Hennessey Hamock

“Anybody got one they wanna sell?”

“People either love 'em or hate 'em. I bet you can find one to buy!!

I like my Expedition in the warm months.”

“Been investigating the HH. I plan to purchase one in the next few weeks. Cannot decide if the Ultralight is the ticket or just the Expedition. Set one up at REI and it was very comfortable. A 3/4 Thermarest made it even more so. Cannot wait to give it REAL test.”

“BTW, can anyone give me an idea of what the lowest comfortable temp is in the HH? Hoping that it will be comfy with a pad down to 30 or so.”

“I'm considering one of these for Sauron. His favorite setup is a hammock and tarp. If you get one, I'd like to see him to see it in use on a TT hike so he can see how he'd like one.”

“Both Tami and Om had their Hammocks on the Ocala Trip and they both looked cool. I know they each had a different model, but don't know who had what.

The HH is definitely on my gear "Wish List' and the REI dividend may make it happen sooner than later..I love it when a plan comes together.

Also, regarding what temps you can use it to..I've seen peeps use those reflective things made for car windshields to put under their bags and reflect the body heat back up. Seems to work quite well and they're lightweight..I know Tami had one with her in Ocala.

Good Luck!

Tex”

“I wasn't brave enough to sit in om's HH on the trip for fear that the whole thing would rip out of the tree under my weight - however; everyone else that tried it seemed to really like it. I sleep on my belly though so that might create some spinal challenges in a hammock.

They pitched their hammocks pretty quickly (after finding the right tree).”

“I've decided to get one just don't know which yet.”

“I have had mine to the 30 degree range and it was very comfortable (sheltered location, 0 degree bag and guidelite full length). On the other hand the same same combo failed to keep me warm on top of a ridge with 15 mph wind and 10 deg temp - of course there were a few other things I didn't do that might have helped the situation like eating a good hot meal before hitting the bag as well as tossing in a hot water bottle - oh well live and learn.”

“I thought about getting one for backpacking I think it would be cool.

8)”

“I figure with one of these hamocks I'll be tempted to go hiking this Summer.

What do yall think, Expedition or Light weight?”

“HH didn't work for me. Excellent design, materials, craftsmanship etc., but just wasn't my bag. Sold mine to Om who is apparently quite happy with it. Now have a Walrus Zoid and am finally content.

It is true, you either love it or hate it.”

“Can you get one online at Campmor?


8)”

“It did take me a little time to get used to sleeping on my back mostly but I really like it now. Wrt which one to get - well due to certain physical specifications (grin) I ended up in the largest one that Tom makes. Things that I like is the fact that you can hang it many more places than there are good tent camping sites - lets me get out into areas where the impact of other people is not seen. Of course one still needs to find two trees of reasonable size approximately six paces apart but that is not too hard.”

“Hennessey makes good cognac.”

“I've kicked back in OM's before.
Is that the Expedition?”

“Hennessy Hammocks note only 2 E's in Hennessy Hammocks (grin)”

“I think their spelling it wrong.



jk”

“I have the Ultra-Light model and really like it, go with the light weight one in my opinion. You really will have one of the best trail-nights sleep in it. Do a search here for other threads on HH's.

There are links on the HH page for some cold-weather tests that were done by some people. There are a lot of factors that will come into play on how low you can comfortably take a HH down to. It boils down to that you have to have something under you that will trap air so that your body can heat it up. I use a cut piece of closed cell pad as well as sometimes a reflective car shade. HH is looking into selling something as well, they explain it on their site.

Only negatives I have had with it is that it does take some time to get the pads situated and just in the right position and my sleeping bag pulled up just right. Lot of squirming around till it's just right, which leads to the my next issue. I always have to go to the bathroom a couple of times a night, and hate to have to go through the process again of getting situated, but I think I'm going to get one of those hospital Pee bottles and see how that works. And lastly, now all my hiking buddies want to get one so I forsee us fighting over that perfect pair of trees for the set up.

”

“Thank you for the link.


8)”

“Seems like you could just open up the bottom of the hamock and pee away. Considering you aim away from where you'll be stepping down in the morning.”

“here is everything I know about the hammock: Hennessy Hammock”

“Thanks for the report SGT. I noticed the Weight limit on the Ultra light is 200 pounds. I weigh 180 - 185. With a bit more gear in the hamock would I be pushing it too much?”

“The thing with me is I would just worry about if it got real windy with that.

8)”

“I believe that I read that the 200 pound weight limit is a conservative estimate. I weigh 185 and have had no problems, the ridge line they use is like 1000lb rated. The only gear that I bring in is my cloths bag and a book. I hang my boots from thier laces on the ridge line outside the hammock and strap my pack to a tree.”

“Anybody with back trouble ever sleep in one of these things?

It seems like you'd wake up stiff as a board with your back bowed all night.”

“It looks good I might just get one to play around with.


8)”

“I've never had real back trouble, but I have had a stiff back after using a pad on a hard wood floor. I get a better sleep in my hammock than I ever did with my Thermarest.”

“I guess if no one has a Hamock for sale I'll just have to hit REI again.

Thanks for all the tips and info!”

“Ya it looks like you would get a good nights sleep in that.But how much movement do you have in that thing?

And the thing with the wind that is the one thing that I would worry about.+ I have to be able to move around.

8)”

“Gearjunkie
You can lay diagionally and your not bowed. Your actually flat”

“No kidding; perhaps I need one.
Of course, my wife would have me committed if I buy another new shelter before the last one I ordered even arrives!”

“LMAO gearjunkie!!!!!!


8)”

“I spent several very windy nights on the storm-swept beaches of the Washington coastline and wind was not a problem . Well at least with the hammock, the rainfly however needs to be fastened securely with some thought to wind during setup or it will flap loudly all night!”

“I love the HH....i have dealt with it's "issues" and mostly my spine enjoys suspended sleeping
I have the regular, not the ultralight HH. Get the ultralight if you are worried about a few extra ounces, i think mine weighs 2.25 lbs.
Temperature~~
I personally would not consider using the HH below 32 degrees without some sort of heat reflecting system under my sleeping bag, which i dont have . I have a 3/4 ridgerest that works fine and i also carry a fleece blankey to spread out under my bag on cooler evenings. (and quite frankly, after the last Shining Rocks experience, I have no burning desire to sleep outside in any tent in icy cold windy conditions)
It does just fine in a moderate wind and moderate rain. I have not experienced heavy rain and winds in it as yet.
Sleeping position issues~~~~
I sometimes sleep facing down and have not found this to be any problem if you stretch out diagonally in the HH. I have no problem switching positions thru the night either......I think the yoga is key here.....letting go of the fear (of crashing)....just forget you are in a hammock and turn over just like you would in any other tent....relax.....
~~Leaving the tent in the night~~~~~~~~
If it is cold weather, i almost always have to get up at least once....easy in my opinion.....
sit up, put your feet down into your waiting camp shoes under the tent and stand up just like you are getting out of a chair.... come back, sit down , pull feet in and wiggle back into the sack. In summer, no bags and blankets to re-enter.. Yes, it takes a couple of minutes of getting situated, but once you are snugged..its kewl. the best nights sleep in the world...swayin in the trees..
~~Finding a pair of trees from which to hang yourself..:)~~~ (ask tex, gojo and Big Coop) :) :)
To awaken in a sunrise facing position is important to me, consequently, this causes me to spend a while finding just the perfect place to perch.......but, if you have no preference , this shouldn't be an issue.....
~~gear in the tent~~~
I hang the HH stuff sack from the ridgeline just inside the tent with some nite time essentials, book, tp, water bottle, etc. (not food of course...which would make you a bear pinata.) i hang headlamp over head for reading, glasses, ...as for other gear...well, i just hang my pack on a tree and cover it with a tarp or plastic garbage bag if rain is threatening....
I would like to get a siltarp to bring along in case a heavy rain/wind event presents itself, to pitch over the HH on a different ridgeline somehow so i could sit under it to cook...i am pondering how to do this still...
put me under the "love the HH" column~~~~~
sorry that is so long....and NO i do not want to sell mine..heh....~~~”

“Yea, for wind I rode out the remnants of a Huricane - OK, so it was just a tropical storm by the time it hit me, but it does just fine if you use my "storm pitch" Hennessy in a Hurricane!

For truly bad and cold weather you can always set it up like a bivy.
”

“Doh, the link didn't come thru.
Hennessy in a Hurricane!”

“Check Ebay. They had the Expedition for $79 last night. Brand new, never been opened, made for a special order. Not bad if you don't mind a red fly with a logo on it. They'll probably have it again today. The buy it now price is $60.”

“If I get one for Sauron it'll likely be the Ultralite.”

“go to their website- they're advertising new color overstocks (?) for $89., and demos for $79.”

“I AM SO GETTING ONE!!!!!!!

8)”

“I'm really liking the "concept."

I do have back problems which can be severe, so that is a concern. I like to be able to sit up, which would be only possible with legs hanging out the bottom. Also, reading at night, can you lay on your belly to read or are you limited to back and side?

I hope to never be "stuck" in my shelter for an entire day, waiting out a storm, but the HH seems like it would be less comfortable for a long stay like that.

But I think I might buy one, see how it works out.”

“Good point...I'd hate to be stuck in one for extended periods. I'll prolly spring for one also this summer, but then again, I said that last summer.”

“Thats a good point!

I better think about that!

8|”

“I've used my HH on 2 backpacking trips. I only prefer it as a quick shelter when I'm on a solo hike. In other words - set it up, go to sleep, wake up and hit the trail. I don't think I'd want to base camp or spend more than just "sleeping" time in it.

BUT, I must admit that I did sleep good in it.”

“If there is an extended rain, but it is not wind driven, the benefit of the hammock is that the rain fly serves as a tarp. The hammock is tied back and you can shelter on the ground beneath to cook or sit. So you can have quite a bit of head room and not be cooped up, as long as you adjust the angle of the fly to your advantage.”

“you can actually set it up on the ground as a bivy tarp, cant you/”

“Yes, JOSH, I've seen that on the HH website and I think also on Sgt ROCK's very informative site.”

“Isn't it a little tough getting in and out of it when it's on the ground like that, though?”

“LOL, that's a great picture Skully, crawling in the mud under the hammock to get into the hammock!

Experiences, anyone?”