First Night in the Hennessy Hammock!

[jhawk]

Hi all,

Last night I spent the night camped out in the back garden with my new Hennessy Scout Classic, a three ounce hammock that I'll be taking with me next year, as I cycle across Canada, and beyond!

It was a great night, the shelter is super comfy... Here's a few photos. I will write an article about it on my website and post it here.

In the snakeskins - the whole thing packs up in about thirty seconds... You simply slide the snakeskins along, detach the carabiners, and pull the slap straps through - pack it away in your backpack/pannier, and you're good to go!

Here's the whole thing unfurled. I didn't have an opposing tree, but we did have a hook above our shed, so I used that as the mounting point.

There is also a rainfly that comes with it, but I didn't need to use it last night - what did I need to sleep warmly and comfortably? A quilt and a pillow.

More to come soon...

Cheers,

Jack.

 

[Dayvo]

Looks cosy, but I like to sleep on my stomach. No chance of that in a hammock.

 

[Gravity Aided]

7 feet long, 3 feet at shoulders, Can stand up, so 13 feet. Don't know how many bears in New Brunswick, though

uh oh.

 

[Teuchter]

Looks like a good setup with the snakeskin and the drip lines on y our carabiners. I've been practicing a lot with different configurations of my hammock (something a lot cheaper than a Hennessy) since my last hammocking trip over Easter, What overnight temperatures are you expecting? Will you be using any sort of insulation underneath you like a rollmat, thermarest or underblanket?

 

[jay clock]

Two comments:
1 You called it three ounces. that is 84g. for real?, as the website suggests a lot more
2 Maybe in North America you can find appropriate mounting points, but my hammock (Exped Scout) http://www.alloutdoor.co.uk/sleepin...8U6y8FZwwXLmLknw4oXbpgJap1FtrFfSlWxoCFSLw_wcB did not find any use at all in a 4 week trip across Europe. I was not planning to sleep in it, merely to use for rest stops or evenings at campsites. Finding anywhere with two suitable mounting points seemed impossible unless I went specifically into some woodland.

 

[tadpole]

Even without carabs, snakeskins ridgeline and whoopies it weighs in at over a 1000gr. Add the rest of the kit needed and you're talking 2.5kg for a lightweight set up.
Edit
hammock 1kg
snakeskin 60gr
whoopie sling 60gr each
carabs 30gr each
tree huggers 334gr each
fly 305gr
Edit total weight would be 2.2kg. which is slightly more than 3oz

 

[jhawk]

Looks like a good setup with the snakeskin and the drip lines on y our carabiners. I've been practicing a lot with different configurations of my hammock (something a lot cheaper than a Hennessy) since my last hammocking trip over Easter, What overnight temperatures are you expecting? Will you be using any sort of insulation underneath you like a rollmat, thermarest or underblanket?

Hi Teuchter,

I didn't need to on the night, but I most likely will be using a thermarest pad, or a rollmat, or Hennessy sell an underblanket - maybe I'll try that.

In terms of overnight temperatures, I'm not sure... It'll range from as low as -10, I'm guessing to as high as the mid ten's, or even twenties in the summer.

 

[jhawk]

Even without carabs, snakeskins ridgeline and whoopies it weighs in at over a 1000gr. Add the rest of the kit needed and you're talking 2.5kg for a lightweight set up.
Edit
hammock 1kg
snakeskin 60gr
whoopie sling 60gr each
carabs 30gr each
tree huggers 334gr each
fly 305gr
Edit total weight would be 2.2kg. which is slightly more than 3oz

You're right - not counting the slap straps and carabiners, it weighs, according to their specifications found on their website - 2lb, 3oz.

 

[Teuchter]

I think it's worth remembering that there are plenty of lighter options than hammocking. My set up (an old tenth wonder hammock with built in mossie net and a DD tarp) weighed about 2.5kg with all the hardwear. I could possibly bring this down to just under 2kg. I can get a decent quality lightweight tent (Wild Country Zephyros for example) for around £100 that weighs less than that and doesn't require trees to pitch.

A hammock is also less insulating in colder temperatures. I know people do it but if overnight temps are down to -10'C, I'd personally want a tent, not a hammock... and I'm not especially prone to feeling the cold overnight.

In the right country and climate however, a hammock can be perfect and I suspect that much of Canada with its extensive forest counts as this. In forested terrain, they allow you to camp over rough ground that you wouldn't want to or even couldn't pitch a tent on. Hammocks once set up right are very comfortable to sleep in as well - many people find them far better than being on the ground. It also must be said that it's a different experience to being in a tent or even on the ground under a tarp / basha. I wouldn't want to give up tents for hammocks but I do like having the option of one for when I know it will be suitable.

 

[jay clock]

@Teuchter I agree with all that. I have a Wild Country Zephyros btw and it is excellent. Officially 2 man and the ultralight version. Great tent. Only complaint is that the green is a little vivid. I would prefer darker or even camoflage

 

[Teuchter]

@Teuchter I agree with all that. I have a Wild Country Zephyros btw and it is excellent. Officially 2 man and the ultralight version. Great tent. Only complaint is that the green is a little vivid. I would prefer darker or even camoflage

Good to know - am thinking of getting one sometime soon.

 

[jay clock]

I cannot recall what the pegs were like but I bought some different ones (rhtese http://www.cleats.co.uk/index.php/review/product/list/id/15/ ) which are a stunning bit of kit. Light and strong, nice little tag on them to pull them out with. Tempted to buy more in case they stop them!

 

[hoopdriver]

Hammocks are very good in jungles too...

 

[andrew_s]

I've just started playing hammocks too

(Exped)

Weight-wise, I don't reckon it's any lighter than my Akto, at this time of year. In colder weather, it would probably end up heavier overall, as in a tent it warms up nicely inside, either from sun or from a stove, whilst under a tarp it's outside temperature, which means extra clothing if you are cooking, or otherwise not in your sleeping bag.
Where you gain is in an increased choice of wild camping spots, provided you aren't above the tree line. The photo is from the morning of stage 2 of the tour, about 5 miles off route at Cutthroat bridge.

 

[climo]

What about mosquitoes & woodticks?