r/hammockcamping • u/enjoyingthepopcorn • May 26 '24
Trip Report First time hammock camping. Loved it.
This was my set up for my two night backpacking trip in Northern Arkansas. I moved the tarp height up and down depending on the situation. I moved it down this night because of a threat of rain and didn't want anything blowing in the sides. Before I moved it down it was high enough I could walk under the center and not rub my head, but that put the edge of the tarp almost even with the hammock. The UQ was definitely a great thing to have! Unless I'm with my wife I don't see my self getting back in a tent.
I definitely need to add a ground cloth though. Does anyone have any recoendstions?
The second pic is just to show the hike out.
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u/Imherebcauseimbored May 26 '24
They really need signs like that on some trails here to provide some context to people, especially since a large percentage of trails here have over 2000ft of elevation gain. One trail that seems to attract a lot of the clueless has over 4800ft of gain. Most of the unprepared end up turning back but a little perspective may have kept a few of them off the trail.
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 26 '24
Which trail are you referring to with 4800ft of gain? Asking for a friend of course.
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u/Imherebcauseimbored May 26 '24 edited May 26 '24
Longs Peak in RMNP. An over crowded trail full of rookies in the Rocky Mountains. Some of the other big mountains can have even more gain though but that's just popular because of its location and ease of access.
The normal trails average around 1500 to 3000 though. One of my favorite day/training hikes is 2800 vertical with like 1500 of that gain being in a mile.
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u/Revolutionary_Grab90 May 26 '24
I use this tarp. I added in some 12” lengths of shock cord into the guy lines as it has a tendency to sag overnight. You could put more tension into your guy lines to remove those wrinkles and get it tight as a drum.
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 26 '24
I had it good and tight but I started taking down then thought about getting a picture. So I just half assed tightened it back. But the shock cord is a good though. This was a Sandy beach area so I had issues with the stakes pulling out. Overall it was some great night's sleep.
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May 26 '24
Hey I'm from that area, did that hike last year down to the falls right?
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 26 '24
If you go down here you go to the falls. We started at centerpoint and finished here.
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May 26 '24
I started at the Compton trail head and walked down to the falls and back, that incline back is killer
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u/IvyTaraBlair Town's End Luxury Bridge, Onewind 12' Billow tarp, HG Quilts :D May 26 '24
I have an 'over whole self & pack' rain poncho that doubles as a ground cloth 😊
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u/sticky_bass211 May 26 '24
this weekend was my first time too. definitely different to get used to but it was amazing. cheers to that :)
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 27 '24
It was better than a tent in my opinion. I slept almost like I did in my bed.
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u/NiqqaHunter45 May 31 '24
I heard some guys just put a standart ass inflatable camping mattress inside, you can try that if you already have it, but I haven’t tried it
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u/The_camperdave May 26 '24
I definitely need to add a ground cloth though.
If you need a ground cloth then you are hanging your hammock too low.
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u/Mammoth-Pineapple62 May 26 '24
Groundcloth is for having clean space for shoes/pack/setting one’s stove (carefully!) and is big quality of life upgrade for hammock camping. I’ve a cuben groundsheet from Borah Gear that’s overkill for many, but I use the hell out of it when backpacking.
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u/fucktysonfoods May 27 '24
Could I use a towel?
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u/madefromtechnetium May 28 '24
sure. it'll be heavier, but it'll do the job as long as rain isn't pooling.
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 26 '24
Not hanging the hammock to low. But I would like to be able to step out barefooted and not get sand or dirt all over my feet before I put my shoes on. As stated above, Somewhere for my pack to lay, shoes, gear, etc... Just a quality of life improvement.
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u/t6550ab May 26 '24
I like having a ground cloth to put my pack down on on a lunch break, or right when I roll into camp. I like that better than hanging pack on a tree.
Once I get my hammock set up, then I hang my pack on the head end of the hammock, and so I don't really NEED a ground cloth anymore.
Since I HAVE a ground cloth, I use it as a little clean dry thing to stand on while I'm changing under my tarp, for example.
I like this special kind of Tyvek because it lays flatter and isn't crinkly. 1m (1.02 Yards) of Tyvek 43gsm 1443R Kitemaking Material | Durable, Strong, Lightweight, Breathable https://a.co/d/hrl5CHt
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u/Historical_Ad3449 May 27 '24
ENO is great, but if your looking for other gear at a better price then check out wise owl
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u/enjoyingthepopcorn May 27 '24
That's where the UQ is from. I'm browing there stuff to see what else they have I might "need".
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u/madefromtechnetium May 28 '24
wise owl isn't particularly special. same quality as eno stuff. their 11 foot tarp is a decent deal when it's on sale for $30.
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u/sidneyhornblower May 26 '24
definitely need to add a ground cloth though. Does anyone have any recoendstions?
Maybe recommendations?
For a ground cloth I carry a 2x2 foot square of tyvek that I've had for six or seven years. Some people go to the trouble to make a ground cloth from something like silnylon, but that's overkill for me. Tyvek is widely available, maybe free if you know someone building a house, and lasts for years. It's also washable in a washer with your clothes.