Lighten Up! – ultralight hammock setup
“I’m not overweight, I’m just 9 inches too short” (Shelly Winters)
I bought some new gear last year that I’ve been testing out and this included a new hammock/tarp/net system which has reduced my shelter-system weight from 1800 grams (my old ENO system) to 980 grams… a significant weight saving.
Does this mean the ENO system I originally bought was a bad choice? Is lightweight always the best option?
For me the answer to both these questions is ‘not necessarily’. Most lightweight camping products are less sturdy than their heavier and more rugged counterparts and, as a result, need to be treated a little more carefully in the field. As is often the case, choice of camping gear involves an element of compromise and the best choice will depend on the trip you have in mind and your own personal preferences.
For example, if I’m going for a one night trip into the jungle I can afford to carry heavier equipment if I so wish. Why? Simply because I don’t need to carry so much food with me and therefore my pack is lighter anyway. However, if you are going into the jungle for a week then it’s a different story and you will need to take in lots of food and will therefore want to reduce the weight of your equipment as much as possible.
I was listening to a talk Lofty Wiseman (SAS Survival Guide) gave where he explained that one of the factors that sparked his interest in survival and living from the land came during his army days (here in Malaysia, if I remember correctly): because they had to carry so much weight of equipment (guns, radio, ammo etc), the only way to reduce the pack weight was to cut back on the amount of food they took in…and therefore they either had to find food from the jungle, or go hungry.
Despite the fact that lightweight equipment may not be so durable as more sturdily built options, I would still go the lightweight way myself and just accept that I need to be a little more careful with the equipment.
The other point about ultralight gear is that you will save yourself a fortune if you make your own and, for this, you will need a sewing machine. Once you’ve got a sewing machine all sorts of products can be made to your own specifications: tarps, hammocks, sleeping bags, pillows. Not only that but you can adapt existing equipment: sew tabs onto hammocks to hang things from, extend tarps to protect the ropes from the rain etc and, of course, repair any rips.
The under-quilt for a hammock is a great idea that was developed for hammock use in colder climates but can be used here in a cut-down form. It is astonishing how much difference this small quilt can make and, if you haven’t tried one before then you are in for a pleasant surprise when you do.
Some people use foam mats instead of under-quilts but this is not such a good option as these can act as sweat traps whereas the quilt system is more breathable.
Hi Paul,
Watched with great interest as old age forces me to take the topic seriously. I suppose once in the jungle, the heat and humidity will motivate me yet further, but currently I hafta hit the ground there with a mosquito hammock and tarp from MosquitoHammocks.com or some such name. These are time tested, and have been used by the French and other military. It’s longer than usual, about 10 feet, but a bit narrow, 4 feet, and rated for 400lbs. The hammock has a double bottom allowing a thin or thick closed foam pad that does not compress to neatly and securely be placed in between to insulate. I have slept in another hammock at 20F with a 1/2″ closed foam pad and a ‘ranger blanket’, and was fine with winter clothes on. Netting is built into the hammock, and it is designed to be used on the ground as well, 1,150 grams. The tarp is about 850g. Not a bad set up. I also have several other 3m x 4m rain flys for a proper semi permanent camp. Wish the hammock was wider tho. There is lighter, but given my 250lbs, I am over the rating of many lighter weight hammocks, so the 400lbs rating is comforting especially if it might be used often, and in places where catastrophic failure would be unacceptable. I suppose I’ll have to tolerate this hammock until I loose weight or get an ENO double hammock. In fact, I might order that tomorrow actually…..
Thanks for yet another fine video. I can’t wait to get myself to Thailand. And I will not have a hut to stay in, but only a hammock. I had forgotten to pack my spare hammock for gear as you used in the video and will do so immediately!
Regards,
Bunny Boots
Hi Bunny Boots,
I think I know the type of hammock you are referring to and have used them over here before. Is it the one that has two small poles that insert into the net with which to tie up the mozzi net? If so, I used them with a camp bed during my off-roading days and they work very well. As you say, they can also be used as a hammock so you have the best of both worlds.
The double skin on a hammock is useful for retaining heat/protecting from mozzi bites and strength, however I have found that it can get too hot over here for a foam mat insert which can end up as an uncomfortable sweat trap.
The ENO double hammock is a little bit heavy but I have used it for years and I love the comfort that you get with it… like all equipment there’s a compromise to be made. Although I’m now using a lighter set-up, the ENO system will remain as a trusted back-up and an alternative when going on trips where weight isn’t such a big issue.
The cargo net hammock for storage is, admittedly, an extra item that some ultralight purists would do without, but I like the convenience and, when the rains really fall, it’s nice to have all your kit beneath the tarp!
Anyway, hope you have a great trip to Thailand and I’m sure you will be much more comfortable in a hammock that in a hut!
Cheers!
Paul
Hi Paul Again,
BTW, I just got the Snuk Pack bag that you have, and just from a ‘look’, I’m please with the apparent quality. The netting makes it a viable option if the hammocks fails. It does unzip or could be used as blanket as is. I can also opt to take a ‘ranger’ blanket that is yet lighter in weight and surprisingly effective. These Ranger Blankets or Poncho Liners as was the original use, are quite popular and may improve your very light weight system. If I had mine out I’d put it on a scale. My guess is that it is about half the weight of Snug Pack bag , or about .75 to 1 pound and about $15USD used here in the U.S., and 60 x 80 inches in size, large enough to be useful. A thin and light weight fleece blanket I also have, could also be useful. It weighs about the same, 14oz, but is noticeably smaller in size or area. I would choose the Poncho Liner, and it is indeed warm for it’s weight.
BunnyBoots
Hi Bunny Boots,
thanks for the comment and I must say that I also like the snugpak for the jungle – it’s pretty lightweight, has the mozzi net and gives the right level of warmth. I’ve used mine for about five years over here and it’s served me well.
Underquilts are something that is a relatively new development for me and, so far, they work a treat as they don’t get compressed in a hammock the way a sleeping bag will.
I know army personnel have used the poncho liners you mentioned for this very purpose when camping in hammocks so that might be something you could try as well.
Cheers!
Paul
Just a quick question. Would it be worth it to bring along what I believe is a machete with a high quality blade? The thing weighs 1.6 pounds, but I’d trust it with my life. Are the home grown parangs of that quality. I realize Thailand would be a bit different. I’m concerned that I might not find a quality parang there without some local help.
BB
Hi Bunny Boots,
Interesting question – the local parangs are, by some people’s definition, poor quality in the sense that the metal used is relatively soft and they rust fast (carbon steel). However, this gives them an important advantage as it means they are very easy (and quick) to sharpen. This is important because, sooner or later, you’ll ding your blade on a stone or some particularly tough bamboo nodes and, with the softer metal, this isn’t a big problem as you simply sharpen it up again.
As for your specific question, why not take along your trusted blade and then you could compare it to the local ones when you arrive in Thailand and decide which to take into the jungle?
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
Well its obvious that my participation is not needed as my posts were not posted. I was doing my level best to contribute, support and share in the learning process, yet oddly enough it was not appreciated. I’ll continue to learn all I can from your writing and videos, you have much to offer. However I’ve found in my many years of experience that we are all limited in some regard. Good Luck
Hi Bunnyboots,
Apologies and please don’t take offense as none was intended – the simple fact is that I am not on the internet for days at a time and it sometimes takes me a while to reply to posts. However, I understand that it can be annoying to wait for a reply so apologies again. Saying that, let me now reply to your earlier posts (and please keep them coming).
Cheers!
Paul
Nice timing on this video. I received my hammock last week and had already begun to look into underquilts and pads for the cool nights. These concepts are pretty easy to understand even if you do not have a hammock. What I have found though, is that the supports, ridgeline, tie outs, tarp, etc., may sound easy and uncomplicated, but in actuality have a plethora of options which really become clear after playing around with your setup. I had decided prior to receiving my hammock to go with a garda hitch for quickly putting up the hammock. With my tarp using the same ridgeling as my hammock, I can put up my hennessy including all stake outs in less than a minute. Unfortunately, I have realized that I may have oversimplified some things. If I have to leave camp during or right after it rains, I do not want to store my tarp in the snakeskins with my hammock. So, I will probably end up setting up my tarp with a separate ridgeline. I have also begun looking at alternative methods for support. Whoopie slings? Maybe. The point is, once you actually start working with your hammock, you finally realize how many options you have and start thinking of the many improvements you can make. One thing I notice is that you do not have a structural ridgeline on your hammock. Just wondering if you have considered the benefits of using one. Your experience would allow you to eyeball the correct curvature of the hammock and ensure consistency of lay, but the structural ridgeline would allow you to select trees of different distances apart and still be able to place your main ridgeline at pretty much the same height without changing this curvature. One final thing I noticed in your setup is that your tarp ridgeline is on top of the tarp which I am sure you did to help prevent water from dripping down the line onto your hammock. That is another good tip to point out for others watching. Another great video as always.
ez
Hi ezadventurer,
thanks for the comment and some great points you raise there. You are very right in saying that the options with a hammock become more apparent the more you use them. I started out with a Hennessy and then moved to a DIY set-up, then the ENO set-up and now the one in the video – each was slightly different and there are pros and cons of each system.
Underquilts were a welcome revelation for me – whoever originally thought them up deserves a pat on the back for a great idea as they really work well.
I’ve never used a ridge line for the hammock tie-offs as, in the jungle at least, it is fairly easy to find trees that are more or less the right distance apart…but I can see that it might be a useful technique in less dense, temperate forests.
As you point out, rain running down ridgelines that travel beneath the tarp is a potential drip problem into the hammock (drip lines are a good way to minimize this). I also prefer the ridgeline above the tarp as there is less risk of the line rubbing against the tarp and damaging it.
As for the hitches – I use a slippery rolling hitch or the evenk figure of eight slippery hitch to tie on the hanmmock but there are other hitches that also work well – the key thing is to make them slippery so that you can untie them the next morning!
Thanks again for the comment.
Cheers!
Paul
Bunny Boots, I would recommend that you use a parang instead of a machete if you intend to use it in the Thailand or Malaysian jungles.
The parang is built more solidly than a machete in that the blade has less flex than a machete. When you are trying to chop a tree or clear a path in an Asian jungle, chances are a more flexible and wippy blade will deflect off the branch or stem of a tree that you are trying to chop down. This may be dangerous and might cause accidents. The extra weight of parang in fact aids in the chopping and will cut more easily and with less effort than the lighter machete.
If you are travelling to Thailand, why not buy a local parang there? These are available at most hardware shops everywhere and they are pretty easy to find. One parang you can check out and possibly buy is the ‘Enep’ parang from Thailand – the parang that’s favoured by the elephant guides there.
Lee wrote in with a comment but was getting a server error so I’ve posted it for him below. If anyone else is having the same problem posting comments, please let me know.
From Lee: Yet another good video. I have also been looking at my hammock setups in the last few weeks In mind of my trip over there. No matter how much I look at it I always go back to the hennessey as my long term hammock. I know it is a bit more heavy than some I have but in the end it is the most comfy for me and even better now I had the side zips put in. So I think Ill go with a little bit more weight knowing that it is a bit stronger and a lot more comfy. I also have used the net hammock to hold my kit off the ground and had it strung up under the hammock but if there are the trees about then move it higher and to the sides better than hanging stuff off trees for the water to run in to.
Hey,
I just found your website and youtube videos and have to thank you for their quality and common sense. I have just recently gotten into bushcraft etc. and love your hands-on practical approach. You’ve motivated me to learn sewing by the way.
Does the hammock protect from bites on your back? And could you tell us a little more about the making of your under-quilt? Is the hectagonal shape of your tarp for weight purposes only, or is there another benefit (less likely to rip off during a storm) and how does it pack compared to a rectangular one?
Hi MD Kaiser,
Many thanks for the post and great to hear you’ve taken up sewing – I wish I’d leaned to used a sewing machine a long time ago as it would have saved me a fortune!
I’ve never had a problem with mozzis biting through the hammock as usually I’m wearing long pants and a shirt as well (so there’s too much material for them to get through) – I guess that with a thin hammock and if you’re wearing nothing else they could bite through. Certainly they can get through most thin material when it is stretched taught against your skin.
The UQ is a simple design that I sewed together from some old sleeping bags – just cut up and sewed them together. I didn’t make them in a rectangular shape only to save a bit of weight as the top bit (where your shoulders are) will bunch up and doesn’t need to be as wide as the part beneath your bum. I just measured it against my back and went from there.
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
Hi ! Very impressed and pleased by the way you’re teaching. So far the best in my humble opinion, and i have seen a lot of videos about bushcrafting this winter, and i thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
I live in Canada and i’ve only been sleeping on the ground when camping. I’m just wondering about “sleeping” in an hammock. I’m a side sleeper and when i’m sleeping on my back it’s causing apnea most of the time. What’s your say about side sleeping in a hammock ?
Hi Danny,
Many thanks for the comment and kind words and very glad that some of the videos are proving useful to you over there in Canada.
Interesting question you ask about side sleeping as I too am a side sleeper most of the time and find that this is possible in a hammock (as long as you don’t use one that is too narrow)….you do sort of end up a bit ‘crumpled’ and it isn’t the same as being in a bed…but it’s okay. As always, with hammocks, you want at be positioned at an angle across the hammock. In fact if you sleep on your back and angle your body diagonally across the hammock it is possible to get almost completely flat
I love hammocks and find them extremely comfortable but I know a few people (including my wife) who simply can’t seem to get comfortable in them. The best thing to do is to get/borrow a cheap one first and try it out in your backyard to see if it is for you or not. The other thing I have discovered is the enormous difference an underquilt makes (particularly when it is cooler) – somehow having that ‘heat pad’ beneath your back stops all the aches in the morning and I would strongly recommend using one.
I bought a book called the ‘Ultimate Hang” which is full of extremely useful advice for hammock campers – I got it for about USD 3 on Kindle and it was well worth the price.
Hope that helps and thanks again for the comment.
Cheers!
Paul