My New Hammock & Tarp Setup!

[Wrighty28]

My DD hammock arrived this morning so I thought I'd take the opportunity to set it all up before (hopefully soon) setting out to the woods :D

Standard DD hammock

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae68/Wrighty28/IMG_1367-1.jpg

Luggage rack!

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae68/Wrighty28/IMG_1370.jpg

Tarp

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae68/Wrighty28/IMG_1372.jpg

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae68/Wrighty28/IMG_1373.jpg

Kit List:

- Standard Cocoon DD Hammock
- Highlander Mini Mesh Hammock
- British Army Desert Issue (Old Style) Tarp
- Highlander 'Forces 66' 45l DPM Bergen
- 4mm Para Cord

Lessons Learned -

Overall a good setup for my requirements, however its abundantly obvious i need to practice my knots!

Lower DD Hammock, as when I'm in it, the tarp when caught in the wind brushes against the top, I would imagine very annoying when you trying to sleep.

Now, can anybody spot the obvious mistake?!

Wrighty

[Bernie]

Not sure about obvious mistake, but things I've heard about that you could improve on:

# Use climbing carabiners to stop damp or rain water from wetting your hammock when water runs down the chord.
# Don't camp under a Beech tree.
# That garden post isn't designed for the force you'll apply to it.

Did I get it? :)

[Wrighty28]

Not sure about obvious mistake, but things I've heard about that you could improve on:

# Use climbing carabiners to stop damp or rain water from wetting your hammock when water runs down the chord.
# Don't camp under a Beech tree.
# That garden post isn't designed for the force you'll apply to it.

Did I get it? :)

1, the caribina's is a mod
2, thats the only tree in my garden i can practice on par trespassing
3, it was for a visual aid only, however the post supported my weight very well as i installed it!! hahahaha

na im afraid not, i like to base some of my gear on concealment as i double a lot of it up when i go rough/ crow shooting, hence all the DPM and olive green...... a DESERT TARP is not exactly subtle in a woodland environment!!! lol

but how comes about the beech tree? interested on that one.

[kesom]

here's a good video on knots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_-CwJNEkcs
have fun :)
peace ken

[Wrighty28]

here's a good video on knots

peace ken

cheers kesom.

also found the answer to ' why not to camp under beech trees' - they are prone to shedding there branches. particularly in the Spring when there sap rises up. it puts more stress on already heavy, horizontal, dropping branches and they snap off!!

[Bernie]

Yes - I only recently learnt of the widow-maker reputation Beech trees have. Huge branches drop and crush anything below. I would've imagined an old Beech to be a safe place to camp so I'm trying to spread the little knowledge I've learnt and hopefully save someone from an awful fate one day.

I see what you mean about the desert camo not being ideal for our woodlands. But even with that, I'm envious of your set up. If you saw my bright green and red tent you'd know why. :)

[Martin]

I wouldn't worry too much about it Bernie. How many times have you seen a beech branch fall down? What do you think the chances are of that happening on the one night that you decide to camp under that particular tree? In my opinion, life is risky and is all the richer for it. I'm sure you are at more risk of death every time you travel to work than you are of being crushed by an errant beech branch.

Martin

[Wrighty28]

Yes - I only recently learnt of the widow-maker reputation Beech trees have. Huge branches drop and crush anything below. I would've imagined an old Beech to be a safe place to camp so I'm trying to spread the little knowledge I've learnt and hopefully save someone from an awful fate one day.

I see what you mean about the desert camo not being ideal for our woodlands. But even with that, I'm envious of your set up. If you saw my bright green and red tent you'd know why. :)

haha! thankyou Bernie! surprisingly enough the most expensive thing on that kit list was the flipping Bergen!

-Standard Cocoon DD Hammock - £ 27
- Highlander Mini Mesh Hammock - £7
- British Army Desert Issue (Old Style) Tarp - £17
- Highlander 'Forces 66' 45l DPM Bergen - £52
- 4mm Para Cord - 100m for £10

thing i like about hammock and tarping is the way you can literally keep your camp in your back pack, and it doesnt even need to be a big packpack. I have a 5L Karrimor day pack, and it all fits in with a stove and survival tin.

[Proventurer]

Hey Wrighty,
That Desert Camo tarp is ideal for SA, the one thing we have a lot of out here is, well, deserts, 80/20 rules and for eighty percent of our season those colours will blend in nicely, what was the name of the surplus store you got it from?

[garethw]

Hi there
First off congrats on a hammock/tarp set up.. I've been using my DD Travel hammock since april, done over 20 nights and it is the only way to camp....
Couple of suggestions... I added a pair of whoopie slings and trees straps..(whoopies bought off UKhammocks for £13...& tree straps made myself from climbing webbing.) This set up reduces bulk, is very easy & quick to set up. Has no stretch so your hammock is the height you set it...Check out this video to show you how...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NZVqpBUV0

Also your hammock looks a bit tightly strung. Rather than lower it I'd add a bit more sag. This will allow you to sleep more diagonal & avoid shoulder pinch. There's like a sweet spot, where you can lie confortably but not get a ridge down the middle of the hammock. You can add a structural ridge line from end to end at the gather of the hammock of around 100 inches.... When this is just taught, but not tight you'll be close to your sweet spot.. It may take a bit of adjusting to find the exact length ridgeline needed. Check this out for lengthshttp://dejoha.com/projects/hammocks/hammock-hang-calculator.html
Finally these videos give you an idea on which way you can set up your hammock for ease & simplicity... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw6P3pHt8KI&NR=1
Enjoy your hammocking!!
cheers
Gareth

[Wrighty28]

Hey Wrighty,
That Desert Camo tarp is ideal for SA, the one thing we have a lot of out here is, well, deserts, 80/20 rules and for eighty percent of our season those colours will blend in nicely, what was the name of the surplus store you got it from?

hiya there mate, i didnt get it from a surplus store im afraid, i found a bit of a deal when searching on ebay of all places!


Hi there
First off congrats on a hammock/tarp set up.. I've been using my DD Travel hammock since april, done over 20 nights and it is the only way to camp....
Couple of suggestions... I added a pair of whoopie slings and trees straps..(whoopies bought off UKhammocks for £13...& tree straps made myself from climbing webbing.) This set up reduces bulk, is very easy & quick to set up. Has no stretch so your hammock is the height you set it...Check out this video to show you how...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NZVqpBUV0

Also your hammock looks a bit tightly strung. Rather than lower it I'd add a bit more sag. This will allow you to sleep more diagonal & avoid shoulder pinch. There's like a sweet spot, where you can lie confortably but not get a ridge down the middle of the hammock. You can add a structural ridge line from end to end at the gather of the hammock of around 100 inches.... When this is just taught, but not tight you'll be close to your sweet spot.. It may take a bit of adjusting to find the exact length ridgeline needed. Check this out for lengthshttp://dejoha.com/projects/hammocks/hammock-hang-calculator.html
Finally these videos give you an idea on which way you can set up your hammock for ease & simplicity... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw6P3pHt8KI&NR=1
Enjoy your hammocking!!
cheers
Gareth

apart from being an absolute nutcase those are some really good vids! there's a part 2 + 3 aswell which are really informative.

noted about it being too tight. im yet to spend a night in it thow thats changing sunday night. when i was in it i didnt notice too much about shoulder pinch thow i had it nice and tight to try and prevent sag. but when it goes up next il bare that in mind :)

[garethw]

noted about it being too tight. im yet to spend a night in it thow thats changing sunday night. when i was in it i didnt notice too much about shoulder pinch thow i had it nice and tight to try and prevent sag. but when it goes up next il bare that in mind :)
Hi there
In fact you do need sag...Despite what has been posted in some forums, if you check out the Hammock forum and then experiment to see what's comfortable for you, the general concensus from the 'pros' is that you need sag, and finding just the right amount is the key to comfort....
enjoy your weekend, hope you get some decent weather.
cheers
Gareth

[Wrighty28]

Hi there
In fact you do need sag...Despite what has been posted in some forums, if you check out the Hammock forum and then experiment to see what's comfortable for you, the general concensus from the 'pros' is that you need sag, and finding just the right amount is the key to comfort....
enjoy your weekend, hope you get some decent weather.
cheers
Gareth

il have a little play with it when it next goes up :) ta gareth, happy hammocking!