Tents vs. Hammocks

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > The Great Outdoors > Tents vs. Hammocks

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

mastershakeman posted:

Guys I'm going to use a hammock instead of a tent because it's lighter and simpler
*buys rain fly, bug net, quilt, different sized air mattress, etc*

This is sadly true. But for us poor side-sleepers, it is the only way.

# ¿ Dec 29, 2015 23:21

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 1, 2024 08:20

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

mastershakeman posted:

Sleep on your back like a normal person!!!

But then a cat might sleep on my face and kill me.

# ¿ Dec 30, 2015 15:01

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

meselfs posted:

Eh? I always sleep on my side in a tent on an air mattress (using clothing/pack/stuff sacks in a stuff sack as a pillow), as comfortable as sleeping at home, more so if it's quiet and solitary. Maybe you want a thicker mattress?

I'm fond of my unfortunately discontinued four season bivy sack. It's the biggest "sack" I could find, little rear end in a top hat like me can almost sit upright in it and is totally comfortable unless there's a need to cook during a storm.

I can sleep ok on a pad but I also toss around so much the cradle of the hammock is really the best. I am just bitter as my first hammock packs down to like grapefruit sized and it was a huge bummer to realize that setting it up in the woods takes a lot more gear then setting under an stage. If I spent the money on a super light weight top/bottom quilt and a Cuban fiber tarp the kit would come out less then a tent but be way more comfortable then a lighter weight bivy.

# ¿ Jan 3, 2016 06:16

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

Do you have wimpy little trees and super tough undergrowth or something? My buddy and I camp on the farm I live on and his tent leaves a huge disturbed spot while my hammock really only leaves my trail from it to my piss spot.

# ¿ Jan 4, 2016 06:48

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

PirateDentist posted:

My Blackbird has two layers of fabric, allows you to slip in a thermal blanket\pad\whathaveyou. It's also why I use a purpose built quilt that hangs underneath the hammock and has shockcord to pull it up to you, keeping the insulation nice and lofted. I then use a normal bag like a blanket, the footwell works pretty well to keep it in place when using like a top quilt.

Not exactly cheap, but warm and comfortable as all hell. Given that I actually use them for maybe 10 days a year on the outside they should last me a very long time.

I sort of regret not getting a double bottomed hammock. I cannot stay on a pad for any length of time, so I am looking at under-quilts. I tend to sleep with my legs drawn up most of the time, so I am thinking a 3/4 quilt might work, but it would suck to spend the money and discover I am wrong.

Is there a place online to buy used hiking/camping stuff? My local craigslist is kinda crap and I don't trust ebay for anything over like ten bucks.

# ¿ Jan 7, 2016 20:26

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

Dude even a cheap tarp weighs like 10oz.

# ¿ Jan 8, 2016 07:13

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ May 1, 2024 08:20

bongwizzard: May 19, 2005; Then one day I meet a man,
He came to me and said,
"Hard work good and hard work fine,
but first take care of head"; Grimey Drawer

TouchyMcFeely posted:

Can someone explain 3/4 vs full length under quilt? Other than weight savings, is there some reason you wouldn't want your feet or head insulated from the bottom?

I am tempted to go that way as I sleep with my knees drawn up to my chest, but I am leery of spending the money on something that might not work.

# ¿ Jan 29, 2016 23:37

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > The Great Outdoors > Tents vs. Hammocks