatively rare occasions. Also, I'd be interested to hear about the acceptance of hammocking in Europe as I hope to tour the UK, Ireland and the Continent within a few years.

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

[Cali]

I think on the East Coast you will have no problem hanging your hammock, except some campgrounds. Not sure about Europe, love the idea of hammock camping over there though. Good luck to you, I'd much rather camp with a hammock than a tent. Just my $.02.

[fiveonomo]

I'm doing the GAP/C&O trail in early May and I plan to hammock the whole way.

[2ply]

Here's a interesting/funny blog from a hammock hanging cyclist as he works his way across Europe.

[FLRider]

Hammocks haven't been a problem for me touring down here in Florida. On the other hand, I tend to plan my tours around my stops in the evening rather than the other way 'round.

Something that can be done for those rare occasions when you might have to go to ground is to carry a very lightweight groundsheet (this can double as your off-bike rain gear as a poncho and triple as an undercover to help shed rain, allowing a smaller tarp to be used; personally, I like a windshirt for when I'm actually on the bike) to place under the hammock and use the hammock as a bivvy sack. Your bike can act as the upright to keep the head-end guylines up (both your hammock suspension and your tarp), providing the necessary space in the bivvy for you.

Hope it helps!

[rofo]

not to sure about the UK and hammocking, this is my trip last summer in upper NY state. This summer it will be Cape Breton Island. I don't know if you really save that much weight, I guess you might, by the time you add an under quilt, top quilt a larger tarp than mine in the pics. I will weigh my tent camping rig and my hammock rig and report on the difference. Even if the hammock was heavier it would be worth it just for the great rest one gets in it.

[newfieghost]

not to sure about the UK and hammocking, this is my trip last summer in upper NY state. This summer it will be Cape Breton Island. I don't know if you really save that much weight, I guess you might, by the time you add an under quilt, top quilt a larger tarp than mine in the pics. I will weigh my tent camping rig and my hammock rig and report on the difference. Even if the hammock was heavier it would be worth it just for the great rest one gets in it.

Cape Breton is very nice. I like to do the highlands in the fall.

[Tendertoe]

Interesting article by our own dejoha on the topic of weight savings tent vs. hammock.

I would assume the difficulty in hammock camping and bike touring would be at designated campgrounds and finding two suitable trees.

Other than that, I'd say it would be the same hammocking as it would be tenting.

Bring a 3/4 length CCF pad for the random nights you may need to go to ground if it is a huge concern.

[rofo]

Interesting article by our own dejoha on the topic of weight savings tent vs. hammock.

I would assume the difficulty in hammock camping and bike touring would be at designated campgrounds and finding two suitable trees.

I was a little worried staying in the NY state parks. You are not permitted to tie anything to a tree, I thought I might get busted. No one said anything to me about it.

[rofo]

Cycling tent weight 4.68kg.
consisting of:
tent (MEC Tarn 2)
tent poles
ground sheet
sleeping pad (inflatable)
sleeping bag 7*

Cycling hammock weight 3.75kg
consisting of:
hammock and strap suspension
hammock hex tarp
under quilt 3/4 length 4*
top quilt -6*
under quilt cover

Pictured below is my 1st night stuck between a hydro pole and a fence pole.