View Full Version : Hammocks
Roving Rich
10-11-2003, 12:10
Has anyone tried the Hennessy Hammocks- Lightweight nylon afairs you get in through a velcro slit in one end, with a sewn in mossy net over the top and a basha on a ridge line to keep you dry. A couple of friends swear by them. And with no poles to carry, so a lightweight option, no sleeping mat needed, no (little) trail as they're in the trees, and a basha option if there is nowhere to sling it?
Iam sorely tempted, but shipping cost is a bit steep though still cheaper than the UK RRP, + I dont like waking up shaped like a Banana!
Any feedback?
Rich
Diabolik - do you recommend using your knife while in a hammock?
Diabolik - do you recommend using your knife while in a hammock?
:nono: :rolmao: :yikes: :biggthump
Your welcome! :-D :shock: :-D
the naughty boy
06-03-2004, 18:16
can somebody tell me where i can get a hennessy hammock ,one suitable for the colder climate of the uk? :-D
Give Gavin at Bushgear a call he sells them www.bushgear.co.uk
Tel: 01795-599600 :-)
bothyman
06-03-2004, 18:40
>> http://www.hennessyhammock.com/
Take a look at the Hennessy Website it tells you how to use it in colder climates.
You can buy direct from Hennessy it seems they have a special offer on at the moment
I have the Explorer Asym, which I bought directly from them good service and fast delivery.
They seem to have a supply in the UK which they send out, but mine was sent directly fron Canada and only took 4 days to arrive and that included the weekend.
the naughty boy
06-03-2004, 21:13
groovy,looks like its cheaper to buy direct from the states. anyway m8 how do you rate them are they really better than a tent from the viewpoint of comfort? are they really hard wearing?
I dont go anywear there are trees without my hennesy!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/verminhunter/stuarts/P1010001.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/verminhunter/stuarts/P1010055.jpg
the naughty boy
07-03-2004, 12:07
lol.i think thats just great m8. im convinced, just by the way stuart is lounging in front of his fire. how easy does it get? gotta get one. are they completly waterproof? does yours have a flysheet [ is it standard] just one question...do you just leave your rucksack underneath you . how tough is the materiel?
Hi
silly question but..... why pitch over water? surely insects, lower temp noise etc would make this unsuitable or am i missing something really obvious? :-?
Great pics though, the sort of thing that would (and is) tempting me to get one myself. Thanks for putting them up. I have used hammocks in the amazon (on holiday) years back and really enjoyed the experience. Contrary to popular belief they are hard to fall out of even after a taste or two of the local fire water :-)
Paul
silly question but..... why pitch over water? surely insects, lower temp noise etc would make this unsuitable or am i missing something really obvious?
It was done just for the pic..... It does make a nice photo :-)
Ed
It was done just for the pic..... It does make a nice photo :-)
Ed
fair enough!! Yes a nice pic, also very low profile using the land contours to make it hard to spot which is what I was guessing was the purpose. Yep, i think too much :oops:
Paul
I'm really looking forward to giving my Hennessy a try, and I get an opportunity this weekend!
are they completly waterproof?
the tarp which can be seen over the top is compleatly waterproof
the base is not as this would cause you end up with a sweaty back
does yours have a flysheet [ is it standard]
yes the fly sheet can be seen in the first picture and is standard
do you just leave your rucksack underneath you
you can put it in a bin bag underneath, but i pack extreamly light so i just use my very small back as a pillow inside (its worth noting that the hennesy hammock weights only around 800g including the tarp)
how tough is the materiel?
it doesnt feel like it should be very tough especially the tarp which is made of silicon nylon, however its much tougher than it looks, after a drunk sugercane worker crashed into mine on a motobike it showed no damage apart from snaping one of the thin guide lines which keeps the tarp taut (which had wrapped around the bike wheel)
It also survived a cyclone, but i did finally damage one when i dropped my knife inside one (dont use your knife in your hammock! :oops: )
why pitch over water?
That was done Just for the photo to show that you can pitch a hammock in places where you could never pitch a tent boggy ground, rocks, water, very steep slopes etc
Roving Rich
08-03-2004, 14:24
Blimey this an old thread !?
I have since become the proud owner of a hennessy, so far its been fun. But I look forward to some serious use now the weather is warming up.
Cheers
Rich
the naughty boy
08-03-2004, 19:35
im gutted, why didnt someone tell me about these earlier.the reason im gutted is that i have just bought two gortex bivvy bags with a view to sleeping out in the rough .now i gotta get one of these hammocks as they look the buisness!!! could my two kids share one end to end?
Hi
I just bought one from ebay.
any advice on pitching knots to use etc?
cheers,
Wayne,
Take a look at this post by Stuart:
http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/community/viewtopic.php?t=1285
Cheers
Should have thought of that as i used to do falconry.
Hi
I just bought one from ebay.
any advice on pitching knots to use etc?
cheers,
You dont use any knots to put up a hennesy hammock, the instuructions should be printed on the bag. basicly you wrap the webbing strap around the tree and tension the line then wrap the line around the webbing strip and itself in a fig of eight (like you do on a washing line or on a boat) the friction between the line is all it needs to hold you up though it take a little while to get used to this fact.
as i said there should be a diagram of it on the side of the bag, be careful the first few times untill you have it sussed
could my two kids share one end to end?
Um probably not as one end has a slit for you to get in, your weight on the other ned forces the slit closed but if the weight was distributed over the slit (ie sleeping in it the wrong way around) you could possably fall out
You get in like this:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/verminhunter/stuarts/P1010024.jpg
the naughty boy
10-03-2004, 21:05
want one want one want one want one want one want one!!!!!!!
anyone interested in a couple of bivvy bags?
Roving Rich
11-03-2004, 12:31
Keep your bivvy bag and use that aswell in the hammock, as an extra layer on cold nights, to keep you toasty.
Cheers
Rich
Or it might be usefulif you can't find any trees!!!
Keep your bivvy bag and use that aswell in the hammock, as an extra layer on cold nights, to keep you toasty.
Cheers
Rich
Roving Rich
11-03-2004, 12:46
You can also use the top as a basha if there are no trees.
:-D
Rich
If you have a couple of poles you can pitch it as a tent. Probably a good idea to put a sleeping mat under it to protect the hammock underside from getting spiked from debris on the ground though.
:-)
Ed
Hmmm....I may be bit late to this debate but has anyone tried the Pyramid Eco Hammock/sleep system? How does it compare to the Hennessy models? Grateful for any thoughts.
I took my Hennessy out for its first full outing at the weekend. The scouts - and several of the other leaders were fascinated, and most wanted to know what it was like inside.
Saturday night was both wet and windy down my way, but the hammock didn't really rock and I stayed dry inside (surprising myself, although I really should have been more trusting...!). I was comfy with a 3 season bag wrapped around like a quilt and my coat as a pillow; my boots hung up on the centre string and pushed down the far end.
However when it wasn't raining the temp dropped, and I hadn't really prepared for that. I was losing a lot of heat downwards. Next time I'll try some of the remedies for this posted on here. Also about a mile away was a party which had music that went on all night. At about 2.30 I gave in and crawled into my tent (I had put it up as storage for activity stuff) and army bag, which still didn't block the noise form the party! 2 hours worth of sleep later it was time to get up again and get the Scouts moving...
Regardless, I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to test the the hammock - the weekend after Easter at the very latest!
BTW: Hi Duncs, welcome aboard!
Never tried the Eco system, and (as seen above) am only just getting used to my Hennessy - I'm afraid.
Roving Rich
17-03-2004, 12:23
Womble, the folks I bought mine from swear by having a large sheepskin in the hennessy to sleep on .
Duncs - From what i have seeen of the Eco hammock you need a forklift truck to move it and a PHD in quipu to put it up.
We couldn't suss it, it was very complicated compared to the Hennessy, and we couldn't hang the mozzy net without large gaps.
Its a good idea, hammock, basha and net combined, so each can be used individually as required. But as a hammock its not a patch on the hennessy (which incorporates all 3) and considerably more expensive.
I went out and bought a hennessy 2 days later :wink:
Cheers
Rich
Thanks Rich - and for the welcome Womble! Where did you try the Eco system? I can't seem to download the clips from the Woodlore site to shed any light on it. :roll:
I wouldn't worry about the clips. They don't really show anything from what I remember!
Thanks Stew.
Does anyone have any experience with the Eco system or is everyone a Hennessy fan?
Fallow Way
19-03-2004, 14:27
I have not tried other sorts of hammocks, buti use the Eco and I find it very easy and very practical to use. I love it :-)
If you come down to the NEC we will have some HH's on display and you can try them out, we just have to find some trees's nearby that's all!
But we have to take them down at night as we have to take them back to the campsite, to sleep in :shock:
Cheers.
Jack.
Well I had been won over by my Hennesey for the past 6 months then one night a couple of weeks ago it was -3degrees 3 am and my hammock deceided to fail along the seam with the mesh netting.
I was rudely awakened and spent the rest of the night sleeping with the dog next to the fire!
It is an explorer deluxe a-sym designed for 300lbs I think I need to check my weight!
These things are not indestructable so take care and I'm not 300 lbs.
Still love hammocking just hope my girlfriend can fix it with her sewing machine.
Well I had been won over by my Hennesey for the past 6 months then one night a couple of weeks ago it was -3degrees 3 am and my hammock deceided to fail along the seam with the mesh netting.
I was rudely awakened and spent the rest of the night sleeping with the dog next to the fire!
It is an explorer deluxe a-sym designed for 300lbs I think I need to check my weight!
These things are not indestructable so take care and I'm not 300 lbs.
Still love hammocking just hope my girlfriend can fix it with her sewing machine.
Don't they come with a warranty against defects?
Brendan,
If your girlfriend has a sewing machine, why don't you make one, my basic design is on BCUK. My current model has "mozzi-net, therma-rest pocket & stash pocket down the sides. The skies the limit, think of a feature you want and build it into the design.
Neil
Yeah, I’d get on to them, their customer service is excellent and I'm sure you will have no problem getting it sorted out.
:biggthump
Sorry to hear about that. My a-sym exped ridge line snapped the second time I used it because I pulled myself up on it rather than push along the bottm, I rang the company I bought it from and they asked me to send the hammock back to them and they would send a new one to me. Anyway the point of this ramble is that you could give your suppliers a ring and see if it is covered by a guarentee as that rip should'nt have happened after just six months. Hope you get it sorted one way or another.
Taz
MagiKelly
02-12-2004, 17:03
Sorry to hear about that. My a-sym exped ridge line snapped the second time I used it because I pulled myself up on it rather than push along the bottm, I rang the company I bought it from and they asked me to send the hammock back to them and they would send a new one to me. Anyway the point of this ramble is that you could give your suppliers a ring and see if it is covered by a guarentee as that rip should'nt have happened after just six months. Hope you get it sorted one way or another.
Taz
Mine did the same thing and they offerred to replace it but it had snapped at the knot so i just made a new ridge line with a clip at one end so I could unclip the ridge line if I wanted to sit on the hammock like a chair without straining the ridge line.
Unforunately I have to say my dealings with Hennessy were less than excellent and I came close to having my credit card company get me a refund. The Hammock itself was fine but I was told it was on its way from London but it was not posted for another two weeks, after many emails from me querieing where it was, all unanswered. Then the Snake Skins were missing and no one would answer my emails. When the ridge line snapped I sent a really snotty email telling them how unhappy I was, in no uncertain terms. I then got a reply saying they would replace it, I declined and said I had fixed it anyway. They told me the Snake Skins would not fit the Hex Fly but had been sent so they would refund me the cost of the Snake Skins and I could keep them free of charge. I was quite happy about this as it seemed a fair outcome. Unfortunately the Snake Skins have never turned up and Hennessy have not replied to any of the four emails I sent letting them know they had not arrived. I did get the refund though so I can't complain too much but still I am not in the least impressed with their dealings with me.
I would recommend their hammocks but not their service.
dchinell
02-12-2004, 19:58
A summation of my experience with hammocks...
They're different and I like that. I find them more comfortable than the ground. They're not better than a bivy sack or tent, just better suited for some uses.
They're not any lighter than a tent when you factor in the additional thermal protection you need at low temps, but some models have the advantage that you can include or exclude various components to match the weather and bug situation.
For thermal protection on the bottom, the closed-cell foam pad works very well. Underquilts also work well. They have the advantage of letting you enjoy the "raw hammock" feeling. (Foam pads stiffen the hammock bed, and make it less flexible.) In my experience, reflective mylar (space blankets), reflectrix, and various combinations of blankets and pads are not effective.
The Hennessy Hammock is the star when it comes to a rugged, light, complete shelter system. Easy to pitch. Nothing missing and nothing extra. However, they are not as versatile as other hammocks. Since the ridgeline and mosquito netting are permanent you cannot use the HH as a simple lounger. You're either inside it or your're not. You can't set your coffee on the ground and sip away at it as you swing lazily beneath the open sky.
I prefer hammocks with a separate (double bottomed) base, mosquito net, and tarp. I refer to these as Speer type hammocks. You can easily make a test one for yourself without sewing a stitch:
http://www.imrisk.com/testhammock/testhammock.htm
I also like the Mosquito Hammock:
http://www.mosquitohammock.com
This is a heavier than the Hennessy, but every bit as good. Also a complete system, with a permanent bug net. However, the bugnet zips down the side for entry and egress. Also, the hammock can be turned over (bugnet down) and used as a lounger.
The Mosquito Hammock is my favorite manufactured hammock for overnight stays in the forest when the extra weight isn't a big factor. Otherwise, I like my variation of a Speer hammock, assembled with various purchased or home-made components. Finally, for light, fast trips, the HH is king.
Bear
Thanks Stew.
Does anyone have any experience with the Eco system or is everyone a Hennessy fan?
I have the full Eco system and am in mid review of it now ... but to summarize:
- It's a really robust bit of kit. No thin lines or plastic parts to break.
- Also, it's big. Really caverous and it wraps you up to protect you from the wind and rain.
- The separate tarp is a real bonus. You can get the tarp up and be underneath it setting up in minutes.
- It's really robust! Have I already said that?! Thick webbing, cordura parachute grade material, metal rings. It's not light but I doubt there's anything to break
- It's easy to get in and out of. I'm a pretty big guy and while I don't mind crawling through a hole in the end of a Hennessey, there's something satisfying getting in and out of an Eco normally.
- No annoying velcro!
- No separate tree huggers
I love it! But having said that, if you want a lighter package, then you can look at the Hennessey.
Thanks for the advice, I would get onto hennessey but I had modified the hammock by sewing a couple of strips of velcro onto it to attach a cold weather system. This has not affected the area that failed but I cannot exchange it after I have been dabbling. It should not be a problem to fix as the area is only about 9 inches long and I exited before any serious damage was done... I hope!
rapidboy
12-12-2004, 19:20
I would recommend their hammocks but not their service.
I have to say that they did eventually sort out my hammock problem but they dont return your mail and they do tell you they will do things and then dont bother.
Product - Good
Customer services - KAK
MagiKelly
12-12-2004, 22:57
I have to say that they did eventually sort out my hammock problem but they dont return your mail and they do tell you they will do things and then dont bother.
Product - Good
Customer services - KAK
I am quite relieved to hear that as I thought it was just me. Especially since they get such positive feedback. Still it would have been nice to get the free snake skins.
Corr, I wish I'd been offered this in the camping shop. Instead I'm carrying a hammock, a large mozzi net, a tarp and paracord!