@@danihuffmireklein894 If you know basic backstich, you can go to a craft store or fabric store and buy long roles of the webbing. It's what they used on backpacks and bags and just stitch your own. I made mine in like 10 mins using back pack straps. They haven't broken yet. I know people who made their own too and its working fine too. A lot of this camping gear you find in store nowadays are supper over prices when the raw materials are dirt cheap and it's not that hard or long to make. You can also save money on the clips if you just take an evening and look up knots. You can save a lot of weight too but just caring rope.
As an avid hammock camper who used cheaper hammocks for several years I can agree they’ll get the job done. However upgrading to an 11ft. Dutchware chameleon with a fixed ridge line has taken my experience from good to great! The material used is by far more comfortable and the right sized ridge line will keep your hammock from over extending and you’ll always get the perfect sag as long as your suspension is at the correct angle.
My friends sleep in chameleons as wel but I bought a cheep ali express one, the longest I could find and made a ridgeline myself, even a adjustible one using the whoopy sling principle with (chinese) dynema. The fabric is soft and comfy, I only need a separed bugnet. And there are no smart extra’s like with the chameleon can be made more practikal. But over all I can spend mutch more on the rest of my gear because my setup cost about $30,- !
Here’s a hack that can keep you warmer & let you skip the sleeping pad: put your hammock inside your sleeping bag & thread it through the little hole where the zipper ends at the base. This will give you full loft insulation plus an extra air gap all the way around you. You can put the mummy hood over your face instead of hanging down to stay warmer. This also avoids the need for an under-quilt.
"put your hammock inside your sleeping bag" That tends to make you have to remain center line in the hammock with little ability to move (especially with mummy bags) while also leaving a cold air gap on top as the hammock body keeps it elevated from you. Wide rectangular bags can work better for that, but most of those are pretty narrow for that purpose. Neither will work with a bug net deployed.
Decent video for beginners. I used a cheaper Hammock for a couple of years. There is something to say though in upgrading to a better quality hammock if you really want to stick with it. I have a Dream Hammock and a Warbonnet Hammock and I sleep way better in them. I would also suggest an underquilt if you really want to stick with it. Way more comfortable.
I agree with all you have mentioned. This video shows a good setup for beginners, for those that do not camp that often, want to keep costs low, or find this works for them. We all started somewhere, I spent over a year, nearly every night, in a similar setup and it worked well. That was until I got curious at what else was out there...but there are folks that camp once a year in a $40 Walmart tent and are happy enough, so similar in the hammock side, too. It's all, hang your own hang...just happy to see folks out there!
One thing I changed for mine was using ratchet straps instead of the hammock straps you were using, I can set it up at the exact length I want and there’s no worry about them snapping or breaking, I’ve had those straps break on me in the past and I’m 6ft 200lbs, only downside I’d see is constant use in the rain could lead to rust on the ratchets but husky has an insane lifetime warranty and I’ve brought back straps that have sat outside for a few years and they still honor it just a little tip I figured I could throw out there
There are better options than the cargo ratcheting straps. Also much lighter... Dutchwear gear has "whoopie sling" style that are super light and quite adjustable. Another option is some straps similar to the ratcheting cargo straps but with a much lighter buckle that is still fully adjustable.
I once thought I’d use ratchet straps as raw material for making my own straps. 350kg breaking strength rated straps, fairly thin 25mm, mind you, but should have been fine. My stitching held, but they broke the first time I sat in my hammock. My current favorite is my home made Chyneema whoopie slings, with the XL straps from DD hammocks and a marlinspike hitch using a little of thin aluminum pipe as the toggle. (In this case, an internal repair piece for a snapped alu tent pole, but use whatever you got)
I want to second this suggestion. I use ratchet straps too and have for over a decade. I have bought some straps from Dutchware with the sewn in Dutch Clip and love them, but also still have ratchet straps with cinch buckles (also Dutchware). You can get 4 ratchet straps 12' long for cheaper than a pair of tree straps and then cut them down to whatever size you want. I took a dremmel to the hook on the end and left the original stitched loop. So no worry about homemade stitching coming undone. If it can hold a quad in place, it can certainly hold me. I tried Whoopie slings and have some from ENO, Dutchware, and some I made myself. The issue I have with them is the minimum length from the tree they require. With a tree strap, I can take it all the way up to the tree if I want. With whoopie slings, you need at least 10 - 12 inches from the tree. So I will stick with straps. They offer the fine tuning of whoopie slings but better as you can adjust even closer to the tree, they are lighter than daisy chains, and you can replace the hardware they come with to something titanium to make them even lighter still. The hardware you get to use with them can travel from one pair of straps to the next. So when the straps eventually wear out, you are not starting over from scratch. You just get a new set of cheap ratchet straps, cut off the existing hardware, add your light hardware, call it done.
well done champ, but may i suggest, rain stoppers on ya hammock lines and possibly turning ya hammock to form a diamond shape to get more rain coverage..yes it depends on space, but it works. i have used Hennesy hamocks and Jungle hammocks, HH with asym and non asym, both bottom entry and side entry. for me, side entry asym works best, but each to their own. i also found that using the fly from the jungle hammock gives much more coverage over the HH fly. snake skins work well for rain stoppers too. but hey, its just my 2 cents..
If you add a 3rd prussik, you do not need the truckers hitch. Just feed your running end through that 3rd prussik and tie it off like you would a truckers hitch. .
Just learning on the hammock thing. By far the most to the point,useful and helpful video I could find. So tired of the overcomplicated ,can’t hear and definitely not funny others have posted. Ya nailed it. Thank you , I’m on me way
You’ve never experienced an 11 or 12 ft quality hammock. Daisy chains do not allow for perfect lay period. Hell I could see the calf ridge in yours. Learn before you attempt to teach
That fastener I found at Lowe's the other day and I literally stood staring thinking of using them just like you did. Glad to see them working like I imagined
I just learned another cool tip for even quicker set up of the daisy chain straps. Instead of sliding the strap through the daisy chain, use a carabiner and attach it to the loop, then open the clip and place the daisy chain strap through the carabiner. Quick on and off. Did you talk about under quilts in maybe another video? Skillet
The problem that I've found with the cheaper daisy chain straps is that the stitching holding the loops together can break. You won't hit the ground when one breaks loose but it's a bit of a shock.
Do you ever add rain ropes on your hammock? I’ve heard if you put a line down on your suspension (somewhere near your hammock) the rain won’t slide down your suspension and get you wet, it will go down the ropes instead.
Thanks for tip 3! That’s exactly what I was looking for! Tips 4 and 5 are very good too! Game changers, I’m sure! I’m a newbie. Hoping I survive my first over night hiking trip a week from now.
i have a question. wont using the tarp clips like you did cause extra strain and stretching on the middle of the tarp? wouldnt it be better to have a ridgline follow the complete underside of the tarp? thanks
A 15’ strap isn’t going to cut it in the PNW/BC where this video is filmed. You may have a perfectly sized tree and then a 5’ diameter one. Finding two perfectly sized trees at the right distance apart is extremely fortuitous there. For now, I use a couple 22’ sections of 5/8” tubular webbing. I loop it around the carabiner a couple times and then do an overhand with a loop of what remains to make a quick release. Doesn’t slip, but is easy to untie. And you can easily adjust the length and then tie it off again. Might try some dyneema for less stretch, but so far, it doesn’t stretch any more than my typical daisy chain hammock straps.
I just ran into that with my first ever hang here in Washington state. One tree was about a foot diameter, but the other was a lot bigger. My 10ft strap was at the max. It still worked, but I bought longer ones when I got back home. I also upgraded to 2-inch wide, though I have yet to try them.
Because he's using a ground-pad while trying to be an authority on hammock camping. There's nothing wrong with using a ground-pad in a hammock. However, it signals that he doesn't go hammock camping enough to justify the extra expense.
Good advice here, but id say its worth spending the money on a quality hammock. The difference in the sleep I get between my $40 hammock and the $150 hammock was night and day
Maybe it was the camera angle, but it looks like the rain fly isn’t long enough to cover your hammock. We’re you able to stay dry without any adjustments?
I set the hammock up just for the video, I wasn’t actually camping this time. But I have used that tarp in the rain before with no issue, as long as the rain isn’t blowing in the end. However I’d love to upgrade to a larger and lighter tarp eventually.
It amazes me how many people have no clue how to lay in a hammock. You see super tight pitched hammocks all the time, dead give away they don't know what they're doing... and your tarp is pitched very loose, tighten em up a bit.
Gotta contest that first point. If you're aiming to do some serious camping in a hammock, having a suspension ridgeline, skewed diamond lay with tie-outs, high-quality material and zippers, and whoopie-sling suspension all make a drastic difference in comfort, flexibility, durability, weight, and setup/teardown. I can suspend between some *exceptionally* wide tree gaps, lay comfortably flat, and all of it rolls right out or in to my hammock's bag while it's hanging! (Except the rain fly of course.)
Native people showed me how to sleep on a hammock. You sleep on diagonal position so the hamlock tenses and then you can sleep flat. However, I am a bit concerned about causing tension on the fabric. But thesw people have been doing it for endless times...
I am sure young people can survive just anything. More expensive hammocks provide comfort. Longer hammocks over supermarket ones. More careful people usually set the tarp first and keep it in some sort of a sleeve. Underquilts are more comfortable than sleeping mats, but obviously more expensive and sometimes harder to set up... it takes practice. As some other people pointed out, a hammock with a ridgeline allows for a more consistent experience.
Thank you Peter for sharing your expertise in setting up hammock. I learned a lot from you. Now I'm ready to educate my students regarding this exciting outdoor activity
Excellent job. Straight forward and clear. I just picked up my first hammock three days ago, but looking forward to lots of use this summer. Thanks for the advice and tips! Cheers!!
My hammock is a section of badminton net with two lines secured with bowlines., an Army poncho for my tarp. I’ve slept warm down to -30 in the Plains, with a bag only. Learn knots and you can make your own.
cheers this has helped alot. been wanting to try hammock camping for a while but videos ive watch. have bombarded you with to much info #brainoverload. yours is nice simple and clear
If you are a side sleeper a cheap hammock won't work for you…This gentleman I think sleeps on his back and doesn't move around much as he doesn't have a problem with fighting his sleeping pad… If you are a side sleeper I would suggest an asymmetrical design and two layer…The Asymmetric allows side sleep…a two layer allows you to slip your pad under you without it moving around no matter how much you toss and turn plus the two layers prevents those hungry mosquitos from feasting on you that happens with a single ply hammock…pick your sleeping pad with the idea that you want parts to come up the sides preventing your rump ,shoulders, back or legs from getting cold as they are up on the uninsulated parts of your hammock fabric
My daughter uses a $49 FE hammock and loves it. I have a $250 hand made for me Tier Gear Goshawk and at 320lbs while both hod my weight, I trust the Tier gear to not break, ever. I do agree there are lots of lower cost decent bits of kit and that includes my Subito underquilt. $50 compared to $300 for a down one from my hammock maker. The cheapie does the job and I prefer it to a sleeping pad. Great video.
It's easy to say go cheap with your hammock set up, but in all reality they are subpar. Spend the extra money and get a nice rig, it will make you get out there more.
