The great un-boxing day :-)

[FishyFolk]

Things are starting to arrive. Got an SMS from the post office this morning saying my sleeping bag was ready for pick-up, and the stuff from DD hammocks is arriving later today. Then the hammock itself from TW Hammocks arrive tomorrow :-)

Here is a peek at the sleeping bag itself:

Hmm, big box. How huge is this thing?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8470646234_49a8eac41d.jpg

It's that huge, and thats compressed!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8469553205_027929e289.jpg

Uncompressed: Houston we have a problem! Good thing I have ordered the stuff I need for a pulk!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8470646702_7dcdec017a.jpg

Rolled out. Typical body condom configuration. When I wriggled into it it was not too bad. But I will ahve to get used to it. But going to be a bit of a struggle in a hammock.
I think I will have to wear it standing up next to the hammock, and then get in...or simple use it as a top quilt :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8469553407_db6fe19c8e.jpg


Durable rip stop material on top, some kind of water proof material under. This thing is amde to sleep under the stars on snow. :D
But how will it fare in a hammock? The breathing material in the TW hammock will be wasted, unless I use the bag as a top quilt. Time will tell if that is feasable, or what will happen.
But I do not think it will be a major issue, as I am normally a one-night stand lad :cool:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8469553851_51a157681e.jpghttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8470647342_5443ea00f8.jpg

The Isbjørn Jan Mayen sleeping bag comes with a choice of 3 zipper configurations. One without a zip at all (how do people get in?), one witha 70 cm zipper, and this one: Double zipper, one inside the other. So if it's not too cold I can leave the inner zipper open to have some more wriggle room inside. I will put some paracord on the there to make it easier to open and close. The zippers are YKK. The stitching is a tad uneven, but I expected that. The online reviews I have seen says that this bag is a little rough, but the durability is un-challengeable. I can beleive that. Lars Monsen used it on his 3 year expedition across Canada.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8470647020_26511b9398.jpg

The neck collar seems okay, with it's bungee drawstring. Should help me keep toast :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8470647090_4534dc74e0.jpg

The thing is a beast. And while I wrote this the post man came with the Whoopie slings, carabiniers, tree huggers, Snugpak underblanket, and DD XL tarp 4,5x3m :-)

So stay tuned for part II :evilgrin::campfire:

[jacko1066]

What I do with my sleeping bags before I or a quilt for my hammock is unzip them completely and use like a quilt.

If you can keep a kind of foot box in there that would be better.

As you will have insulation under you in the form of an under blanket or mat of some sort, plus the fact if your actually inside your bag in your hammock you won't be getting any insulation from the bottom of the bag because you will be crushing the fill.

Try it and see how you get on!!

Atb
Steve

[FishyFolk]

Then the DD hammocks stuff arrived with Postman Pat :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8469682143_1c96788634.jpg

Suspension, underblanket and tarp.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8470775722_cf0e64e8ac.jpg

The underblanket from Snugpak packs a tad smaller than the sleeping bag, lol

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8469681861_d66900d073.jpg

The underblanket was shorter than I imagined it wold be. But okay. We'll see when we get out there :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8470777272_b5bf091f22.jpg

Each end got 4 of these bungee cords to hang it. The two side ones run the length of the under blanket on each side.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8469683353_79b34e350f.jpg

I counted 10 of these loops around the underblanket. So plenty of opportunity to experiment with ways of hanging it under the hammock :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8470776972_ba0e58897d.jpg

Overall impression. Looks like a good piece of kit. Feels kind of thick, and warm. But thats in my living room. Outside in the snow and ciold is another beast. Specially since I have no experince with this kind of winter camping and have slept one single night in a hammock in my entire life!

Next episode: The Tarp

[Spondodge]

Hello. I just ordered the snugpak undervlanket for my dd hammock for a planned scotland trip at the end of the month. Stuff sack is a little large for my pack so iv wrapped it inside my belgian army bivvi (£10) on ebay. Makes a nice water resistant roll to attach to the pack.

Gotta love dd gear, great quality

Its gonna be my first wintery trip as well. I replaced my sleeping bag with a down vango venom 400. Much smaller than your pack once compressed. Not much larger than my 1-2 season summer sack and at 3 degree comfort it should be ok. Ill just use the bivvi and silk liner to keep warm..

[FishyFolk]

The tarp

It's just massive. 4,5 meters long. But can't do it justice in these inside pictures as I can't hang it. You'll just have to wait for the video :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8470776588_08429bbbe9.jpg

Each corner and loop looks very strong and the whole thing ooozes quallity. But the proof is in the pudding! I'll be back after say, a year with the final verdict!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8469682935_b1911d8d5f.jpg

The hammock suspension

I must say that the tree huggers dissapointed me a little. They look thin and flimsy to me. They are probably more than strong enough though. But I may jsut go with the ones I made myself for my DYI hammock. They are much thicker, and a little wider too.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8469682561_6f65d5950a.jpg


So thats how that works....remember the whoopie sling goes on the knot...notthe toggle....specially if the toggle is a pink pen :Sorry:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8469682289_a5f7bdf01c.jpg

Amsteel whoopie slings and carabiniers
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8469682375_e0011158a6_m.jpghttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8469682455_e3984e7fe4.jpg

Thats it for now. Tomorrow I plan to bore you with the arrival of the hammock, so stay tuned!

Now I got to play with the paracord, and make guy ropes for the tarp, make some loops for the zippers on the sleeping bag etc.

[butchthedog]

Hi Rune, the DD Tree Hugger's are plenty strong enough. I weigh in at a nimble 16 stone and they hold me ok. You have got some very nice gear there, enjoyed your posts as usual.

[Johnnyboy1971]

I love the snugpak underquilt. I have used the two tabs on top gathered together to form a bit of a cocoon.
My next job is to try and use my Jerverns bag as a full cocoon.

[Spondodge]

My snugpak underblanket wrapped in bivvi :) only 8 days till it gets field tested. Itching to get back outdoors :s

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/13/ta3adehu.jpg

[FishyFolk]

Good idea Spondodge. I will do the same and wrap it in my Jerven Thermo Hunter bag. I plan to use the two together as an underblanket anyway. While normal daytime temps right now is around -5 celcius, the night time temps can plunge to -15 or even -20 on cloudless days.

I may have done a slight over kill on the sleeping bag. But better too warm than cold. In the summer I'll just use the Jerven beg, or one of the old, cheap blanket type bags I have in the shed. Shpould be good enough :-)

Rune

[f0rm4t]

Ha! Brilliant Rune!
I really shared in the excitement of opening all that gear mate.

The 4.5 is a good size tarp, plenty of room to hang, but also to dwell under if the weather is wet. If I was out hiking for a few days, I'd take my 3x3, but love the 4.5 for it's cover'ability factor for a comfy 'loungey' outing.

Look forward to our prezzies tomorrow then Rune! ha.

P.S That bag is a monster. You'll not go cold in that.

T^

[wildish64]

thanks for that rune,felt like xmas here seeing all that on the screen, oh,back to reality nothing to open here :(

im loving that sleeping bag,looks very warm.

look forward to the next installment

[BJ]

unpacking new gear is always exciting, and there is enough there to keep you going for a bit. I share your enthusiasm. Now you will be itching to get out and try it all. :camping:

[FishyFolk]

What I do with my sleeping bags before I or a quilt for my hammock is unzip them completely and use like a quilt.

If you can keep a kind of foot box in there that would be better.

As you will have insulation under you in the form of an under blanket or mat of some sort, plus the fact if your actually inside your bag in your hammock you won't be getting any insulation from the bottom of the bag because you will be crushing the fill.

Try it and see how you get on!!

Atb
Steve

I probably will try that :-)

[jus_young]

I will second the strength of those tree straps. Been using mine for a while now and no problems.

So many new toys to try all at once, steep learning curve on ths lot I think but its going to be so much fun :happy-clapping:

[FishyFolk]

An then the Tenth Wonder Bivi Hornet arrived :happy-clapping:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8474152614_ac59c8e4de_m.jpg

Finally a stuff sack that looks wide enough that a mortal being will be able to get the contents back in. It's acompression sack btw :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8473063201_e129bb3edb.jpg

It will not be light camping. here it is compared to the DD hammocks XL tarp (4,5mx3m)
Good thing I picked up a Paris Expedition pulk today :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8474154042_91888a7d1a.jpg

This is the width of it. If I can't get a flat klay in this one I'll be very, very surprised :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8473064027_2ce72bc6fc.jpg

Thats it for now. And I have gained permission from High Command to set up a forward operations base in a nearby wood from saturday to sunday :campfire::happy-clapping:

Will be back sunday night with some stills of the whole circus set up, allong with a YT video :-)

[Silverback]

Nice one Rune

[wildish64]

lmao so the jewels worked then :happy-clapping:

well enjoy and i look forward to the vid

[Silverback]

This is the width of it. If I can't get a flat klay in this one I'll be very, very surprised :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8473064027_2ce72bc6fc.jpg



Hammocks are forever....hold one up and then caress it

[FishyFolk]

lmao so the jewels worked then :happy-clapping:

well enjoy and i look forward to the vid

What sold her to the idea was that itæ's so close that I can bring the runt, and have him home for tea, giving her some time to do her thing without him having at her leg...lol

[f0rm4t]

Look forward to seeing it all up Rune.
Make sure you take plenty of pics and video mate!
T^

[FishyFolk]

I will second the strength of those tree straps. Been using mine for a while now and no problems.

So many new toys to try all at once, steep learning curve on ths lot I think but its going to be so much fun :happy-clapping:

Well, well, you are sure right about that steep learning curve.

But I have plenty of experince as a ground dweller. And I know my environment. I have that trip in the autumn where I learned a few things, ammong them how difficult it is to get into a sleeping bag in the hammock :-)

Also been watching hammocking vids right since may last year when Bushcraft first crept into my vocabulary. So I have a good theoretic base.

And also, will go out on Saturday, as early as I can to set up my camp and maximize my daylight time, and will be 5 minutes by skis from home and the car. The last one means transprt to the nearest harware shop should I need something I have over looked...or my computer and YT if there is something I can't figure out.

The only problem will be taking care of a todler in the middle of it. But I think I will set up camp first, then go grab the kid, he he

[Ehecatl]

Hammocks are forever....hold one up and then caress it

Please listen to Sapper - remember, tarps are not just for christmas!

M@

[Silverback]

Hammocks are forever,
They are all I need to please me,
They can stimulate and tease me,
They won't leave in the night,
I've no fear that they might desert me.
Hammocks are forever,
Hold one up and then caress it,
Touch it, stroke it and undress it,
I can see every part,
Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me......... i'll get me coat ;)

[Ehecatl]

Hammocks are forever,
They are all I need to please me,
They can stimulate and tease me,
They won't leave in the night,
I've no fear that they might desert me.
Hammocks are forever,
Hold one up and then caress it,
Touch it, stroke it and undress it,
I can see every part,
Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me......... i'll get me coat ;)

Sapper? Have you had too much vimto?

[Silverback]

Sapper? Have you had too much vimto?

VIMTO ? Pah ! Knats p*** Irn Bru for me

[wildish64]

a coulpe of pints of iron bru too many im thinking lol

[Silverback]

a coulpe of pints of iron bru too many im thinking lol

Not even started yet had two heavy days at work so I think I deserve a sherbert or two.....Mr Murphy is paying me a visit later, hes a really stout fellow

[FishyFolk]

So this is it. had to hang it up to do the neccesary tweaks. So I hanged it between the car and a veranda post. Could not lay in it as my weight would rip the ski rack i tied it to on the car off...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8476619298_41c331e029.jpg

The palnned hang is from tomorrow to sunday, in the woods right ther ein the background :-)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8476620272_e1c35690ab.jpg

The hammock comes with most stuff including the spreader bars ready to use.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8475530207_13c13e6a40.jpg

The guy line for the spreader bars is rubbish. Changed it to 550 paracord
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8476619878_0ac639a033.jpg

Here is my attempt at a marlin spike hitch.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8475530403_9f860a0a1c.jpg

At the other end of the whoopie sling. I just wrapped the excess webbing for the gahtered end of the hammock round itself instead of chopping it off. It adds alot of weight but I got a pulk :-)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8475531181_ed43b93ec7.jpg

Thats it, swinging form the trees this time tomorrow :-)

[Ehecatl]

Great update Rune - have a brilliant day tomorrow.

M@

[Spondodge]

Great update love the pictures. Inspired me to do the same kinda hammock post for my scottish trip planned in a few weeks. Thanks!

[wildish64]

well it all looks good,have enjoyed the unpacking now looking forward to the results of the fun part. :happy-clapping:

[jus_young]

They do look a nice bit of kit, my sons Hornet is just begging to be used but its time will come.

I have rigged my sons a bit different in that I did not use those wide straps as you have done. I replaced those with the whoopie slings and used the strapping for tree huggers.