Akto vs Jungle Hammock

“ok, so my system has crashed and I'm bored, and I've got some cash to spend and my choice is a Hilleberg Akto and a Clark Jungle Hammock delux. Now I've drooled over the Akto for a long time now, ever since I picked up the tiny stuff sack in a store and nearly threw the thing over my shoulder as it was so light. Yet the Hammock idea intrigues me as it always takes me a few nights to convert from the comfort of my bed to the discomfort of the cold, hard ground. What should I choose... decisions decisions”

“Oh boy, let the dueling begin!”

“Depends. If you ever plan to do any 4-season backpacking or go above treeline, I'd say the Akto. If you just plan on doing 3-season and don't like mountains, do the hammock thang!”

“How much does the Akto weigh?”

“Tango - 2 lbs 12 oz

See the Hilleberg Tents thread”

“Thank you Hodgeman. I am looking at the Shire Tenttarp now.”

“Get both!
We all need different shelters for different conditions.”

“Always remember the more gear that you have the better.

8)”

“I love that logic - I may end up with both, dropping $620 at once seems excessive - and yet in my darker moments completely justifiable”

“Yes go for it!!!!

8)”

“We live for those dark moments.

Tango - got the tarptent bug?”

“YES, I like cutting 2 lbs off my back too!”

“Yes yes!!!!

Buy gear buy gear!!!!

8)”

“If you're concerned with weight, you might consider hennesy's flimsy little hammocks. Clarks are for those who prefer durability and craftsmanship over weight savings.

Seriously, I've had my Clark since the mid 90's and it's held up remarkably well under abusive situations. If you like sleeping in hammocks, you won't regret getting it.”

“Mutt and Rosey pretty much nailed it.”

“yeah except mutt likes to drag around a few extra pounds and pay extra for the privledge...nothin flimsy about the henny.”

“dirtyoldman, I have both a junglehammock and a hennessy. I like both. The junglehammock is, however, more durable than the hennessy - take my word for it. There's no way the hennessy could have survived as well as my junglehammock has when climbing. So it really depends on your application as to which would be better, and I don't think you could go wrong either way.

Actually, a treeboat-tent is more durable, weather-proof and comfortable than either of the other two - heavier, too. But that's neither here nor there.”

“I love my Hennessey - and don't think of it as flimsy... but it is clearly designed to be lightweight, not "bomb-proof." Mutt coulda picked a kinder word than "flimsy" - one with a less negative spin, but the info was basically accurate.
Tom Hennessey deserves a lot of credit for putting out a product that is incredibly sturdy for the weight, comes in variety of forms and is available as cheaply as it is. That doesn't make his hammocks (the varieties I've seen, at least) as sturdy as some of his more expensive and heavier competitors.”

“I have the safari ultralight hennessy and that thing is awesome. very sturdy and well built.no complaints here”

“Mutt coulda picked a kinder word than "flimsy" - one with a less negative spin

Lol. I knew it would rile up some hennessey owners e.g. dirtyoldman. I have yet to figure out why hennessey owners (henners?) are so sensitive about their hammocks. There's definitely some minuses to the hammock - why hide from or deny the fact?”

“minuses? I dont recall any. what did ya do? figure out how to tip it over?”

“lol @ dirtyoldman. IMO the biggest design flaw is its 4 point attachment system. I don't care for the entrance - a side entrance is more utilitarian. The rainfly is pitifully inadequate in real weather. Then there's the wicking problem. I've already mentioned its inferior construction. There's probably a couple other things that aren't coming to mind.

Other than these issues, it's a fine hammock! But face it, dirtyoldman, you bought the cheapest hammock tent, and you get what you pay for!”

“mutt- face it, you got a reject... send it back

(the entrance isnt a problem when you hang it a reasonable distance from the ground)”

“No, my hammock is not flawed - nice try. It's the inherent flaws in the design and construction that are the problem.

I notice you could only refute one of my points. Telling! Very telling!”

“It was the picture in the Clark website of the guy sitting in the thing with his legs over the side that really interested me - like an armchair at the end of a long day”

“sorry mutt if your having that many problems then it must be an operator error or a defect.

I for one havent had any wicking problems and I find the rainfly to be adaquate for keeping the hammock dry even in the wind. You must be hanging it wrong.The fly does go on top you know.

inferior construction? gimme a break, I have never heard of a hennessy failing under load or seen anyone other then you bad mouth the hennessy construction.

BTW you can use the henney as a chair if you fold it in half....”

“Well I've had water wick/sheet down into the tent. I can also say this about the junglehammock.

I've been in heavy thunderstorms, and for both the hennessy and the junglehammock, the rain fly is not enough protection. The over-sized rainfly for the junglehammock may fix this. They didn't offer it years ago when I bought mine. I'm willing to admit that user error could play a factor for the hennessy - but if the rainfly has to be perfectly set up to work, then that's a design flaw.

It's rather disingenuous of you to use "failing under load" as a primary indicator of quality of construction. Obviously, before your post, the discussion had considered durability - not overall strength. Have you seen a junglehammock? Side-by-side with a hennessy? If not, you don't have much to say about it. If so, you'd again be purposely misleading people by saying the hennessy is as durably constructed as the hunglehammock. There's nothing wrong with the hennessey's construction. It's strong enough, and with light use, should last a while. But my junglhammock has seen abuse over the years, and it's still basically in like-new condition. I honestly don't think the hennessey would keep up.

Oh, and another design flaw of the hennessey: no external storage compartments.

Yep, you're waaaaay to sensitive about your hennessey, old man! You'd do well to know the limitations of your equipment. Nothing's perfect.”

“LOL... well I will certainly concede one point... the clark does have heavier construction. I am puzzled about one thing, what happened to the tree boat?


BTW... whos been yanking whos chain :P”

“Mutt!

Man, you LIKE to gripe.

I can't say anything about this particular debate, other than that.

If I bought a Hennessy that sucked, I'd return it :)”

“If I didn't have a dog that goes with me on every hike...I'd consider getting a hammock.”

“A dog in a hammock would be a unique experiance :}”

“BTW... whos been yanking whos chain :P

Darn it! You're not supposed to turn the tables on me! I'm the one picking fights here.

BTW, what do you mean by what happened to the treeboat?

Rosey: I like my hennessey. I think it's a fine hammock tent. It's just that no one has invented a perfect hammock tent yet. No such thing will ever exist I guess.”

“I was under the impression you favored the tree boat for your tree swinging.”

“Actually, it depends on the situation. If it's an easy climb and I can maneuver freely, then I might take the tree boat. Or if I'm anticipating bad weather. If it's more difficult or I'm hiking a distance, then probably the junglehammock.”

“Obviously, "flimsy" didn't bother me much - I just kinda blew off the spin and agreed with the facts as stated.

Design involves trade-offs. No piece of gear is optimal for all situations.

Buddur nailed one problem I have with Hammocks. They don't seem well suited to taking my dog. Still, my dog is more than 10 years old - and there are some trips it just doesn't make sense to take her along.”

“I thought the clark had those pockets underneath, just stash Fido in one, will also provide heat under you as you sleep. Take several dogs to keep warm through the coldest night”

“I dunno, Mutt. I have slept in my UltraLite A-Sym in a torrential downpour and never got the first drop of water on me. And your complaint about the external storage is a bit like complaining about your backpacking tent not having a second story or a fireplace. Maybe you should stick to a motorhome.”

“LOL YY! Kewl gear tip!”

“in foul weather a hammock is like a bivy in the air

i'll take room to move around, sit up and all that ANYDAY”

“And your complaint about the external storage is a bit like complaining about your backpacking tent not having a second story or a fireplace. Maybe you should stick to a motorhome

Maybe you should inform yourself and check out the external pockets on the junglehammock before you accuse me of wanting too much out of a tent. They're very handy. In fact, they weren't enough storage for all my gear. I ended up sewing a daisy chain of loops underneath my junglehammock, between the rows of pockets, so I can 'biner gear underneath the hammock.

Amateurs...sheesh.”

“I stand by my statement. If you want the comforts of home, stay there.”

“Just the fact you equate the need for storage with "comfort" is non-sequitor nonsense. You're obviously too inexperienced with hammocking to know any better.

How long have you been using a hammock tent, prey tell?”

“That you consider my statement a non sequitur is nonsense. Comfort does follow utility. I don't have a storage problem, my gear stays dry and so do I. If you need extra storage for your gewgaws, maybe you're packin' too much crap.”

“maybe you're packin' too much crap

Lol! Now that makes sense. Give up the specious "comfort" argument - that just made you look inexperienced.

Still waiting for an answer to how long you've been hammocking...”

“Here's a guy who admits he can't stay dry in his hammock and doesn't have enough storage for the gear he lugs along calling me inexperienced, LOL.

OK, I stay comfortable, too. Well, except for that time in Savage Gulf a few weeks ago when it was windy and got down to 15 degrees. That got a little uncomfortable. I guess that's what happens when one tests the limits of one's gear. I've been backpacking for nearly 40 years. You?”

“Have a look at the new 'Waypoint', from ”

“Have a look at the new 'Waypoint', from Mountain Hardware”

“That's a cool tent, Hodgeman. Compares favorably with the SD Ultra Light Year.”

“It's side entry though. Didn't you find that to be a bad thing in your Zoid, FG? Or was that just because it's so low?”

“Au contraire, mon frere, side entry GOOD!!! Especially in a low tent.”