Looks good boisdevie1.
I use a hammock on a regular basis. I fit wooden spreader bars at the head and foot which allows a better sleeping position.
Give it a try.
boisdevie1
Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 3897 Location: Lancaster
Looks good boisdevie1.
I use a hammock on a regular basis. I fit wooden spreader bars at the head and foot which allows a better sleeping position.
Give it a try.
I did consider spreader bars but my goal is ultralightweight and spreader bars = more weight. I'll see how I get on with this. One option might be to use walking poles as spreader bars - using something that I already have.
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42207 Location: North Devon
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 15 10:30 pm Post subject:
Could you not just use random sticks as spreader bars rather than carrying special ones with you?
hammocks are ace ,learn the evenk hitch (google ) for the adjustable end and use a carabiner on the other end
tis a fast knot up or down in the wet or wearing gloves or in the dark when tired and emotional
tie the lines on the tarp so as they work in a variety of situations and make a point of being tidy when packing up ,ie hank the lines,so as putting up is easy
pack the tarp at the top of the bag and even a short stop in the rain is a short stop in the dry
the tarp/hammock combo is ace in many places and almost all weather
an extra length of tape or thin rope gives even more scope to where and how the combo can be comfy.
ps poly prop rope works but if you can get some decent braided or braid mantle cordage it is much easier to use
cassandra
Joined: 27 Mar 2013 Posts: 1733 Location: Tasmania Australia
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 15 10:13 pm Post subject:
Sean's idea is a good one. If you insert double-reinforced pockets in the appropriate places, and a loop in the middle to hold the fabric close to the bar, then cutting a suitable stick at your destination will make for an easy and comfier sleep.
another good method towards comfort is to put your carry mat between your goretex bivvy bag and your sleeping bag .
im a big fan of hammock camping but i use a light net one rather than fabric .im not familiar with fabric but i expect that they are fairly similar apart from fabric could fill up if the roof leaks
the goretex bivvy bag does weigh just under a kilo but is an ace bit of kit and the kilo can be regained with a 700gm down bag rather than a huge 2.5kg hollowfil one.even in summer warm night kit is needed.
the german mil spec folding carry mats are far better than owt that rools up from "camping" shops.
Got myself an ex army bivi, not used in anger yet. With sleeping bag and inflatable mat makes quite a compact bed roll. Might get a tarp for that touch of luxury.
iirc my ex mil net one was about a tenner,fifteen for the light nylon tarp. seven for a folding mat ,goretex bag about fifty .a 3m2 super thin nylon anti midge sheet from a cloth shop was another tenner .
i dont like to think about the price of super light down sleeping bag but in a sale it was half price
the whole lot is a little bit over 3.5 kg counting some tapes a crab and a few bits of paracord.
4 season and can be hung most places from trees ,rocks etc etc but the same kit is ok on the floor if there is no vertical to use .
They're a bit of a point of pride among their owners and You-tube has a great many clips about them on it - from puttiong them up in record time to Arctic survival stuff !
I combined mine with a 5 season forces bag set at a similar sort of price (can't find the equiv on e-bay atm), but with those two, a Kelly kettle, Millbank bag and fire steel, a lad could go "up river" for a few weeks in a canoe otl and get as close to freedom as perhaps it is possible in the uk without giving up on a "real life" entirely !
boisdevie1
Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 3897 Location: Lancaster
another good method towards comfort is to put your carry mat between your goretex bivvy bag and your sleeping bag .
I've devised a way to fasten the karrimat to the bottom of my sleeping bag so it doesn't move around in the night. I have a 3 season hollofill bag. If I (ever) have the funds I'll go for a down bag or might make a down bag myself.
out of the stuff i listed above perhaps the most comfort per £ is the midge n mossie sheet.
mossie nets dont stop midges but the super light9 very fine fibers ,many fibers to the cm) in nylon or polyamide is a barrier to the tiny aa well as bigger stuff.
as a 3 x 3 m sheet it works in quite a few situations and the simple over the hat,cinch with a belt and look like casper is good for daytime attacks of the biters and their stingy chums.