Hey Everyone,

I had a post a few down the board and settled on a hennessy, the bigger rainfall, got an underquilt, found a pillow I like, and been hanging in the basement waiting for snow to melt. Thanks for all all info on there! I'll be sleeping outside at the cabin as much as I can this spring to get the hang of setup and hopefully experience some adverse weather conditions. My next BWCA trip is in 5 weeks up through Lac La Croix for a week.

My question is what little tricks do you do to get your setup how you like both inside and out? I understand tree strap placement with the foot end slightly higher, get the rain fly right, face the right direction for wind and rain, nylon stretches, and bring a little ground mat to step out on to. Anything else you'd say "I wish I knew earlier" or that you do each time to improve your experience?

I'm combing old posts collecting everything I can too! Thanks in advance.

It sounds like you’ve done your research and are well on your way to enjoying the bliss of hammocking. Practicing your hang setups before your wilderness trip is the biggest favor you can do for yourself.
One tip I learned early on that i especially appreciated was staying dry in the rain by simply putting up my rainfly first then the hammock. Likewise, when breaking camp is taking down the rainfly last. It’s really nice getting everything else set up dry under some shelter.
I know that seems like an obvious plan but if you’re used to setting up your tent in the rain and then putting your rainfly on, maybe not…

Best of luck, you’re going to love tree hanging.

I wish I knew all the little stuff beforehand. All the line options (zing it) to the hardware that can quickly deploy a tarp (dutch wasps, fleas, flies, etc). Those have made my hammock experience a little more enjoyable with ease of set-up.

Like Shug always mentions, enjoy the process. There’s always going to be new ways to do things as well as learning curves.

I swapped the ropes on my Hennessy for Dutch poly straps and Beetle Buckles. A world of a difference! Strongly suggest you do the same. Less complicated, lighter, less bulk, quicker, and far easier to make adjustments. I can't for the life of me understand why Hennessy is glued to those archaic ropes.

Lots of places on YouTube to show you how to do the modification. It's really quite simple. You'll need:

12-15' poly straps
Beetle Buckles
Two Dyneema continuous loops
Two zip ties

Is that to replace the tree straps that come from hennessy then? What changes by doing this? Just easier to make adjustments?

I did order some dutchware wasps thanks to Tundra above. Was wonder how people handled the nylon stretch using knots! What's a few more items at this point :)

Nm, found some videos. My wife is being proven right often from the moment I said I think I'm going to a hammock and it will cost X. Then she said, "I wonder how much this will actually cost by the time you are done." By the time I make it to the trip we will see!

TCon17: "Is that to replace the tree straps that come from hennessy then? What changes by doing this? Just easier to make adjustments?


I did order some dutchware wasps thanks to Tundra above. Was wonder how people handled the nylon stretch using knots! What's a few more items at this point :)"

It's not "just" easier. It's a big thing. If it's not level, or too taught or too loose, you'll need to untie your knot, adjust and retie. Inevitably that's what you'll be doing. And those ropes will stretch a bit.

Also, I forgot to mention, you need tree straps to go with those ropes. What size straps? Trees are all different sizes. Just more bulk in my opinion. Do yourself a favour and at least Google "Hennessy suspension modifications" and you'll see why so many Hennessy hangers have switched. I first tried the option with the rappelling rings and it was an improvement but still bulky and requiring those blessed tree straps.

Watching Tom Hennessy's instructional video on how "simple and efficient" it is to use his suspension system is akin to an accountant singing the praises of an abacus.

Thank you Argo! Ordered straps, beetle clips, and continuous loops.

I really like a ridgeline gear organizer to put my essentials in. I got mine from Dutchware but I’m sure many vendors make them.

I also loop my headlamp around the ridgeline for a night light and clip my water bottle up there with a carabiner for the inevitable late night cottonmouth

On your ridgeline, attach a little lantern like this with a little clip like this.