Newbie Hammock Setups.

[accrete]

My wife and i recently purchased two ENOs/Atlas Straps. A single nest for her and a double nest for me and for QT-Lounge time. We have a couple of Kelty Noah's 16s so it made sense to stretch one of them out between trees and cover the two hammocks which were strapped to three threes.



It was nice to keep the pine needles and falling ants off of us and the tarp also doubled as a light-show by aiming the UVO LED mood light to the underside. More colorful than a campfire and no sooty mess.

...one of the mornings i took my DN down to the river and set it up just above the water and had some fun with the camera... What a view!



Thom

[Chriss]

I tried to hammock on the cheap and it worked for a couple of years:

HH Asym Zip w/postage stamp stock tarp - $159.95
0* Synthetic bag - already owned $0
ccf pad - already owned $0

That system took me from lows of 75 F at night down to 20 degrees. However, I really enjoy hiking, and cold weather camping.

That's when it got expensive.

HG 20 degree Burrow - $249
HG 20 degree Phoenix - $199

Dumped the HH Exped, got a BIAS Weight Weenie and Buginator - $135
Still not light enough for hiking; bought a HG cuben fiber Standard tarp - $300

HG CF standard tarp not big enough for 4-season camping; traded in for HG Winter Palace - $400

20* quilts not cutting it at 0* temps, bought HG 0* Burrow - $279
and also an HG 0* Incubator - $279

So I'm in it for around $1900 and I'm not even listing all the other hammocks, tarps, packs, stoves, Amsteel, Zing-It, Dutchware, boots and clothing I've bought. I'm guessing that's another $1000 right there.

And now I'm saving bucks for the HG 40* Burrow ($219) and Phoenix ($159). Probably gonna get both with a couple of oz. of overstuff (making them 30 degree).

I'll have three full setups with quilts and tarps so I can take two of my three kids on hanging/hiking/canoeing trips (I can never get all three on a trip 'cause they're all so busy with college or sports).

Four years into this hammock thing and I definitely have dropped a bundle.

Do not go down this dark path I've taken - stop now and go back to tents!

I believe the same bug may have gotten to both of us. I made a list the other day of my 2013-2014 purchases and it was a bit alarming. But it has been fun and this opened up a whole new world to me.
If you ever can get all three of your kids together on short notice, shoot me a pm and I will overnight a full setup for you guys to use on your trip. I have read enough of your post and have learned a lot from you and feel like I owe you

[ChrisP]

Setup for under $100 (or there about):

Yukon Outfitters Double: $26 shipped (Woot!)
Yukon Outfitters Walkabout fly: $26 shipped (Woot!)
Harbor Freight Lashing Straps: $4.28 including tax
Madrock 32g carabiners: $12 with tax (REI)
Dutchware continuous loops and cinch buckles with loops $25ish shipped.

TOTAL: $93.28 with new biners. Hammock setup weighs 2 1/2 lbs. My son has a similar setup with Atlas straps for a total of about $105 and it weighs closer to 3 lbs.

[hofer150]

DIY hammocks are the cheapest by far I think, and a bit fun to make! I found enough people (I've got 4 siblings and outdoorsy friends) where I could buy in bulk and save big time!

Thrift Store Thread Injector: $10 (Pretty sweet buy if you ask me)

10 feet of Ripstop from DIY gear supply (http://diygearsupply.com/product/70d-coated-ripstop/): $12.50 each
30 feet of Amsteel from a 600 ft roll for whipping and whoopie slings (http://www.reddenmarine.com/samson-r...-spools.html): $6.00 each
UV protected upholstery thread from local sewing center (not sure how much I used but I bought a huge roll for $10 and have hardly dented it)
1 tyvek envelope turned into stuff sack (pretty sweet looking and CHEAP! I can post pictures or even send bags out if desired): FREE
20 minute DIY video, a little bit of adjusting the design, 3 hours of sewing

Under $20 for certain, not to mention great gifts and more people to hang with.

[dirkomatic]

Setup 1:
Equip hammock from Walmart with tax and in store pickup: $14.52
Yukon Outfitters Walkabout rainfly from Woot: $26.18
Complete Hammock Suspension kit from SLD (Includes whoopies, ridgeline, tree straps and toggles): $37.95
Coghlan's aluminum tent stakes from Walmart: $3.12

$81.77

Setup 2:
Grand Trunk Ultralight from Boy Scout camp store: $19.99
Chinook 12x9.5 from Amazon: $54.89
Complete Hammock Suspension kit from SLD (Includes whoopies, ridgeline, tree straps and toggles): $37.95
Coghlan's aluminum tent stakes from Walmart: $3.12
Secureline reflective cord from Walmart: $8.34

$124.29

No bug nets, but I haven't gotten that far yet...

Both just a little over 2 pounds. I need to weigh again to get the exact weights, but I'm pretty sure both end up being around the same. There are only two stakes needed in the first set up, but the hammock is heavier.

[Fancy Ramen]

Lots of the links from the original post are dead. Might want to update them for those too lazy to Google. 😉

[doctor patches]

i keep trying to do that for the betterment of the world, then i get distracted by shiny things and go hang in my hammock out back instead.

[Streamline73]

This is my set up with Military 4ft Poles! Little bit to carry but when no tree is in that great spot these are handy!

[@Diagonal]

My first hammock, a Mayan Tommy Hamaca Grande, Cool Rainbow on a Vario stand:



My newest Mayan, a Tommy Hamaca Grande, Dot Striped Tropicals on a Vario stand:

[Ackspyre]

Noooonono. On the walmart budget plan, I would absolutely not recomment ratchet straps for webbing. I tried this and they broke one night. Im a high-hanger (6-8 ft) and I landed on a large rock. If you do use them, inspect every time you use them. If there is any visible damage, throw away! Id recommend whoopie slings. You can make them for almost the same cost AND they are amazingly adjustable