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Hammocking: A pictorial Guide

Written by British Red

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Hammocking: A pictorial Guide
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So my back is warm – now my front.

A sleeping bag has two major disadvantages in a hammock. Firstly you are carrying more than you need to (in that the part underneath you does not insulate being compressed). Secondly they are a right pain to get into and out of inside a hammock.

Enter the quilt! Of course you can use an unzipped sleeping bag, wool blanket or even a bed quilt – but this is the best solution I have seen!

As you can see – this is a top quilt made from compressible “sleeping bag like” material. There is a bucket to tuck your feet into and two side panels to tuck under your back to stop the quilt coming adrift in the night.

Simplicity itself to get into and out of and much smaller than a sleeping bag! I’m half pulling myself out here so that you can see the arrangement. When you lie down its like being in a big warm cocoon (but from outside you can’t see much).

That’s the basic warmth taken care of – now lets get dry!

A tarp is suspended above the hammock. I use a 3m by 3m square tarp. Some use longer or shorter types. They can be pitched as a diamond to increase “front to back” length or as a square to increase working / sitting area underneath. I vary mine by the weather and the pitch site.

Paracord is quite sufficient to make a ridgeline for your tarp – it won’t be bearing any weight after all. A useful trick is to attach another piece of paracord at each end of the tarp and tie to the ridgeline in a prussic knot. This allows the tarp to be stretched tight along the ridgeline and to be re-positioned along the ridge. Leaving a trailing end on the knot acts as a “drip line” meaning water won’t run along the ridgeline inside the tarp.

A guy line is attached to each corner of the tarp. I sue orange ones in company – they save many a trip and stumble. If on my own or wanting to “blend in” I use green ones.

As you can see, this tarp leaves lots of room underneath to sit, cook etc. and is more than big enough to protect from even sideways rain.

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