Hi Hangers! This year will be a first for me in the BW, I'm going to hang! At 56 YO I'm tired of the ground! For years I have loved to nap I'm my hammock in camp and now want to get a full nights sleep in one. I have done lots of research and looking for some experienced opinions.
I don't have the funds to go all out for a trial run. I have found some economical starters.
I'm going " bridge" I'm 56yo 6'-4" 230lb and a die hard side sleeper and bridge looks like best option. Found a Lawson blue ridge on clearance for 95.00 and a REI Co-Op for 150.00 ?
Would love an under quilt, but back funds $$. I have a sea to summit comfort light insulated pad I plan to use with open bag or reg quilt

ON THE RIGHT TRACK??
Thanks

Welcome! Do you have a bug net? I used a closed cell foam pad under me and a sleeping bag on top for years and it worked fine. It's more important that your hang is right.

Both of these have built in nets and have fly's so should be set there. Doing my research on the "hang" as well

Welcome and look forward to some good nights sleep. Practice is the best research. I have adjusted up and down on either end, more and less taut and nearly any other adjustment you might consider until the sweet spot arrived. Your research will get you close and experience the rest of the way.
And pad and sleeping bag are just fine. Like others that is they way I started.

Shug is a you tuber you may be familiar with. Here's a whole how to series dedicated to the new hanger. Shug newbie series number 1

Shug sleeping in a bridge hammock for the first time

Thanks Tom
Shugn is a pretty interesting fellow! He does have some great info.

Great call on the bridge. My one push would be that before you spend $150 on an REI Co-Op bridge would be to watch a few videos and read reviews for the Warbonnet ridge runner. It is a few more bucks but 150% worth it.

Do not get the Lawson. I got one 10 yrs ago and the zipper was cheap, it ripped, and then on my trip the spreader bars broke. spent the last 2 nights sleeping on the ground under a tarp.

The Lawson looks cool, but it is a poor hammock. And, 10 yrs ago I only weighed 200 pounds and the thing still broke.

I then got the clark Jungle Hammock, but it's a little small if you are that long. I am sure they haves something for bigger guys though.

Now I have the Warbonnet Blackbird Extra Long. I will never switch from this hammock. It is the best one on the market IMO.

HI Brown
Well I did end up with the Lawson. Could not pass on it for a starter at 40.00 brand new. I will heed your warning and will be doing test hangs before I head in with it. I will also bring back up as well.
If hanging works out for me I will do an upgrade and looks like Warbonnet is threads choice! Just couldn't spend the funds upfront just yet, having made significant investments in upgrades in gear for my 2 sons this year.

What was the nature of your spreader failure? Any possibility's of a DIY fix or upgrade?

Thanks for the input!

Well you can't beat your price. I hope it works out for you. I recall it being a comfortable hammock, but the spreader bars and the zipper were cheaply made. One night the spreader bar near the head end just bent, snapped, and the hammock system wouldn't lie flat anymore and it became very uncomfortable. And with the zipper broken, I needed to get on the ground and cover up to get away from the bugs.

One thing, do get or make an underquilt. The hammock you have has no insulation at all and you will freeze without one. That's true for most hammocks, but I remember using the Lawson as a virgin hanger and I didn't have an underquilt, and I froze.

TBL

Check out the Snugpak underquilt for $60 or the Chill Gorilla underquilt for the same price. My wife and I use these and they both work great. Ive taken my snugpak down to the 20s with the correct rated sleeping bag and was fine. It is a little bigger than the ones that cost a few hundred and have down fill, but honestly, i can't justify it right now. Also having used a sleeping pad in a hammock for a while, I can say that an underquilt is infinitely better.

Atrain: "Check out the Snugpak underquilt for $60 or the Chill Gorilla underquilt for the same price. My wife and I use these and they both work great. Ive taken my snugpak down to the 20s with the correct rated sleeping bag and was fine. It is a little bigger than the ones that cost a few hundred and have down fill, but honestly, i can't justify it right now. Also having used a sleeping pad in a hammock for a while, I can say that an underquilt is infinitely better. "

Did some test hangs and gave up on pad as well I went with a underquilt by Lawson built for the Blue ridge 80.00. I did pick up a Snugpack for my son who is going to hang with me. Both of us newbs. I also gave up on the sleeping bag unzipped. Built my own top quilt from a kit by ripstop by the roll. It came out great! Made a great pillow and stuff sack for both out of the leftovers.

Headed to the Rockford wing night/weekend to hang and get more info and tips from some vet hangers there!