Nice photos - I especially like the shot of the hammock overlooking the
lakes and valley, and the "Christmas tree".


On Nov 1, 2004, at 9:05 AM, Risk wrote:

> I posted the link to my most recent AT section hike at Kampfire, but
> there are a couple nice hammock pictures in the journal.  I slept each
> night in the hammock (exception - night at the Kincora Hostel) and had
> a great trip.  I especially like the picture of the hammock at the
> edge of the drop-off at the Vandeventer Shelter:

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Nazdarovye <nazdarovye@y...> wrote:
> Nice photos - I especially like the shot of the hammock overlooking the
> lakes and valley, and the "Christmas tree".
>
Thanks Steve!

Rick

>Good afternoon Rick,
I really enjoy your journals/photos.  I have also learned much from you website.
Thank you for sharing.

Jackie/Repeat
> From: "Risk" <ra1@...>
> Date: 2004/11/01 Mon PM 12:05:04 EST
> To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Hammock Camping] Hammocking through northern TN/NC to Damascus
>
>

> I especially like the picture of the hammock at the
> edge of the drop-off at the Vandeventer Shelter:
>
> http://www.imrisk.com/atdamascus/atdamascus.htm

Yeah.  It's seeing stuff like that which lowers my self esteem.

Shane

Shane Steinkamp wrote:

>>I especially like the picture of the hammock at the
>>edge of the drop-off at the Vandeventer Shelter:
>>
>>http://www.imrisk.com/atdamascus/atdamascus.htm
>>
>>
>
>Yeah.  It's seeing stuff like that which lowers my self esteem.
>
>Shane
>
>
>
LOL!  I liked the hammock pic and the one of the sunrise enough to put
them on the main home page.  You really liked the little quip about just
using "a box camera" didn't ya?

Rick

I am an interested beginner in Hammock camping.
Looking around the web I have found several Hammocks
that seem to be good canidates.

Speer Hammock
Hennessey Hammock
Clark Jungle Hammock
Crazy Creek

Does anyone have an opinion on the relative merits of
these hammocks? What would you recommend to a newbie?

Does sleeping in a hammock do weird things to your
body? Can you sleep on your side? I like to sleep on
my  stomach - that seems out of the question.
I am in my 50's and getting a bit arthritic.
I have never been too comfortable in a rope hammock.
Is there a difference? (I have a feeling that's a
stupid question)

Thanks in advance.

Craig




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
www.yahoo.com

ditto
--- jackiethehiker@... wrote:

>
> >Good afternoon Rick,
> I really enjoy your journals/photos.  I have also
> learned much from you website.  Thank you for
> sharing.
>
> Jackie/Repeat
> > From: "Risk" <ra1@...>
> > Date: 2004/11/01 Mon PM 12:05:04 EST
> > To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Hammock Camping] Hammocking through
> northern TN/NC to Damascus
> >
> >
>
---------------------------------

I posted the link to my most recent AT section hike at
Kampfire, but
there are a couple nice hammock pictures in the
journal.  I slept each
night in the hammock (exception - night at the Kincora
Hostel) and had
a great trip.  I especially like the picture of the
hammock at the
edge of the drop-off at the Vandeventer Shelter:

http://www.imrisk.com/atdamascus/atdamascus.htm

Rick







__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Craig Everhart <_craig@y...>
wrote:
> I am an interested beginner in Hammock camping.
> Looking around the web I have found several Hammocks
> that seem to be good canidates.
>
> Speer Hammock
> Hennessey Hammock
> Clark Jungle Hammock
> Crazy Creek
>
> Does anyone have an opinion on the relative merits of
> these hammocks? What would you recommend to a newbie?
>
> Does sleeping in a hammock do weird things to your
> body? Can you sleep on your side? I like to sleep on
> my  stomach - that seems out of the question.
> I am in my 50's and getting a bit arthritic.
> I have never been too comfortable in a rope hammock.
> Is there a difference? (I have a feeling that's a
> stupid question)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Craig
>
> Craig,
      I am new here too, my first post.  I have a Hennessy hammock
and a Clark hammock.  I bought the Hennessy first, then bought the
Clark.  Both are very good hammocks in my opinion, but I am more of
a camper than a hiker and the Clark suits me better.  My 4 and 6
year old kids love the Hennessy hammock.  I am 43 and the Clark
suits me for overnight trips.  It is more bulkier and weighs more
than the Hennessy hammock but I prefer it.  I have only read about
the Speer and Crazy Creek hammocks, but they sound well made also.
I really like my Clark hammock, out camping or just in the yard, I
really enjoy it.  Being in your 50's and aching joints, I think you
would appreciate and enjoy a Clark hammock over a Hennessy hammock
with bottom entry. Just my opinion.  And rope hammocks do not
compare with camping hammocks, least not in my mind.

Take care,

Dean_________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
> www.yahoo.com

Craig,

That is a great post for this site and a good list to get started
with.  I'm not sure how to answer it as I haven't been in all the
available hammocks, I'm not sure I even know the number of different
hammocks that those four different manufacturers make!  Hammock
camping has been very dynamic in the last few years and significant
changes are still being made.  I know Ed Speer and have read his book
on Hammock Camping.  His book addresses your question, but with his
obvious bias (I mean, he does make one that he considers is the best)
and based on the backpacking hammocks available a year or so ago when
he did his research, designed his own line of hammocks and wrote his
book.

With the fundamental differences between some of these hammocks, I
don't think you will get too many unbiased opinions. Some of these
features are viewed as godsends by some folks, while others might
view the same feature as a curse... it is just human nature that with
some things people will view them entirely differently.  There are a
few folks, myself included, that make their own hammocks based on Ed
Speers design or designs of their own.  It should be noted that a lot
of these self-designs are dynamic and changes are the norm.

I recommend that you read Ed's book first just to get an idea of what
hammock camping entails.  It can be found here:
http://www.speerhammocks.com/ .  There is information in the book
that will be of value to a hammock camper regardless of the hammock
that they use.

Youngblood

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Craig Everhart <_craig@y...>
wrote:
> I am an interested beginner in Hammock camping.
> Looking around the web I have found several Hammocks
> that seem to be good canidates.
>
> Speer Hammock
> Hennessey Hammock
> Clark Jungle Hammock
> Crazy Creek
>
> Does anyone have an opinion on the relative merits of
> these hammocks? What would you recommend to a newbie?
>
> Does sleeping in a hammock do weird things to your
> body? Can you sleep on your side? I like to sleep on
> my  stomach - that seems out of the question.
> I am in my 50's and getting a bit arthritic.
> I have never been too comfortable in a rope hammock.
> Is there a difference? (I have a feeling that's a
> stupid question)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Craig
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
> www.yahoo.com

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Craig Everhart <_craig@y...> wrote:
> I am an interested beginner in Hammock camping.
>
> Does sleeping in a hammock do weird things to your
> body? Can you sleep on your side? I like to sleep on
> my  stomach - that seems out of the question.
> I am in my 50's and getting a bit arthritic.


Craig,

As Youngblood wrote, everyone reacts in their own personal way to a
hammock.  One question that I asked myself was whether I could find
out if I liked hammock camping without investing an arm and a leg.

After I had worked with hammocks for a while, I came back to that
question and developed a simple hammock that anyone can build for
about the cost of going out to McDonalds with a sweetie.  Maybe this
link will be your starting point:

http://www.imrisk.com/testhammock/testhammock.htm

Oh, and I agree with Dave's strong advice to read Ed's book.  It is
where many of us started.

Risk

While there are thousands of sites selling Spectra lines and ropes, I
can't seem to locate one selling light fabrics - like the kind being
used in some of the lightweight backpacks (not the resin-coated sail
cloth!).  Anyone know of a place?

Spectra seems like it would be an ideal hammocking fabric with its
unbeatable strength-to-weight ratio, UV resistance, cut/tear
resistance, and wear characteristics.  I use it for fishing line and
stunt kite line, and HHs use it in their main ropes, which makes me
wonder why Tom never made a hammock out of Spectra.

I hope someone knows of a source though - sounds like a worthwhile
experimental hammock project.

Thanks,
Jim

Craig,

Welcome to the club!  You sound a lot like me (50's, creaky, stomach
sleeper, worried about asking stupid questions).

My terribly biased opinion is that hammock sleeping is so much
better than on the ground or even a cot.  I don't have the aches and
pains I used to get from sleeping on the hard ground (even with one
of the expensive, heavy self inflating pads).  I started with an
inexpensive Traveler (by Byer).  They're available at EMS (if you
have one in your area) or Campmor (www.campmor.com).  I sewed a
mosquito net on it and have been using it for about 4 years now.

I recently got Ed Speer's book and have made a couple from his
design, altering it with my own thoughts and stealing some ideas
from the other folks on this board.  Spend some time on Risk's site
and you'll get some good thoughts.  His trial hammock is worth ...
well.. trying.

You're right that stomach sleeping is not too comfortable in a
hammock - but then it ain't all that great on the ground either.  I
can sleep sort of 3/4 on my stomach/ side and it's quite comfortable.

Lastly, feel free to ask all the stupid questions you like.  They're
the only kind most of us can answer - or even understand.

Happy hanging.

Eric


--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Craig Everhart <_craig@y...>
wrote:
> I am an interested beginner in Hammock camping.
> >
> Does anyone have an opinion on the relative merits of
> these hammocks? What would you recommend to a newbie?
>
> Does sleeping in a hammock do weird things to your
> body? Can you sleep on your side? I like to sleep on
> my  stomach - that seems out of the question.
> I am in my 50's and getting a bit arthritic.
> I have never been too comfortable in a rope hammock.
> Is there a difference? (I have a feeling that's a
> stupid question)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Craig
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
> www.yahoo.com

Spammer whacked.

Shane

Hard?



On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:24:12 -0600, Shane Steinkamp
<shane@...> wrote:
>
> Spammer whacked.
>
> Shane
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

I think they found out someone wanted to use Spectra
for their hammock and are just offering them a low
mortgage rate for it.  I don't even want to guess how
much that would cost using Spectra material like my
Kelty White Cloud is made out of.  The Spectra ripstop
seconds that Quest Outfitters sells is $6.50 a yard
(60" wide) but only the grid fiber is Spectra. I have
a yard of this stuff to use for "wear points" on a
winter pack pack I want to make.  It should make a
very strong Hammock though for me it would be way
over-kill on the strength side of things.

Do you really need hammock this strong?
Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?

Bill in Texas



  On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:24:12 -0600, Shane Steinkamp
  <shane@...> wrote:

  Spammer whacked.

  Shane


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Doesn't the 'stretch' of the hammock material effect the comfort of
the hammock?

Youngblood

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Bill Fornshell
<bfornshell@y...> wrote:
> I think they found out someone wanted to use Spectra
> for their hammock and are just offering them a low
> mortgage rate for it.  I don't even want to guess how
> much that would cost using Spectra material like my
> Kelty White Cloud is made out of.  The Spectra ripstop
> seconds that Quest Outfitters sells is $6.50 a yard
> (60" wide) but only the grid fiber is Spectra. I have
> a yard of this stuff to use for "wear points" on a
> winter pack pack I want to make.  It should make a
> very strong Hammock though for me it would be way
> over-kill on the strength side of things.
>
> Do you really need hammock this strong?
> Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?
>
> Bill in Texas
>
>
>
>  On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:24:12 -0600, Shane Steinkamp
>  <shane@t...> wrote:
>
>  Spammer whacked.
>
>  Shane
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com

> > Spammer whacked.

> Hard?

I wish.  I'm pretty much of the opinion that spammers deserve nothing but a
mass grave.

Shane

> Do you really need hammock this strong?
> Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?

Have you seen the size of my pants?

Shane

No and I didn't think you wore pants.  Or is that the
other same name "Shane"? How about a hammock made from
an old "chain-link" fence? It is cool again in San
Antonio (47 degrees this morning) and I am having such
a happy day with all my warm stuff on.
Bill in San Antonio, TEXAS

--- Shane <shane@...> wrote:

> > Do you really need hammock this strong?
> > Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?
>
> Have you seen the size of my pants?
>
> Shane
>




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
www.yahoo.com

> No and I didn't think you wore pants.

Well, there is that...

> How about a hammock made from an old "chain-link" fence?

Ouch...

> It is cool again in San Antonio (47 degrees this morning) and I am having
such
> > a happy day with all my warm stuff on.

It's supposed to get down to 60 today, but it's about 85 right now...

Shane (not Mirage)
New Orleans

Winter will be here soon and I am thinking about setting my hammock up
in a quinzhee.

1.    Dig a trench in the snow between the two trees,
2.    Install the hammock in snake skins,
3.    Inflate a VBL sleeping bag liner under the hammock,
4.    Throw the snow back on the hammock,
5.    Dig the snow cave.

Has anyone tried this?

Advice or comments please.

Dick Matthews
Colorado.

> Has anyone tried this?

Never tried it.

> Advice or comments please.

Sounds dangerous.

I'm glad I don't do sneaux.

Shane

Wow - ambitious!

I was going to try mine out in a snow slit trench this winter - similar
thinking, just without the roof. I figured that it would take care of
the majority of the convective heat loss due to wind.

If you try this, post pictures - I'd love to see it.


On Nov 3, 2004, at 9:16 AM, Dick Matthews wrote:

> Winter will be here soon and I am thinking about setting my hammock up
> in a quinzhee.
>
> 1.    Dig a trench in the snow between the two trees,
> 2.    Install the hammock in snake skins,
> 3.    Inflate a VBL sleeping bag liner under the hammock,
> 4.    Throw the snow back on the hammock,
> 5.    Dig the snow cave.
>
> Has anyone tried this?
>
> Advice or comments please.
>
> Dick Matthews
> Colorado.

Wow - ambitious!
I was going to try mine out in a snow slit trench this winter - similar thinking, just without the roof. I figured that it would take care of the majority of the convective heat loss due to wind.
If you try this, post pictures - I'd love to see it.
On Nov 3, 2004, at 9:16 AM, Dick Matthews wrote:

Winter will be here soon and I am thinking about setting my hammock up
in a quinzhee.
1. Dig a trench in the snow between the two trees,
2. Install the hammock in snake skins,
3. Inflate a VBL sleeping bag liner under the hammock,
4. Throw the snow back on the hammock,
5. Dig the snow cave.
Has anyone tried this?
Advice or comments please.
Dick Matthews
Colorado.

Hello,

Does anybody have any thoughts on using packing foam as insulation
(see link below)? I have a BA Horse Thief bag and I'm thinking that
the packing foam would make a nice underpad to go between the BA pad
and the bottom of my HH. I would put the foam into the BA sleeve
along with the air pad. Since the foam is 1/8" thick, I'm thinking
that I could make a custom, multi-layered, variable thickness,
underpad for my BA air pad. I made a "prototype" out of some "sill
insulation" from Lowe's. The stuff from Lowe's is only 5.5" wide
which, has resulted in several duct tape joints that I'm not
thrilled about ; )

http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-2962&ref=857

Bill,

I'm hoping to aquire a spectra cloth in a 15D or 10D weight that would
support my 175 lbs and save me a bunch of ounces while still being
robust enough to handle the backcountry.  Hennessy's Racer hammocks
are OK for biking, but aren't very durable.  I'm shooting for a 7 oz
hammock that will last more than one hiking season and withstand the
abuse of the trail.

As far as stretch affecting comfort - spectra DOES stretch, but not
immediately - it undergoes creep, which is a slow permanent stretch.
I figure that means the longer the hammock is used, the more it will
"form-fit".  I could be totally wrong, but until someone makes the
hammock, we won't know for sure, will we?

I wouldn't mind finding a source for a nylon cloth with spectra
webbing either.  It should have a much higher tensile strength than
just plain nylon of the same weight.

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Bill Fornshell
<bfornshell@y...> wrote:
> I think they found out someone wanted to use Spectra
> for their hammock and are just offering them a low
> mortgage rate for it.  I don't even want to guess how
> much that would cost using Spectra material like my
> Kelty White Cloud is made out of.  The Spectra ripstop
> seconds that Quest Outfitters sells is $6.50 a yard
> (60" wide) but only the grid fiber is Spectra. I have
> a yard of this stuff to use for "wear points" on a
> winter pack pack I want to make.  It should make a
> very strong Hammock though for me it would be way
> over-kill on the strength side of things.
>
> Do you really need hammock this strong?
> Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?
>
> Bill in Texas
>
>
>
>  On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:24:12 -0600, Shane Steinkamp
>  <shane@t...> wrote:
>
>  Spammer whacked.
>
>  Shane
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com

Creekfisher,
      I've got a pad I got in the UK that's made out of similar
stuff.  I don't remember the brand but it's basically that foam
padding with a layer of space blanket material laminated to both
sides.  It's similar to the windshield reflectors that folks have
been using for quite a while.
      I use a lot of the packing foam like this at work.  I think it
would be a good insulator but I would question its durability.  It
also rubs against itself and builds up a nice static charge.  Then
every piece of lint or dirt around sticks to it.
      Hmmmm, what about bubble wrap......;-)

--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, "thecreekfisher"
<thecreekfisher@y...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Does anybody have any thoughts on using packing foam as insulation
> (see link below)? I have a BA Horse Thief bag and I'm thinking
that
> the packing foam would make a nice underpad to go between the BA
pad
> and the bottom of my HH. I would put the foam into the BA sleeve
> along with the air pad. Since the foam is 1/8" thick, I'm thinking
> that I could make a custom, multi-layered, variable thickness,
> underpad for my BA air pad. I made a "prototype" out of some "sill
> insulation" from Lowe's. The stuff from Lowe's is only 5.5" wide
> which, has resulted in several duct tape joints that I'm not
> thrilled about ; )
>
> http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-2962&ref=857

You don't EVEN wanna get me going on spammers

Jodi who is sitting on her fingers to keep from venting again (makes
it hard to type)


On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 10:26:13 -0600, Shane <shane@...> wrote:
>
> > > Spammer whacked.
>
> > Hard?
>
> I wish.  I'm pretty much of the opinion that spammers deserve nothing but a
> mass grave.
>
> Shane
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>


--
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather
to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~ WOOHOO what a
ride!"

Hi,  You don't weigh much more than I did when I got
my Silk Speer Hammock.  My weight at that time was
about 172+/- a pound or two.  The silk weight was 1.02
oz per square yard.

I just checked the Spectra Grid ripstop that I have
and it weighs 3.53oz per square yard.  The grid is
about 1/4".  It has a little diagonal stretch and I
think there is a word for that but I am not sure what
it is.  Is the word creep?

I think a hammock made out of this material would go
over your goal of 7oz fast.

You can buy .7oz (real weight) per square yard
spinnaker ripstop that might hold you made into a
hammock.  I costs $3.00 a yard and I think it is 60"
wide.  I have some made into a large Mac Cat Tarp and
it is holding up well.
Bill in Texas

--- NiytOwl <niytowl@...> wrote:

>
> Bill,
>
> I'm hoping to acquire a spectra cloth in a 15D or
10D
> weight that would
> support my 175 lbs and save me a bunch of ounces
> while still being
> robust enough to handle the backcountry.  Hennessy's
> Racer hammocks
> are OK for biking, but aren't very durable.  I'm
> shooting for a 7 oz
> hammock that will last more than one hiking season
> and withstand the
> abuse of the trail.
>
> As far as stretch affecting comfort - spectra DOES
> stretch, but not
> immediately - it undergoes creep, which is a slow
> permanent stretch.
> I figure that means the longer the hammock is used,
> the more it will
> "form-fit".  I could be totally wrong, but until
> someone makes the
> hammock, we won't know for sure, will we?
>
> I wouldn't mind finding a source for a nylon cloth
> with spectra
> webbing either.  It should have a much higher
> tensile strength than
> just plain nylon of the same weight.
>
> --- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, Bill
> Fornshell
> <bfornshell@y...> wrote:
> > I think they found out someone wanted to use
> Spectra
> > for their hammock and are just offering them a low
> > mortgage rate for it.  I don't even want to guess
> how
> > much that would cost using Spectra material like
> my
> > Kelty White Cloud is made out of.  The Spectra
> ripstop
> > seconds that Quest Outfitters sells is $6.50 a
> yard
> > (60" wide) but only the grid fiber is Spectra. I
> have
> > a yard of this stuff to use for "wear points" on a
> > winter pack pack I want to make.  It should make a
> > very strong Hammock though for me it would be way
> > over-kill on the strength side of things.
> >
> > Do you really need hammock this strong?
> > Are you thinking about a hammock for two people?
> >
> > Bill in Texas
> >
> >
> >
> >  On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:24:12 -0600, Shane
> Steinkamp
> >  <shane@t...> wrote:
> >
> >  Spammer whacked.
> >
> >  Shane
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> > http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page.
www.yahoo.com

Here is one similar to that
one...http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=155061





--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, "Mirage" <mirage@p...> wrote:
>
> "Kelsyus Portable Backpack Hammock with Stand"
>
> http://www.everywherechair.com/kel-hammock.html
>
> While heavy and maybe not quite in the "camping" hammock catagory,
the stand has got
> my DIY juices flowing...  Maybe combined with trekking poles, some
pack frame stays, and
> a few extra Ti or Carbon Fiber poles, I wonder if we could come up
with a working, lighter,
> alternative.  I'm going to order one to see how my speer and DIY
hammocks hang on it for
> comfort.
>
> Shane "Mirage"...