Hammock

[Gobbler36]

Lightweight tents vs hammocks
I mainly hunt in the mountains in Idaho
Wondering about comfort , weight , warmth.
Mostly during archery

 

[gtriple]

I’ve done some research on this recently. I think the lightest hammock setup you can get is the Outdoor Vitals solo one. Then pair that with an underquilt and top quilt, and you are about in the weight range of a bivy with sleeping pad and quilt.

You can run the same tarp for either setup. I’ve got a Stone Glacier Skytarp 10 that would work great for either.

Weight is about equal between a comfortable bivy setup and a hammock setup.

Warmth is probably pretty close either way. You may get some more drafts with the hammock.

The bivy is definitely easier to setup and use. You can find a sleeping spot anywhere.

Comfort is subjective. Some people sleep great in hammocks, some people don’t at all. Just gotta test it a lot to figure it out.

 

[twall13]

I love hammocks but there is a learning curve to dialing in a hammock setup to stay comfortable and warm. I generally sleep better in a hammock setup, though a ZenBivy on flat ground is pretty good too. Pros and cons for me.

Pro Hammock:
I never have to crawl around on my knees like I do in a tent
I have a built in seat for putting on boots, etc.
You don't need even remotely flat ground to sleep level and without bumps, roots, or rocks under you. I've set up on some steep hillsides and slept great on a hammock.
With the right setup you can sleep cooler in hot weather and just as warm in cold weather (only taken my setup down to 2° F but was plenty warm).

Downsides:
If there are no trees it's a non starter
If it's windy and rainy it's not as easy to hang out and pass the time
Tougher to split up and share the weight with multiple guys like a tent
Can be a bit more finicky to dial in the setup but gets easier the more you do it

There's probably more I'm not thinking about but in general I don't think a solid hammock setup is significantly lighter than some other setups. The bivy situation someone posted above is a good example. That said, weigh the pros and cons of what you are looking to do go from there. If you do decide to try a hammock spend some time on practice outings getting it dialed in. I'd also get a hammock that is at least 11' long and plan on a good underquilt. You can use a pad but it's less than ideal in a hammock.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Beendare]

Search the topic....plenty of info. Exactly Zero of the experienced backcountry hunters I know use a hammock.

a full Hammock setup is as heavy or heavier than a Tarptent double rainbow at 2.5# all in which is more multi purpose, bug proof and a much better camp in stormy weather.

 

[4090Sharps]

I use a hammock for the vast majority of my backcountry hunting. I can almost always find a combination of trees and rocks to hang from that is close to my desired camp location.

You don’t save much weight and you gain some bulk, but I sleep much better in a hammock. It gets me off the ground, away from the snakes and scorpions, and it’s usually easier to find a place to hang than finding ground that isn’t completely covered in rocks (AZ).

 

[justinspicher]

I use a hammock quite a bit in Colorado. I don’t use an underquilt, but use a foam pad instead. Its cut to 3/4 length and has worked well for me.

 

[Pilsner]

If you are a side sleeper or, like me, you sleep like a rotisserie chicken tossin' and turnin' all night long then you prolly won't like a hammock very much. At least I could never sleep in one despite owning a half dozen different types of hammocks and trying dozens, and dozens of times. Including going to Hammock Days on the Appalachian Trail to try out a further batch of hammock styles. Great for a camp "couch" to get off your feet and hang out in but horrid for actual sleeping in at least for me. YMMV. The group I camp with monthly is about 50/50 hammock vs ground dwelling sleepers. It seems to break down along the same lines - guys who sleep on their back love em and side sleepers/ tossers n' turners like me hate em.

 

[RJC]

Question for the hammock guys- where are you putting your gear in the event it’s pouring rain?

 

[twall13]

Question for the hammock guys- where are you putting your gear in the event it’s pouring rain?

If it's not in the hammock (under the tarp) it's likely in my pack. I pull the handle of my pack through the foot end of the hammock suspension and put a stick through it so it's suspended off the ground. Alternatively you can lay things out under the hammock. I've included an example of a random pick I have from one of my teenage boy's setups awhile back. My personal tarp has a little more coverage than this but this tarp actually works in a lot more situations than you'd think.

Also, any of my gathered end hammocks have a structural ridgeline (essentially a cord from head end to foot end that keeps the sag the same in various setups). I use that ridgeline to hang stuff from, headlamp, socks, t-shirt, etc. I even have a little pocket I hang off it. Many hammocks also come with pockets off the edges as well. Plenty of options.

One other thing I'll note. I've never gotten wet sleeping in a hammock, and I've been through some decent storms. Being suspended above the storm helps and there are little tricks you learn along the way with setup to prevent splashing, wind angles, etc. I've been wet plenty of times in a tent, usually from condensation, but sometimes from leaks in doors/floors, etc. Again, I've been through some pretty good storms in the hammock, but I've also been through some more severe storms in tents with wind blowing sideways where I know the hammock wouldn't have been a good option, neither would any typical 3 season tent, but it's worth pointing out.