What is your recommendation for a starter hammock camping set up?
3 years ago by Just_A_Human to c/hammocks
I've hiking the JDF in British Columbia, Canada using my casual hammock (had an integrated bug net) and my own janky tarp rig for wind / rain and I loved the experience... Looking into getting something more, better designed specifically for hammock camping
Hmu with recommendations!
**Thanks everyone for the help, I ended up going with the warbonnet black bird xlc. I'm excited to see how it turns out when it arrives.
Agree with the advice for Warbonnet.
Both me and my partner imported Blackbird XLC's. She's using my old Hammockgear Incubator UQ and I use a full size Wookie.
Superfly as shelter.
The setup has just been brilliant. Comfy, easy setup and quality feel to all of it.
It costs a bit, but getting the proper stuff is well worth it in my opinion.
I slept well in the $20 hammock I started with, but it just lacks in all those creature comfort areas once you get some more experience.
Good luck OP and ask if something is confusing.
What volume bag are you using to contain your whole hammock system?
I've seen reviews where when you include a top and bottom quilts (something I didn't know existed, I just placed my sleeping pad in the hammock and slept in my sleeping bag) the whole set up becomes quite large...
Would you say it's comparable to a regular 1 person tent set up, volume wise? I know in terms of weight, the hammock set up will probably be quite a bit lighter than a tent.
Forgot to mention one other place that a lot of people like - Hammock Gear. They sell items individually, but also sell complete kits. I don't own any of their stuff (save an odd accessory or two), but I have heard good things, and the kits can be a nice way to get everything together at once if that's your preferred method of shopping.
Honestly I just stuff everything into their own respective sacks. Come to think of it, everything I own also came with its own stuff sack, so I haven’t had to buy one. As for weight, I haven’t actually weighed mine out to compare, but once you put the hammock, bug net (if not attached to the hammock), tarp, suspension, and lines / stakes all together, it’s probably close to (if not slightly more than) a tent setup.
That's a tough one, honestly. You can find budget hammocks all over the place, but I would prioritize one that's 11' in length. The tarp is important, as it's really your only shelter against the wind and rain. Again, there are budget options that might be heavier, but they'll get the job done. If you already own a sleeping pad, you can try that out in place of an underquilt. I never found it to be ideal, but it will work and can save you money. And, if you already have a sleeping bag, you can use that in place of a top quilt. So there's lots of places to make compromises...
If I were choosing and already had a sleeping pad and sleeping bag, I would likely start with the hammock itself and go with a budget tarp. If you go that route, a word of caution, maybe... There are small asym tarps that you can use, but I understand they can be finicky to get hung right and if the wind shifts or it starts raining heavily you'll likely have a long night. That's not to say they can't work, but from what I've heard from others who have used them, it takes some practice. But that's just me, and I'm sure others would choose differently.
As a final note, a lot of the vendors mentioned above run sales throughout the year. There should be a way to sign up for notifications from each of them.
@sh.itjust.works
A place to discuss all things hammocks, including questions, gear, trips, reviews, and why sleeping in the sky is better than sleeping on the ground.
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@sh.itjust.works
A place to discuss all things hammocks, including questions, gear, trips, reviews, and why sleeping in the sky is better than sleeping on the ground.
go to feed...
So many good options! Two I hear most about are probably Warbonnet and DutchWare. Fair notice, I have gear from both - a hammock (Eldorado) and tarp (minifly) from Warbonnet and lots of lines / hardware / suspension from DutchWare - and have absolutely nothing but positive things to say about both.
I grabbed my top and underquilts from a small(er) Etsy shop - the Hang Tight Shop - and love them both. Again, loads of options out there, so take a look around.
Last bit of advice - check out Shug’s YouTube channel. The dude is really experienced and has so many great videos for beginners and veterans alike.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
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