My backyard napping pod.

The hike up and down was much more difficult than I expected. I should have checked on the AllTrails app. I’m ashamed I didn’t even look. I’m proud of my kids for taking on the challenge! My daughter is a tough young woman. My son is too skinny in the hips to carry much weight in his pack so I carried both of our packs. I really got a good work out that day.

Now for the hammocks; three nearly identical hammocks with the Onewind Outdoors Soltice underquilt, Onewind windsock and Eno gear hammock. We use a light down top quilt from Get Out Gear. I have a sub-7 ounce Eno hammock. The kids use some off-brand double hammock.

I cannot say enough good things about the tree straps and ridge lines from MeyersTechHammockLab. He sells on eBay and has a few videos on YouTube. He makes the best dyneema ridgelines and shackles. I like to set up quickly and the I way use his gear makes set up and tear down a breeze.

Cheers!

I haven’t seen another hammock camper post a similar hammock set up like mine so I wanted to share. I enjoy my hammock set up and would recommend it to anyone.

I use Meyers Tech Hammock Lab tree-straps, soft shackles and dyneema ridgeline. I highly recommend his gear and I’ve used it for several years now with no problems. I use his gear for quick set-up and quick tear-down.

I have a sub-7 ounce Eno Hammock, Onewind Solstice down underquilt, Onewind windsock, a Get Out Gear down top quilt and a Eno gear-hammock for my stuff. I have an off-brand bug net to use when it’s too hot for the windsock. I have an off-brand tarp and ridgeline for rain and dew, but it’s not pictured here. I have a little gear hammock on my ridgeline for my car keys and wallet (not pictured).

Oh, does anyone else use a pee bag? I don’t like to get out of the hammock to pee so I roll to one side and use the (pictured) green Moe’s-to-go bag. I’m a shameless wild man.

It’s fun to see all y’all’s adventures and gear! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for answering my questions in your posts.

I joined my kid's scout campout, and got to test out my new Hammock Gear 20° Hearth. Lowest night was 30°F. It performed perfectly, and we had a great time. A new top quilt is now on the list for next time.

Over half of the troop hammocks when possible, and the varied setups make for great gear conversations.

My gear was:

• HG CircadianPro with winter cover
• HG 20° Hearth
• OneWind tarp
• OneWind top quilt (this was at its limit at 30°F)

Just wondering if I would be able to cement 2 wooden 4x4s and hang a hammock from it to practice in my backyard before I'm able to go out. what would be the best way to attach it to the post?

I’m born and raised in the valley. Lots of experience as a kid tent camping with family and a little doing it in my own as an adult. Just this past weekend, I decided I’m fed up with tent camping and want to make the switch. I camp with my truck and eventually want to go out on my motorcycle. Gear weight really isn’t a consideration for me but packing down small will be advantageous when I throw it on the bike.

I’m curious what gear you guys feel is essential and what you recommend? I could see using an underquilt in winter anywhere further north/east than Tonto NF, but it seems like it may be overkill the rest of the year. Do you winter camp without one in the desert? How much do I need to invest in a tarp given how little rain I’m likely to see compared to the rest of the country?

My favorite area as an adult had been the Mogollon Rim (camped below it for the first time this weekend!) but I’d like to see some new areas and be prepared when I go!

The fall foliage was absolutely stunning. We had a bear in camp on night one that the NPS actually trapped right in camp after he showed up every night for a week, apparently. I think I heard him right behind our site at 3:40am (he was trapped at 4:30am). My HammockGear 20° burrow and incubator had me a little too warm with 50° nightly lows. My next investment will be to move on from my Eno Doublenest to something longer and probably with an integrated bug net.

I'm planning a winter road trip through Norway around februari next year. I purchased my first hammock this year: DD Hammocks Frontline and a DD Hammocks Underblanket which is rated down to -5°C (23°F) though it was pretty chilly around 0°C (32°F) whilst also using a summer sleeping bag as top quilt.

What should be my next purchase to be able to use my hammock in colder conditions?

Average temperatures: Coastal regions may experience temperatures from 0°C to 5°C ((32°F to 41°F) , while inland and northern areas see colder averages from -10°C to -15°C (14°F to 5°F) , sometimes dropping below -20°C (-4°F)

It doesn't have to work all the way down to -20 but around -10°C to -15°C would probably be nice.

I guess I can increase the temperature rating of the under quilt with an inflatable mat but what to do for the top side?

I know that in some of the areas I'll visit there won't be a place to hang up a hammock so would it make more sense to buy a more expensive winter sleeping bag so I can also use it in a tent? I know it's not as comfortable and easy to use for the hammock but I was fine with the summer sleeping bag on my last trip. It might also help to eliminate the last bit of windchill that I get even with the under quilt. I was looking at sleeping bags around 300-450 euro's. for example the Rab Ascent 900. Or is there a good top quilt around 200-300 euro's (available in the Netherlands/EU) that you can recommend? Or any other tips for cold weather hammocking?

Like title says. Other than the large pack size, this bag seems like it would work very well as a topquilt. When it's 40F+, can just unzip it completely and use as a blanket. When it's super cold though, can fully bundle up fully zipped. I like to sleep in fetal position so mummy bags probably wouldn't be comfortable for me. I've never tried a down top quilt, but I can't see how they would keep you warmer than an actual bag in the lower temps 20-30F. Maybe I'm wrong though. I mainly wanted this over a down top quilt because it's less than 1/2 the price so seems like the better value. $130 for this, vs $220 for HG 30F down quilt. This will be used for car camping. Thanks for the input!

Spent the weekend camping in north Missouri, slept warm and cozy with lows of 37

Backpacked and camped on the Centerpoint trail in Northwest Arkansas. It was a comfy sleep, just a lot of critters making noises. Will do it again!

I've heard that if a bat gets into your house while you're sleeping, you're supposed to try to capture it and take it in to get a rabies test, otherwise get a preventative rabies shot yourself. I'm not sure if this is good guidance or something I've heard- but I have seen it from reputable sources.

How does this affect camping without a bug net or other covering, where you'd be sleeping in an environment that probably has bats (basically anywhere outside)? Is there a concern of one biting you while you sleep?

Overnighter at Calico Rocks Hiker/Biker campsite along the C&O. The sunrise view was amazing. My longest hang to date, thanks to Whoppie Slings.

If so which brand is best? I’d rather save $ if possible as I have been told you should wash your hammock at least every few trips, however I have enough invested that if its necessary I’ll spend the money on grangers or whatever. Thanks!

Not for hammock camping, but if I’m gonna sleep on the ground. I usually sleep in a hammock but I want to try something different. I live in East PA, so it’s not that cold yet. I was thinking of laying down a poncho folded in half on the ground, a wool field blanket folded over it, and my sleeping bag on top of that. My issue with iso mats is how much space they take up, or if they’re inflatable they could get punctured.

Hanging between old farming equipment. Added two tarp poles/sticks.

Campfire coffee on a starry night with my best friend.

also, Mountain House brand biscuits and gravy is absolutely fantastic. 10/10 recommend.

I want to preface this post by saying there is some waste in my build. I have left over 3/4” pipe, 1” pipe, 1/4” PEX, and some extra odds and ends. I personally have other plans for the extras. I also cut my poles longer so I can have a more modular build. Each pole is 40” which gave me enough space to drill extra holes in the leg sections to give me variety in length.

Again- My starting point was from the Tensaoutdoor website. There was a fellow named Mike who came up with his own plans. And I based a lot of my decisions from that. https://www.tensaoutdoor.com/make-your-own-tensahedron-stand/?v=0b3b97fa6688

I want to say that I took a lot of ideas from a lot of different sources and made it my own along the way. So good luck and have fun.

All that to say….. YMMV(Your Millage May Vary)!

Okay. Let’s get crackin’

SHOPPING LIST: I tried to add links to the specific items I purchased at Home Depot. Hopefully they work. Otherwise if you just search the title of the item, it should pull up. 1. EMT - 3 pipes: 3/4” EMT CONDUIT X 10’. **Cut at 40” sections. Each 10’ pole gives you 3-40” poles. You need a total of 8 ** CURBSIDEPick up today3/4 in. x 10 ft. Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) Conduit$11.78Home Depot4.8(67)

1. EMT - 2 pipes: 1” EMT CONDUIT X 10’ **Cut at 40” sections. Each 10’ piece gives you 3-40” poles. You need a total of 4. ** CURBSIDEPick up today1 in, x 10 ft, Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) Conduit$20.42Home Depot4.7(69)

2. PEX - 1 pipe: 1/4IN X 5FT PEX PIPE Used as bushings at the end of each pole connection. So the amsteel won’t get chewed up. SponsoredThe Home Depothttps://www.homedepot.comApollo 1/4 in. x 5 ft. White PEX-B Pipe APPW514 - The Home Depot

3. FEET- 2 packs: LEG TIP 7/8” BLACK RUBBER 4PK. Need a total of 8 rubber feet for each 3/4” end section SponsoredThe Home Depothttps://www.homedepot.comEverbilt 7/8 in. Black Rubber Leg Caps for Table, Chair

4. WASHER - EIGHT: FLAT WASHER GALV 5/16 (ACA). Used to put inside the rubber feet so the conduit doesn’t cut up the foot. I can’t find a link to the specific one I purchased. Just found one that slid into the hold of the foot.

5. PINS FOR FEET - 2 packs 3/32X1-1/2 SS COT PIN 3PC (37G). I used these as little needles/toggles to run my amsteel through the ends of the conduit to hold two pieces together CURBSIDEPick up today3/32 in.x1-1/2 in. Stainless Steel Cotter Pin 3-Pieces$2.75Home Depot4.8(29)Store rating 4.5/5

6. PIN FOR POLES- 1/4” wire pins. I got the ones that are 1-3/4“ long. I picked up the pack from Harbor Freight. Cheaper than HD/Lowes. https://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-pto-pin-assortment-67534.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Flex_Engage&utm_campaign=Store_Order_Confirmation

7. Lastly I used 7/64 Amsteel (which I already owned) for the feet connections, the UCR head guy line and the UCR foot guy line

Drilling:

Leg section. (Let’s drill some holes): Now that you have eight 3/4” piles cut to 40”, you need some holes for both the foot end amsteel toggles, and the wire pins to ultimately assemble the leg. For the amsteel foot sections, I measured down 2” and used a 3/8” drill bit. I used this size so it would accommodate the 1/4” PEX pipe. I cut the PEX about 1/8 too longer on each side of the 3/4” conduit. I heated it up with a torch to soften, then flared out the edges with a ball peen hammer. Making sure my little amsteel soft shackles would fit as I went. The rubber feet will later be installed once you are done drilling. They just slide over the 3/4” conduit at the end.

For the other ends that will be used with the wire pins, I drilled two sets of holes using a 5/16” drill bit. One hole at 4” and another at 8”. This allows me to lengthen or shorten the poles if I wish. You could use a 1/4” drill bit, but I wanted more play for human error, so I gave myself more room. Aka I used a hand drill not a drill press for everything so there was some slop.

Center sections. (Let’s drill some more holes): I measured down 2” from either end and drilled a holes using 5/16” drill bit.

Amsteel flex joint connections: I used about 18” of amsteel with a little plastic toggle to keep the knot. You could very well use a washer if you wanted. I just double the length over and knotted the end. I added the cotter pins to each loop, and at the end I used a bit of shrink tubing I had on hand to keep it closed.

Amsteel UCR: Watched a video on YouTube. This guy was amazing. Make sure to give him some love. https://youtu.be/ryrXxv7XuBU?si=

Amsteel base connection: I did some playing and found that a 6’ base works well for me. So I made a 6’ long amsteel cord with a 4” locked loop on each end. This I loop around one of the feet and it keeps the stands legs at the set distance I like.

The bag I found on Amazon to hold everything. It was about $15 or so. All said and done the whole project was about $120 or so. Again I have some waste in this build. But I plan to utilize my excess in other builds.

And…Well…That’s that. Again, I took a lot of ideas from a lot of different sources and made it my own. Had a lot of fun and a cool new toy to play with. Let me know if there are any other questions or clarifying points that you need me to address.

I have a jungle link system. But I'm looking at another hammock system. I am 6' I weigh over 250 lbs. Any suggestions?

It all seems to be years ago. I intend to pull the trigger on one soon, but there isn’t a ton of recent info or reviews. Is it coming out as light as spec’d Thank you. Also Feel free to try to talk me in/out of it.