Hi from Kaiserslautern and a few newbie questions

[vikingr]

Hi,

I feel I finally earned my right to register and introduce myself... This Saturday I spent my first night ever in a hammock.


I have a DD travel hammock with sleeve and a DD 3x3 tarp.

On the tarp I replaced all the guy lines with 550 para cord. I sometimes whittle my own pegs or use Easton aluminium pegs. I normally suspend the tarp from a line, which is also 550 para cord.

On the hammock I replaced all the cordage with climbing slings and climbing flat tape. I used to be a climber but due to a shoulder injury I cannot climb much anymore, hence this choice of gear.

I only used quick release knots and they all held

It was very comfy! I was a ground dweller but sleeping 'up high' is so much nicer! I was a bit anxious due to a bad back (herniated disc...)

The only problem was that it was around 0° Celsius, and I did only use a sleeping bag (The North Face Cats Meow), but no under insulation. It was comfortable on top but I literally froze my a** and my back off

My first question: I do have a closed cell foam pad (several actually) and a Therm-A-Rest. I do however like the looks of the DD underblanket... Would the DD underblanket be much warmer than when I used a pad?

I was also thinking of adding a wool blanket under the sleeping bag as insulation. Would this work to add insulation (in combination with a Therm-A-Rest), and be as warm (or warmer) than when using the underblanket?



And here's a couple of pics of the setup:


Hammock, tarp, ridge line, and my pack suspended from the ground.



It stretched to this amount of sag which was comfortable.



The orange cord is my ridge line. I think it is 6mm prussic cord.



Here's another question: How can I fix the tarp to the tarp-line? I tried using a toggle, but this does not work (the toggle is not strong enough and slides). I do have a solution currently, but I don't like it: I currently use a small Y-shaped twig that I twist through the loop several times and jam behind the line. This gets the job done but puts too much pressure on the loops for my liking. What do you pros do to hold the tarp in place and prevent it from sliding along the tarp line?



And finally, are there any hammockers (is that even a word?) near the Palatinate Forest in Germany? I am located in Kaiserslautern.

Cheers guys and gals!

Mike

[raiffnuke]

Welcome to HF from Mass.

[Pipsissewa]

Hey, Mike!

A lot of folks here, including myself, use Klemheist knots or Prussic knots to attach their tarp to the tarp ridge line. Both are sliding/locking knots. Klemheist, in my opinion, is more appropriate, because it is stronger in ONE direction (which fits this application--the knots have to keep the tarp from sliding inward.) Go to animatedknots.com to learn, if you're not familiar with these knots. Good luck (and welcome!!!)

P.S. Yes, "hammocker" is a word. I am one of them!

[vikingr]

Oh of course! I do know the prussic and the klemmheist, from my climbing days. Why did I not think of it!

Thanks a ton!!

[raiffnuke]

Here is how to tie a Kleinheist knot...

[dragon360]

Hello and Welcome to the Forums from Canada!

[Womble]

Hi & hello from Switzerland !
I have the same hammock/tarp set which is a good start.

Here is the post from a newbie who did a hang in Ramstein

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...d.php?p=708562

Womble

[Shnick]

+1 on the Klemhiest, I use it for my ridgeline as well. (grey cord)
Set it and forget it... but you don't have to...



Shnick

[Callahan]

Hey Vikingr,

Welcome from B.C.!

Cheers

[Boomer]

Welcome. Check out Shugs videos, if you haven't seen them already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFWs6...c8ic42EdUxbY4=