Discussions related to the use of Hammocks as sleep and shelter systems when backpacking and camping.

Otto Mateus | 5 May 2009 00:13

Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hi to everybody and thanks to be admitted to this very interesting group
I’m an italian man living and working in Brazil. I'm m. 1,90 (about 6’ 4”) tall and my weight is about
kg. 85 (165 lbs.).
I'm planning to do lot's of backcountry traveling by mule as part of my job who is geographical
prospector/researcher. Sometimes I will have one mule and i will carry my stuff in the saddle bags, other
times with the help of a pack mule. And also I have to navigate rivers on a homemade petrol drums raft with the
support of a kayak and/or a small aluminum or rubber boat. Other times I have to carry around my gear in the rucksack.
Brazil have a wide climate variety from hot and very humid to freezing cold (not like North America but few
degrees below zero) and, in South America the nearby Andean mountains have crossings well over 3000
meters.
During the years I appreciate the versatility of hammocks versus tents. Very easy to hang, free from
humidity, stones, slopping ground, very good for stealth camping and have a two levels shelter. On the
ground, the kitchen and a dry place to store my stuff and on the 1st floor” (the hammock) the bed room.
I tried to sleep in few homemade models of hammocks but I had two main complain:
A – cold during the night (even in Italy in fall)
B – the “banana” position who doesn’t allow to sleep on the side which is my favorite sleeping position
It would be very nice for me to have to carry only one shelter to cope the different climates and situations.
Now I would like to buy a good model to suit my needs but I’m confused which brand to choose because
“least but not last” working in the environment research field, unfortunately budgets are very
tight and money never enough.
The models I came across are:
1 – Clark Jungle Hammock North American (kg.1,330 max kg. 137 $ 299) with Xl fly ($ 20)
2 - Hennessy Hammocks Explorer Ultra light with substitute hex fly60 ($219.95 )
I know that there are many others good brands but I don’t know
If somebody has the kindness to give me some advice to make me able to buy one model I will greatly appreciated.
Thanking everybody in anticipation I beg to forgot my basic English and I beg also not to use abbreviations
because I will get confused
Otto

Veja quais são os assuntos do momento no Yahoo! +Buscados

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Elizabeth Young | 5 May 2009 22:26

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hello, Otto!
I don't know enough about different hammock brands to make a 
recommendation, but I can talk about a few other things.

Otto Mateus wrote:
>  I tried to sleep in few homemade models of hammocks but I had two
>  main complain: A – cold during the night (even in Italy in fall)
Cold during the night probably comes from underneath you and your hammock.
Two solutions: 1 - sleep on a wide camping pad in the bottom of your 
hammock. You want it wide since the pad will curl up around your 
shoulders and hips and help keep you warm. Wide also since you are, like 
me, a side sleeper. This is usually an easy solution - just go buy a 
camping pad. You might already have one. But they are sometimes bulky 
and hard to pack and it is sometimes hard to find a wide one. And it is 
easy to roll off them at night. There are solutions to these problems 
also. A - glue, tape, or somehow attach two pads together to make a 
wider pad like "Sgt. Rock" shows here in Tip #11:
http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock7.html
Buy a "segmented pad extender" like the ones Ed Speer has designed:
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm
B - make or buy a double layer hammock and stick the pad or pads in 
between the layers like Jeff shows on his site:
http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearTwoLayerHammock.html
2 - get or make an underquilt - an insulated quilt that you hang 
underneath the hammock, making sure that it is right up against the 
bottom of the hammock so there are not any places for drafts of cold air 
to enter. This is my favorite kind of insulation since I not only sleep 
on my side, but I roll over a lot in my sleep. Underquilts can be 
expensive to buy and a little tricky to adjust sometimes.
Jeff's page on underquilts:

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kerrilarkin | 6 May 2009 00:34

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hi Otto,

I'm new to hammock camping (and the forum)too. I bought a Hennesy for the reasons you give: I also sleep on my
side, and the asymetrical design allows me to sleep flat enough to be very comfortable on my side. Although
I bought the SuperShelter system, I guess that a cheaper way of staying warm would be to just buy the
undercover, then use a camping mat and a space blanket between the undercover and the hammock. Although
I've only spent a few hours in my hammock so far, I find it sooo comfortable. I wish you luck in your work and travels!

------------------------------------

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C C Wayah | 6 May 2009 01:00

Re: Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hi Otto,
A friend of mine went to Africa to be a missionary bush pilot.
His dad gave him a Hennesy and we spent time showing him how to hang it and 
how to ties knots. It is possible to hang a Hennesy hammock form the wings 
of a small plane.

Ed Spears who is owner of this list and also has been around the world as a 
geologist.  Just email him if you have any questions.
His hammock sight is at (www.speerhammocks.com)

Rogene

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kerrilarkin" <kerrilarkin@...>
To: <hammockcamping@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 6:34 PM
Subject: [Hammock Camping] Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

> Hi Otto,
>
> I'm new to hammock camping (and the forum)too. I bought a Hennesy for the 
> reasons you give: I also sleep on my side, and the asymetrical design 
> allows me to sleep flat enough to be very comfortable on my side. Although 
> I bought the SuperShelter system, I guess that a cheaper way of staying 
> warm would be to just buy the undercover, then use a camping mat and a 
> space blanket between the undercover and the hammock. Although I've only 
> spent a few hours in my hammock so far, I find it sooo comfortable. I wish 
> you luck in your work and travels!
>
>

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Rodney Diseker | 6 May 2009 02:46

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

You need to look at Just Jeff's site. (tothewoods.net)
There is a great deal of information on this site.
Sent from my iPhone

On May 4, 2009, at 5:13 PM, Otto Mateus <proteorio@...> wrote:

Hi to everybody and thanks to be admitted to this very interesting group
I’m an italian man living and working in Brazil. I'm m. 1,90 (about 6’ 4”) tall and my weight is about
kg. 85 (165 lbs.).
I'm planning to do lot's of backcountry traveling by mule as part of my job who is geographical
prospector/researcher. Sometimes I will have one mule and i will carry my stuff in the saddle bags, other
times with the help of a pack mule. And also I have to navigate rivers on a homemade petrol drums raft with the
support of a kayak and/or a small aluminum or rubber boat. Other times I have to carry around my gear in the rucksack.
Brazil have a wide climate variety from hot and very humid to freezing cold (not like North America but few
degrees below zero) and, in South America the nearby Andean mountains have crossings well over 3000
meters.
During the years I appreciate the versatility of hammocks versus tents. Very easy to hang, free from
humidity, stones, slopping ground, very good for stealth camping and have a two levels shelter. On the
ground, the kitchen and a dry place to store my stuff and on the 1st floor” (the hammock) the bed room.
I tried to sleep in few homemade models of hammocks but I had two main complain:
A – cold during the night (even in Italy in fall)
B – the “banana” position who doesn’t allow to sleep on the side which is my favorite sleeping position
It would be very nice for me to have to carry only one shelter to cope the different climates and situations.
Now I would like to buy a good model to suit my needs but I’m confused which brand to choose because
“least but not last” working in the environment research field, unfortunately budgets are very
tight and money never enough.
The models I came across are:
1 – Clark Jungle Hammock North American (kg.1,330 max kg. 137 $ 299) with Xl fly ($ 20)
2 - Hennessy Hammocks Explorer Ultra light with substitute hex fly60 ($219.95 )
I know that there are many others good brands but I don’t know

(Continue reading)

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Rodney Diseker | 6 May 2009 14:57

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hello Otto,

I just noticed that you are pretty tall. I am only 6', but I found the HH explorer UL a little confining. I
continue to use the hammock, but I have found my Warbonnet Blackbird to be more roomy. Also, top loaders are
easier for me to get everything situated.
Best of luck.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 4, 2009, at 5:13 PM, Otto Mateus <proteorio@...> wrote:

Hi to everybody and thanks to be admitted to this very interesting group
I’m an italian man living and working in Brazil. I'm m. 1,90 (about 6’ 4”) tall and my weight is about
kg. 85 (165 lbs.).
I'm planning to do lot's of backcountry traveling by mule as part of my job who is geographical
prospector/researcher. Sometimes I will have one mule and i will carry my stuff in the saddle bags, other
times with the help of a pack mule. And also I have to navigate rivers on a homemade petrol drums raft with the
support of a kayak and/or a small aluminum or rubber boat. Other times I have to carry around my gear in the rucksack.
Brazil have a wide climate variety from hot and very humid to freezing cold (not like North America but few
degrees below zero) and, in South America the nearby Andean mountains have crossings well over 3000
meters.
During the years I appreciate the versatility of hammocks versus tents. Very easy to hang, free from
humidity, stones, slopping ground, very good for stealth camping and have a two levels shelter. On the
ground, the kitchen and a dry place to store my stuff and on the 1st floor” (the hammock) the bed room.
I tried to sleep in few homemade models of hammocks but I had two main complain:
A – cold during the night (even in Italy in fall)
B – the “banana” position who doesn’t allow to sleep on the side which is my favorite sleeping position
It would be very nice for me to have to carry only one shelter to cope the different climates and situations.
Now I would like to buy a good model to suit my needs but I’m confused which brand to choose because
“least but not last” working in the environment research field, unfortunately budgets are very

(Continue reading)

headers

John Coy | 5 May 2009 22:53

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hey Otto,
 
I have a hammockbliss brand hammock (hammockbliss.com) and Iove it!  It is well made.  I know someone who
used it in Tonga nightly for almost two years, without problems.  I don't know if this hammock
will address all of your listed concerns to your satisfaction, but none of the issues you mentioned have
been any significant problem for me.
 
I have a single person model which I find comfortable, but there is also a double person model (its just
wider, but otherwise the same), that might give a a better benefit than the single by helping you to
sleep more flat and less like a "banana."  (By the way, I'm 6' 1" tall, and weigh 225lbs.   I use my
hammock for backpacking in the Uintah mountains in the Summer, where it also can drop to freezing
overnight early, or late in the season - pack a light weight zero degree farenheit sleeping bag to be safe,
but usually just use it as a blanket, which is more comfortable than being in the mummy bag).  I have made a
few additions to my hammock to make it suit my needs.  
 
First, if you're not already doing it, sleep on a diagonal as much as possible, rather than end to end,
 and that will significantly flatten out your position, much reducing any "banana" sagging position,
which I couldn't sleep in well I don't think.  I have no problem sleeping on my side in my hammock. I
also hang my hammock to that it is just taught (not too much tension, but just taught) before I climb into it,
which I'm sure also keeps it from being as much of a banana.
 
Second, I use a reflective emergency (space) blanket inside of my hammock, under me and my sleeping bag, to
reflect heat.  I have added additional grommets - cheep (apx. $5.00) and easy to do with a kit from
most sporting goods store - to the long edges of my blanket.  I use string to keep the blanket in the
position i want it, suspending the edges up around me, reflecting heat back to me, by tying tying the
edges up with string (and carabiners for easy on/off connecting) to the rope that runs from end to end above
me, (which rope is also supporting the tarp overhead).  The blanket can also be wrapped around me (it
doesn't breath well if I keep it wrapped all the way around me all night, but when it its really cold, I
prefer the risk of a little condensation to being cold - so far its not been a problem, because I have plenty
of air flow above me in the hammock, and I don't have to quite wrap it all the way over me to get enough heat to be

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dennisdeshazo | 6 May 2009 05:39

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

Otto, one of the best hammocks I have ever tried is the Warbonnet Blackbird. You can lay on your side, left or
right, very flat and comfortable. It is huge. At 6'4" you should even have room to spare in there. It has an
attached mosquito net, that zips and unzips, unlike the Hennessy. It has a little shelf to put things in
like flashlight, book, etc. You can get the double layer model and put a light weight foam pad in between the
layers for warmth. I have used just a pad 3/16" thick pad and sleeping bag down to 35 degrees.
Warbonnetoutdoors.net is the website.

..--- In hammockcamping@..., Rodney Diseker
<rod_knee_d <at> ...> wrote:
>
> You need to look at Just Jeff's site.   (tothewoods.net)
> There is a great deal of information on this site. 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On May 4, 2009, at 5:13 PM, Otto Mateus <proteorio <at> ...> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Hi to everybody and thanks to be admitted  to this very interesting group
> Iâm an italian man living and working in Brazil. I'm m. 1,90 (about 6â 4â) tall and my
weight is about kg. 85 (165 lbs.).
> I'm planning to do lot's of backcountry traveling by mule as part of my job who is geographical
prospector/researcher. Sometimes I will have one mule and i will carry my stuff in the saddle bags, other
times with the help of a pack mule. And also I have to navigate rivers on a homemade petrol drums raft with the
support of a kayak and/or a small aluminum or rubber boat. Other times I have to carry around my gear in the rucksack.
> Brazil have a wide climate variety from hot and very humid to freezing cold (not like North America but few
degrees below zero) and, in South America the nearby Andean mountains have crossings well over 3000
meters. 
> During the years I appreciate the versatility of hammocks versus tents. Very easy to hang, free from
humidity, stones, slopping ground, very good for stealth camping and have a two levels shelter. On the

(Continue reading)

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Otto Mateus | 6 May 2009 21:25

Hammock for Brazil and South America

Hi Liz,
Nice to meet you and thanks for the answer.
I visited all sites you mentioned in the message. There are all very interesting and are very good places to
learn new ideas and tricks. Me too I have a home workshop where I can make o modify many of the things I need.
Looks a little tricky all this hand work especially on a brand new (and expensive) hammock .A double layer
hammock sound more interesting and rational.. I can stick my Therm-a-rest Ultralight pad underneath.
But at the moment neither Clark (pockets can be considered double layer?) or Hennessy offer a full double
layer .I will try to visit more sites  in the Internet
I never though about sleeping diagonally. The hammock I made I was keeping very taught with two yacht
pulleys. It was like sleeping on a bed. But everything was heavy and I did  get cold.
I will do others tests on a local made cotton hammock
Thanks for the wishes I hope to find the right one very soon. 
Otto

      Veja quais são os assuntos do momento no Yahoo! +Buscados
http://br.maisbuscados.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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proteorio | 6 May 2009 21:54

Re: Hammock for Brazil and South America

--- In hammockcamping@..., "kerrilarkin" <kerrilarkin <at> ...> wrote:
>
> Hi Otto,
> 
> I'm new to hammock camping (and the forum)too. I bought a Hennesy for the reasons you give: I also sleep on my
side, and the asymetrical design allows me to sleep flat enough to be very comfortable on my side. Although
I bought the SuperShelter system, I guess that a cheaper way of staying warm would be to just buy the
undercover, then use a camping mat and a space blanket between the undercover and the hammock. Although
I've only spent a few hours in my hammock so far, I find it sooo comfortable. I wish you luck in your work and travels!
>
Hi ,
Nice to meet you and thanks for the answer.
Seems that the world of hammocking is divided between Hennessy and Clark lovers with both parties with
strong arguments. It is very difficult to try to understand and judge something that you cant hold in your
hands, but looking at pictures, it's very far away and very complicated to get.
For the moment what I deduced is:
Hannessy cheaper but not very comfortable because bottom entry
Clark more expensive but seems more comfortable also for the bottom pockets that can act as insulations if
filled with cloths
Others brands I still try to figure out models and prices
Thanks for the wishes I hope to find the right one very soon. 
Otto

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