I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
You can use a sleeping bag but you will still need something under you other than the sleeping bag.Quilts are optimal, better performance, but you can get by with ccf under you and lay your sleeping bag over you, but you'll have more bulk.The truth is once a person goes to quilts they don't go back because their more convenient and warmer and compact well but they do require some $$ outlay. Most if not all of the Underquilt makers quilts fit the blackbird. So the choice is really 3 season or 4. Seeing as we're in spring i would choose a warbonnet Yeti, or Crowsnest for 3 season and work on a separate winter setup if you go winter. Generally if you have a tarp like a MacCat deluxe or warbonnet Hex size tarp you can lower the sides for wind protection and there are end caps you can get later to further enclose but many folks don't find it necessary for what they do and where they go.
" The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."
“The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer
www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com
If you choose to get the quilt's offered by Warbonnet there is nothing wrong with that they are great quilt's and will serve you well! On that note you can get a quilt from anyone of the manufactures or cottage makers that are listed in the Forum Manufacturer list and will have no problem with them fitting the hammock (which ever you decide on)! A weather shield for under the hammock that hangs outside the UQ can be a nice thing to have if you feel that the weather you will/might come in contact with would warrant such a thing (two makers of them are 2QZQ and the Jacks from Jacks 'r' Better, or you could DIY)! An over cover works well at trapping in some heat to help keep you a little warmer in very cold temp's! But make sure that you have a TQ and a UQ that are warm enough to meet those expected temp's, one other thing that can be done is supplementing clothing to help keep you warm! In the warmer times the gatered feeling or consensus is a temp above 70-75* "most" do not need hardly any and some need no insulation (a light blanket or the like will work)! Even with a sleeping bag you will need something under you to keep you warm, as you are hanging in the air exposed to the element's like the air and wind! When you have down underneath your body like a SB the weight of your body will compress the down and thus provide no insulating properties, just like you were to lay on a mat in your sleeping bag on the ground it's the mat that provides the insulation and radiant body heat back to you to keep you warm, same rule applies to a hammock with an UQ!
Since you mentioned that you will be taking a trip around the world and may be in situations where you will need to go to ground if there are not any trees, I would recommend using CCF pads for your underneath insulation. They will work when hanging or on the ground. Your thermarest will do this too, but the CCF pads can be bought wider so that you get shoulder wrap & that helps reduce cold spots. CCF combined with a sleeping bag (spread over you like a quilt) will combine for a versatile system that adapts to many conditions.
Don't get me wrong, I love my UQ but for the trip you describe I think pads will be better.
Also, I love my WBBB! I do not think you would regret that purchase at all. The side entry is best and the storage shelf beside you at night is great for those handy essentials. If you go with the WBBB you better get it on order soon for your trip because they are not mass produced and Brandon will likely have to make you one.
One thing you might want to look into if you have not already is how the indigenous peoples live and sleep. Hammocks are used extensively through out the world but in those places where they can not be used eg: sand dunes for miles the indigenous peoples have already figured out how to survive and in many cases thrive according to their measures. Adapting what you have to meet the arrangements of the locals is a time tested way of getting along.
In the places where the hammock is usable by all means hang it up. But in those places where a hammock is not practical perhaps it would be better to look locally than try to make decisions from afar. Just a thought.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
That's all good information; unfortunately it doesn't make my decisions any easier
I haven't been able to find something, but is there maybe a website that gives an overview over the different equipment and systems? This forum is great as soon as you want to dive deeper, but it's not easy to get the big picture. As soon as I think I roughly understand the choices, somebody mentions something and I need to read up again.
As far as I can see, a hammock camper's equipment is basically made up of 4 parts:
- hammock
- suspension
- insulation system
- tarp
An overview over what the choices and uses are in the different areas would be a big help for newbies.
Thanks again!
hutzelbein:
It would be easier to go into the Forum section of the site and look at the vendors section. Start at the top and go to the bottom to see what each manufacturer has for products. Some of the vendors offer everything that is needed to complete a rig and others just offer specialized equipment for your hammock rig. You may also want to check out Shug's 10 part video series(YouTube videos) for people just getting started. He shows alot of the products side by side for comparison. The series is very informative and entertaining.
Here is the link to the first one: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/v...ls&videoid=189 You can find the rest in the videos section which has a link at the top of each page.
Par Si Vis Pace Para Bellum
Here's another beginner's link for hammock camping:
http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCamping.html
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER
Biggest "catch" I can think of with the WBBB is they are made one by one in Colorado, by Warbonnet guy (his name is Brandon) -not mass produced in china and stockpiled in a warehouse somewhere; consequently, there is sometimes a small delay between ordering and shipping. most folks think it is worth the wait.
Hope this helps, KM
Re underquilt. Yesterday I was looking at pix (Just Jeff's site?) and some people have modified their sleeping bags (cutting 6 - 7" hole at the bottom) to wrap around the hammock (makes diagonal sleeping difficult).
Anyway, I was think that the synthetic (it comes in down as well) Exped wallcreeper sleeping bag would be a multi-purpose piece of gear. You can wear (it has hood, zippered armholes, and drawstring bottom)
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorge...:referralID=NA
<<Exped Wallcreeper PL Sleeping Bag: 40 Degree Synthetic
As the name implies, the versatile water-resistant Exped Wallcreeper PL Sleeping Bag Parka Blanket is a sleeping bag of many uses. Sleep through soggy spring bivouacs or wait out drizzling conditions on an alpine wall; water-resistant PrimaLoft Sport gives this versatile bag insulation for climbing in cold, wet environments. The lightweight, seamless ripstop shell packs down for minimal bulk in your pack. Zippered arm openings allow you to belay, boil water, or rack gear from the comfort of the bag. A drawcord-adjustable foot section allows the Wallcreeper PL to function as a sleeping bag when you have boots on. Tighten the bottom drawcord around your waist and the bag can be worn as a camp parka. A full-length center zipper allows easy entry and exit and lets the bag open into a blanket. Insulated pockets on the exterior of the bag give your fingers refuge during frigid belays. The parka-style hood uses elastic drawcords to create a tight seal that traps in warm air and keeps out cold, damp weather.>>
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