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Fire Safety
A few words of caution when using tents in a wilderness situation. As the material of modern tents is usually extremely flammable, or at the very least, melts easily, it is important to keep the tent well away from fire. Also, as fresh air ca
HAMMOCKS
Hammocks are truly unique shelters with a large number of benefits and very few drawbacks. Hammock camping is still relatively unknown but is becoming increasingly popular. Hammocks are now so much more than a net slung between two trees; they have become truly high-performing suspended tents.
When compared to a regular tent, hammocks present a number of important benefits. You don’t need to search for flat, open ground to set up a hammock. All you need is two anchor points about 12 to 15 feet apart. These anchor points can be trees, fence poles, large boulders, vehicle roof racks or any combination of the above. With a hammock, it doesn’t matter if the ground is wet or covered in snow. I’ve seen hammocks slung up above a swamp, with a canoe tethered underneath. Rocky or uneven ground or hillsides are not a problem when using a hammock. In fact, the ability to sling up a hammock in inhospitable terrain is a great asset if you wish to keep a lower profile. Being above ground, you’re far away from a
Comfort
A hammock is not a compromise of comfort for lower equipment weight. The hammock is actually more comfortable than a normal tent. As you are above the ground, you do not have any problems with hard spots or uneven terrain features. This also means you won’t need as thick a sleeping mat as the sleeping mat is now only there to insulate you from the cold rather than to provide padding over hard ground. When the hammock is of good design and correctly slung, and you adopt the right position, there is better and more flexible support for your body, which prevents stiffness and provides a generally more restful sleep since you won’t roll around as much in search of comfort. The hammocks I use have a ridgeline ru
Environmental Co
The hammock allows a better co
Carrying and Storing
Hammocks are lightweight and pack up small as there are no poles to worry about. The He
One of the models visible in the photographs actually includes an extremely lightweight, reflective pad, which will remove the need for a separate sleeping pad.
Should you end up in an area where there are no suitable suspension points, you can actually set up the hammock on the ground with the aid of hiking poles or some shorter sticks, in which case the hammock will function in the same way a small hiking tent would, except for the heavy waterproof groundsheet. You may wish to put a tarp on the ground first if it’s wet.
Chair Functionality
While a tent is only for sleeping, the hammock can also be used as a chair while the flysheet will give you enough space to perform your daily chores out of the rain.
Setting Up Your Hammock
Depending on the model, the hammock will need from 10 to 16 feet of space between the two anchor points. The hammocks I use from He
A carabiner is useful to co
1.Suspend the hammock. Co
2.Retie your knots. When you’re happy with the way the hammock is arranged, tie the knot at the head end off properly. While there are a number of suitable knots you can use, I recommend starting with the knots suggested by the manufacturer as they are designed with the type of suspension used in the hammock in mind.