Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben on July 14, 2010 at 14:25

I got out my hammock today and used it for the first time and I am definatly going to use it for the next warm weather trip I go out on for sure or I might even just set it back up in the backyard and sleep in it one night. It is a Grand Trunk hammock and is made of parachute nylon.

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on July 15, 2010 at 18:18

Check out hammockforums.net

I use a Tom Claytor jungle hammock.
I almost always use the 3x4m large rain fly.
I also use a custom 6x8m fly over my camp, and in stormy weather I hang my hammock with close-set 3x4m tarp UNDER the big one.

You need mosquito protection. Get a hammock with a mosquito net.

I founded the "Hurricane Hangers" in 1958 when Russell, Charles, Jimmy, Gene, Alvie and I camped out Friday 05 Sep 1958 during the worst quadrant as Hurricane Ella came ashore. The wind was 50mph and it was pouring rain when we set up. The wind and rain kept up all weekend, but we only got 6" of rain.

Nobody could light a campfire, so we ate beans out of a big can that Gene opened with his Ka-Bar. Good beans.

We have gotten 6" per hour a few times since then, with over 24" in one day. Since then a few of us have kept up the tradition and have camped out hanging in the trees during another fifteen or so major storms. The grandeur of nature is invisible to those miserable rats in "shelters" waiting for a tree, radio antenna or something else to crush them. Hurricane Hangers are the elite.

Permalink Reply by Ben on July 16, 2010 at 1:01

Yea I have a mosquito net that I carry in my pack that I can use. I want to get a tarp to set up above the hammock and to have in general to be able to use for sun and rain protection. haha you guys are a combination of nuts and badass for sleeping out in storms like that but then again I'll sleep out in a blizard if I get the chance. I guess there is just something that is attractive to people like us that makes us want to go out into the extremes and survive in them.

Permalink Reply by Richard Reed on July 18, 2010 at 10:58

When hurricane Hugo passes by P.R we didnt have power for the whole summer. that was scary

Permalink Reply by Ben on July 18, 2010 at 15:48

Man that would make for a real long summer for sure. I for the most part could handle going that long without power it would just make some things more difficult, uncomfortable, and prolly boring. Wouldnt be a way I would want to spend my summer lol. I would be pretty nervious of how other people would handle something like that here in the US. I really don't think alot of Americans would handle a situation like that very well and would definatly push alot of people over the edge lol.

Permalink Reply by Garry T Moore on November 23, 2010 at 11:33

Ben said:

I got out my hammock today and used it for the first time and I am definatly going to use it for the next warm weather trip I go out on for sure or I might even just set it back up in the backyard and sleep in it one night. It is a Grand Trunk hammock and is made of parachute nylon.

Permalink Reply by Garry T Moore on November 23, 2010 at 11:43

Hope you don't mind a 4 month delayed reply. Your hammock is vitually identical to what I slept in for a year in RVN. For sound tactical reasons American units couldn't use hammocks. As an advisor to the ARVN I could use one as did my Vietnamese counterparts. The hammocks the advisors used were made in country. I found the hammock comfortable and slept very well indeed, except for the occasional night time ruckus. To this day I prefer the hammock to a mattress.

I've read that many serious outdoor experts favor the Mora or at least a Scandanavian edge. Can you tell me anything about that edge e.g. what makes it especially good for camping besides its lightness and low cost.

If you take several months to respond, I will fully understand.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy McCullen on July 8, 2011 at 8:08

I used a Hammock Bliss no see um for the first time last weekend at Raven Rock State Park, NC.  Great experience.  I will be leaving my tent at home if at all possible for now on.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 8, 2011 at 17:54

Jeremy,

Never seen the Hammock Bliss before so I went to check it out.  That is pretty impressive, looks to be extrememly portable and hangs about anywhere.  I like the netting idea they have to keep the mosquitos out, here in FL that is a BIG plus.  Thanks for sharing 

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on July 10, 2011 at 5:19

A few years ago my brother found an old hammock in one of our campers, he decided to hang it and see if it was any good. It took him a while to get it set up, but when he was done it all looked good. Being that I am the biggest out of 3 brothers, it was decided I should test it first, if it held me, it would be safe for everyone at camp. After an hour of testing, I woke up and decided it would do.

 

My brother didn't believe that I tested it right so he climbed in, after another hour of testing he woke up and decided that a hammock ain't  so bad.

 

The one we used was an old mesh one, it looked like a casting net. I'm not sure who made it, but years ago you could probably pick one up for cheap at a Trader Horn.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 10, 2011 at 18:06

We have always hand one hanging in the back yard.  Beside the pool, behind the waterfall between two very large palms.  It is a great place to take a nap during certain time of the year