View Full Version : Hennessey Hammocks !! Piece of cake !!
Just got me hammock from woodland organics today, so I got home from work, It was dark, windy and lashing down. So I thought "Let's see if I can put the hammock up in the wet and dark with no torch and no previous experience !!
http://img38.exs.cx/img38/2919/hennessy.jpg
Tadaaaaaaaaaa!! Not bad for 1st go in foul weather. Granted when I got in it was a bit low to the ground, but not touching !! What a great bit of kit I'd like to see how I'd have got on with say a Wild Country Terra Nova in the same weather !! I don't think I'd have been in the warm and dry in less than 5 mins like in the Hennessy :o):
Happy camper here !! Yeehaa
Paganwolf
12-10-2004, 23:38
Happy days !! :wink: glad your chuffed matie, cant wait for mine to arrive! :shock:
is the tarp-y bit attached or separate?
is the tarp-y bit attached or separate?
It clips on the top with a cople of hooks attached to prissuk knots for adjustment :wink:
jamesdevine
13-10-2004, 11:33
They are wonderfully simple peices of kit. Good first test.
James
where ever theres trees you'll never sleep on the ground again :biggthump
Moonraker
13-10-2004, 12:05
Really nice report maddave. Good to see a 'real' test. :biggthump
Just received my Explorer Deluxe, now looking for 2 suitable trees ;-)
One thing I noticed, did you not use the tree hugger strap things?
Really nice report maddave. Good to see a 'real' test. :biggthump
Just received my Explorer Deluxe, now looking for 2 suitable trees ;-)
One thing I noticed, did you not use the tree hugger strap things?
I noticed that too ...
Has anyone taken a hammock with them only to, well, not find trees?! :o):
outdoorgirl
13-10-2004, 12:25
I got a good look at a few of these last weekend on the Hunter's class - even got to sit in one, and they seem very comfy. Andy and I are off to North Carolina next year for a couple of weeks, and we're thinking of getting a couple for the trip down the appalachians...
However, I have a back problem that means that whenever I camp (and often whenever I'm not using my lovely Tempur mattress), I often wake up in the night with a dead hand or arm, having pinched nerves in my back. This can mean for a very sleepless night...
So, does anyone know of somewhere that hires out, loans, or offers some kind of 'try before you buy' system, so that I can try a night out before we splash our cash?
jamesdevine
13-10-2004, 12:33
First outdoorgirl I don't known of anyone the rents them out but I do Known that it certainly helps my repeaditive strain in my shoulders. You are sleeping in the air to it's to releave the pressure and help to relax abit more also the sleeping position seems to help. This is of course only my expereince.
Adi007 I have this problem as live in country with only 8% Forestry you really have look at the map and hope they haven't cut them down. Always bring my poncho just in case.
James
Moonraker
13-10-2004, 13:23
First outdoorgirl I don't known of anyone the rents them out but I do Known that it certainly helps my repeaditive strain in my shoulders. You are sleeping in the air to it's to releave the pressure and help to relax abit more also the sleeping position seems to help. This is of course only my expereince.
Adi007 I have this problem as live in country with only 8% Forestry you really have look at the map and hope they haven't cut them down. Always bring my poncho just in case.
James
outdoorgirl: there is some info on the Hennessy Hammock web site FAQ (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/faq.htm)
Most people believe that hammockare uncomfortable to sleep in because they curve your back. The human spine is not straight but is shaped in a a gentle S curve with a convex curve at the shoulders and a concave curve at the lower back. When a person lies lengthwise in a hammock, the curve of the hammock follows the curve of the upper back but provides no support for the recurve of the lower spine. When a person falls asleep in the hammock and their muscles relax, the lower spine often can reverse curvature to match the shape of the hammock, often giving the occupant severe lower back pain for several hours until their spine returns to its natural curvature. By contrast, the Hennessy Hammock is amazingly comfortable. Once inside, most people don't want to get out. The secret is your ability to rest 10 to 20 degrees diagonalyl to the centerline, just like in the Mayan and Central American hammocks. This allows you to rest comfortably on your back, on your side, in a fetal position and a few others you will invent for yourself. For some people, it takes a night to adjust to sleeping in a different bed. For others, it's a great night's sleep the first time!.
There are some testimonials from users here:
Injury/ Arthritis (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/sp-arthritis.htm)
Lots of comments from back pain sufferers. I guess these problems are individual and it is a good idea to try one out (preferably more than 1 time).
James: could you not just use the HH fly instead of a poncho?
Check out this method of using the HH without trees :shock: . Nice little bivy :-)
Hennessy Hammock - Use As A Tent (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/use-as-a-tent.htm)
Simon
jamesdevine
13-10-2004, 13:33
Thanks Moonraker, :biggthump
It's that I couldn't it's more so that all ways have my Poncho(Dutch army) as it's my rain gear. It has snap button along either side so I can and have used it as make shift bivvy bag.
I will give it a go do and see how it works out.
James
Buckshot
13-10-2004, 13:45
I tried one for the first time at the Hunter course.
It's on the Christmas list !!!! :biggthump
People say how great they are and you think -yeah, yeah, yeah.
Then you try one...
It took me a night to get used to it which is why I looked so beat up for most of the weekend.
The only thing I found was that it could be a little drafty. I tend to sleep cold so I was glad of my artic bag. The first night I was hot which probably didn't help me sleep, the next was just right even though i could feel the draft over my face I just snuggled in. Lovely.
Cheers
Mark
Moonraker
13-10-2004, 13:47
Thanks Moonraker, :biggthump
It's that I couldn't it's more so that all ways have my Poncho(Dutch army) as it's my rain gear. It has snap button along either side so I can and have used it as make shift bivvy bag.
I will give it a go do and see how it works out.
James
OK I see. Fair point. Do post and let us know how it goes.
jamesdevine
13-10-2004, 13:50
Will Do Infact if I can I might try it out this weekend. It hasn't see the light of day in month. :shock:
James
outdoorgirl
13-10-2004, 15:19
OK, I can see one of these going on my Christmas list too... :)
One last question, that I don't see asked or answered on the Hennessy site: where do you put your backpack? I can see that boots, clothes, etc. can be hung over the ridge line, but what about the rucksac? Does that just sit underneath the hammock and you hope that it doesn't get rained on too badly and no-one pinches it while you're soundly kipping?
Buckshot
13-10-2004, 15:26
OK, I can see one of these going on my Christmas list too... :)
One last question, that I don't see asked or answered on the Hennessy site: where do you put your backpack? I can see that boots, clothes, etc. can be hung over the ridge line, but what about the rucksac? Does that just sit underneath the hammock and you hope that it doesn't get rained on too badly and no-one pinches it while you're soundly kipping?
Yes basically.
I know some people use rucksac covers to keep the rain out and I suppose you could use one of those metal nets people use when travelling and then padlock it to a tree if you were really worried.
In fact that's the only thing that worries me slightly. There's nowhere to put your kit and nowhere you can have any privacy except lying down. What do you do if you want to get changed for example?
Cheers
Mark
Here are a couple of potential answers to the problem problem of ruksak storage:
1) bundle it in a poncho, put it under the hammock and hope for the best (cheap)
2) buy a hex-fly sheet (as DG had on his Hennessy at the weekend) which gives you an awful lot more space under the hammock for kit (it would still be on the ground, but there would be a much lesser chance of it getting wet), and it goes a "certain" way to solving the privacy question by being that much larger.
Neither of these solves the security issue, though.
One last question, that I don't see asked or answered on the Hennessy site: where do you put your backpack? I can see that boots, clothes, etc. can be hung over the ridge line, but what about the rucksac? Does that just sit underneath the hammock and you hope that it doesn't get rained on too badly and no-one pinches it while you're soundly kipping?
I've tried a couple of approaches. If you keep it inside the hammock, then you can clip/tie it to the loop at either end of the ridge line. Whether this works obviously depends on how large/heavy your sack is and how much room you have I guess.
Just having it clipped to the line and dangling outside the hammock generally works fine unless it's raining and really blowing, in which case you just hope it's waterproof (especially at 3 in the morning :roll:). It can be a pain trying to untie/tie things (eg boots) to the line once you're in the hammock though.
Another option I tried was slinging a cheapo (a quid from a boot sale) nylon string hammock snugly underneath the Hennessey, and putting the sack in that just under the entry flap. That did seem to keep it pretty well sheltered and meant that boots etc could be kept in there as well and was much easier to manage than trying to tie/untie them on the suspension line outside the hammock.
MagiKelly
13-10-2004, 16:35
Another option I tried was slinging a cheapo (a quid from a boot sale) nylon string hammock snugly underneath the Hennessey, and putting the sack in that just under the entry flap. That did seem to keep it pretty well sheltered and meant that boots etc could be kept in there as well and was much easier to manage than trying to tie/untie them on the suspension line outside the hammock.
Brilliant idea. I wish I had thought of that.
outdoorgirl
13-10-2004, 16:52
That sounds like it could be a plan; does the lower hammock get in the way when you want to get out? (I'm thinking at 3am when you just *have* to pee...) :shock: :lol:
That sounds like it could be a plan; does the lower hammock get in the way when you want to get out? (I'm thinking at 3am when you just *have* to pee...) :shock: :lol:
Yes, I know that one! It doesn't seem to get in the way at all. Just open the entrance flap, fish your shoes out and move the bottom hammock to one side and out you go.
One thing I noticed, did you not use the tree hugger strap things?
As it was dark when I unpacked it in the woods, I didn't even know they were in the bag!! It's only when I got home to dry it out that I thought some monkey had packed a couple o car seatbelts in there !!! :o):
I'll have to try them on the next test :biggthump
Moonraker
14-10-2004, 14:37
As it was dark when I unpacked it in the woods, I didn't even know they were in the bag!! It's only when I got home to dry it out that I thought some monkey had packed a couple o car seatbelts in there !!! :o):
I'll have to try them on the next test :biggthump
:rolmao: :rolmao: . How many times do you find crucial bits of kit nestled in the bottom of the packaging; usually years later in my case :-)
Yeah, it was trying Womble's HH that decided me. He told me to try it. Climbed in, fell asleep.
As for those with back problems, I unfortunately really screwed my back in a climbing accident about 14(?) years ago, so I was a bit wary, but the hammock provides great support for your back. One of the best nights sleep I'd had camping.
The 'privacy' of the standard fly was part of the reason I got a hex fly. You can peg it down giving pretty good privacy and side wind/rain protection. Great piece of kit.
how much is that set up ££££ with the hex fly?
I paid about £50 for the hex fly from Jack at Woodland.
You can get it direct from Hennessy with the hex fly, but obviously it might take a bit longer to arrive.
Check out the previous thread on 'should I buy a hennessy' or whatever it was called from a couple of weeks ago.
And I persoanlly think it's better to support the guys on the forum. Although it does mean I have a spare asym fly...
Hmm, anyone wanna buy an asym fly?
i cant see it on their site?
Jamie hasn't added it on there yet, although he has sold several.
Just pm/e-mail/ring him.
Paganwolf
14-10-2004, 17:38
ring him and ask him to call you when they are in im waitin for one too his out of stock at the mo :wink:
Moonraker
14-10-2004, 18:50
I paid about £50 for the hex fly from Jack at Woodland.
You can get it direct from Hennessy with the hex fly, but obviously it might take a bit longer to arrive.
Check out the previous thread on 'should I buy a hennessy' or whatever it was called from a couple of weeks ago.
And I persoanlly think it's better to support the guys on the forum. Although it does mean I have a spare asym fly...
Hmm, anyone wanna buy an asym fly?
If you decide to go for the Hex fly before you have received/ used a regular silnylon fly supplied with a Hennessy Hammock (this does not include the 'Expedition A-sym' lots of people have brought as it comes with a pu-coated fly with is cheaper), then Hennessy will swap it for a pu-coated Hex fly for nothing even if it was not brought direct from them. You only pay the shipping, duty, tax fee which is $30. But you have to send the fly back to them which ups the price. Say £10 signed for Airmail. All in cost around £27.
Remember also there are two models of Hex fly. The pu-coated 144" x 120" model which WO are doing and HH sells for $59.99, and a slightly larger silnylon Hex fly 144" x 134" at $129.99 which you can upgrade to this way if you pay the difference in cost ($80/ £44.43).
Details from the HH web site, Catalogue section:
REPLACEMENT RAIN FLYS
30D "HEX"-SHAPED SILNYLON RIPSTOP RAIN FLY
Size: 144" x 132" hexagonal shape Weight: 1 lb. This lighter weight hex fly can be substituted for the regular silicone fly of the Ultralight Backpacker Asym, Explorer Ultralight Asym, Explorer Deluxe Asym or Safari for the difference in price.
$129.95
70D "HEX"-SHAPED PU-COATED POLYESTER RIPSTOP RAIN FLY
Size: 144"x 120" hexagonal shape Weight: 1 lb. 90z , 700 g. This fly comes standard on the new Safari Deluxe but will provide generous protection from wind and rain for any model. The "Hex" fly can be substituted for the regular silicone fly of the Ultralight Backpacker Asym, Explorer Ultralight Asym or Explorer Deluxe Asym for no additional cost. Just indicate in the "Comments" section of the online orders page that you would prefer the hex fly.
$59.95
One thing when swapping out a standard silnylon fly for the Hex fly, HH confirmed to me that the largest Snake Skins (#3) are not big enough to take the hammock and the larger Hex fly. They said:
the #3 snakeskin is the largest one we make. People usually
use them just with the bottom, which is the tricky part to fold and fold up the fly separately.
I guess this applies to the largest model, the 'Safari Deluxe' which ships with the pu-coated Hex fly as standard? I will not have a chance to check this myself until the Hex arrives. Anyone else found this?
Paganwolf
14-10-2004, 18:57
so the 50£ one will be ok with my ultralight & snake skins :?:
Moonraker
14-10-2004, 19:05
so the 50£ one will be ok with my ultralight & snake skins :?:
You have the pu-coated Hex fly if you got it from WO mate. Jack said he was getting prices for the larger version Hex but did not stock them just yet. Perhaps the larger silnylon one fits.
It is what they said in the email reply quoted above PW. I sent my Snake Skins back thinking they would have a larger one for the Hex but size #3 is the largest they do :cry:. But they are just sending me a replacement set of SS anyhow. Really great personal service to date BTW.
Maybe people who have got the replacement can confirm this one way or the other :?:
MagiKelly
20-10-2004, 22:11
I got my HH Explorer today. I got it direct from HH with the Hex Fly swapped for the standard at no extra cost. I have only given it a quick test in the garden but it seems great. One thing I tried but did not seem right was using it as a seat. When I tried this the ridge line was pressing into the back of my head. Am I doing this right?
Looking forward to giving it a cold weather test soon. The great thing is that as it will be an open canoe trip I can take a Bivi Bag, Thermarest, Survival Blanket and a two sleeping bags. My plan is to try all the various combinations to see what I can be comfortable with without a weight penalty. Obviousley I am hping a sleeping bag will be enough as adding the Thermarest takes the weight quite a bit over a bivi and tarp. But we will see.
What is the best arrangement for the hex fly?
Roving Rich
21-10-2004, 14:31
Adi Wrote :
Has anyone taken a hammock with them only to, well, not find trees?!
Yep thats one of the first problems I encountered using a HH backpacking.
So what i have done is ditched the fly completely and replaced it with an SASS Aussie Hoochi. I works really well, as i can configure the Hootchi in 101 ways if there are no suitable trees about. So i get the best of both worlds, without the weight of carrying both.
I always use a thermarest in the hammock (or Hootchi :wink: if ground dwelling) I always get a cold back without it, even in relatively mild conditions.
My rucksack - Snugpak Rocket Pack comes with rain covers attached underneath. So i either clip it to the treehugger and hang it up, or leave it on the ground under the middle of the hammock. Its yet to get wet.
I am considering purchasing another Hootchi to popper onto the first and act as extra shelter for cooking under and day time bushcraft activities in the rain.
Well thats what works for me - but each to there own :biggthump
Rich
I just gotta get out and use mine :cry:
Impressive erection Dave. :biggthump The tarp and hammock arrangement of course. :rolmao: :rolmao: :wink:
Impressive erection Dave. :biggthump The tarp and hammock arrangement of course. :rolmao: :rolmao: :wink:
:shock:
Cheers matey !!! :super: :rolmao:
ProjeKtWEREWOLF
08-07-2010, 12:41
OK, I can see one of these going on my Christmas list too... :)
One last question, that I don't see asked or answered on the Hennessy site: where do you put your backpack? I can see that boots, clothes, etc. can be hung over the ridge line, but what about the rucksac? Does that just sit underneath the hammock and you hope that it doesn't get rained on too badly and no-one pinches it while you're soundly kipping?
Make a tripod from fallen branches.....suspend your bergen from it off the ground.
Make a tripod from fallen branches.....suspend your bergen from it off the ground.
Lol, I think she might have worked it out by now mate :)
JonathanD
08-07-2010, 12:58
Lol, I think she might have worked it out by now mate :)
You never know. I can picture him still scratching his head and wondering what to do :lmao:
Humpback
08-07-2010, 19:11
As this thread has been re-erected(sic) I have the cheaper Hex and still hang my bag off line looped round one of the support trees. Also trolling the interweb and hammockforum I discovered a way of dealing with boots which is to tie them over the inner tension cord when sitting in the hammock then pop them to the end of the hammock closing the floor around them. Simples! I shall try this next time out as it avoids (sharp) sticks adjacent to the Hammock for putting the boots over.
alan
ProjeKtWEREWOLF
08-07-2010, 20:38
Doh! Didn't check the dates of the thread did I?
Marttiini Girl
09-07-2010, 17:19
I love my Hennessy, I've swapped the suspension out for a pair of whoopie slings and now it's even easier :)
Humpback
09-07-2010, 17:24
I love my Hennessy, I've swapped the suspension out for a pair of whoopie slings and now it's even easier :)
Was this easy to do? I'm nervous of altering the suspension, but do like the idea of whoopie slings.
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Don't worry we were hanging around anyway.
Alan
Marttiini Girl
09-07-2010, 19:17
I know how you feel, took me a wee while to build up the courage too :) but it really was very simple, I got mine from Opie on the hammock forums website, he was very helpful and there is a great step by step video on his website, the whole thing took about 10 mins :)
ProjeKtWEREWOLF
09-07-2010, 19:42
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Don't worry we were hanging around anyway.
Alan
haha! i'm just a crazy guy!
trekkingnut
18-07-2010, 14:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwzZTeAE3yc
hope this helps all you hennessy users! ive done a mini series on this. i use mine for about 6 months of the year straight for work! love it!
JonathanD
18-07-2010, 14:50
Good tips there. Nice one.
trekkingnut
18-07-2010, 15:32
Good tips there. Nice one.
thank you. going to do one shortly about gear storage as that seems to be a big question for a lot of people. was out hanging this weekend and filmed the odd bits and pieces.
JonathanD
18-07-2010, 15:52
thank you. going to do one shortly about gear storage as that seems to be a big question for a lot of people. was out hanging this weekend and filmed the odd bits and pieces.
Storage isn't a problem for me, if it's dry, the rucksack goes under the hammock, if it's wet or in environments where scorpions, spiders and other hazards are a problem, I sling my rucksack under the hammock at the foot end via a karibiner.
You should start your own thread with hammock tips and tricks.
thank you. going to do one shortly about gear storage as that seems to be a big question for a lot of people. was out hanging this weekend and filmed the odd bits and pieces.
I use a cheap string hammock suspended between my tarp and the hammock.
http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Canoe_Camp.jpg
It stays dry and out of the way but I can still reach it if I need anything in the night.
trekkingnut
18-07-2010, 16:56
Storage isn't a problem for me, if it's dry, the rucksack goes under the hammock, if it's wet or in environments where scorpions, spiders and other hazards are a problem, I sling my rucksack under the hammock at the foot end via a karibiner.
You should start your own thread with hammock tips and tricks.
thanks for the advice... i will do just that!