I am in the market for a first hammock/tarp combo for camping. Really interested in this because I can't remember the last good sleep I had on the ground in the BWCA.

Looking at a Dutchward Chameleon for a starter. I know there will be lots of thoughts out there....glad to hear any input.

I guess I'd like to pick something up so I can try my pad in it, or get an underquilt.

It looks like some places are not making and delivering gear at this time. My trip in May 31.

Thanks all.

If you know you can sleep in a hammock and will be back to the BWCA/Q many times, get a quality set up. Lot's of pro and con opinion posts already here on site. If your not sure you could actually sleep in one than I would say borrow one from a friend to try at home first. Or you can buy a cheapy to try at home.

There is a bit of learning curve with a hammock set up. But once you get it dialed in it's the best! I know its not for everybody. Cant tell you how sick I got of waking up in my tent with a stiff back and dead arm. I sleep better in my hammock than I do in my Bed. Its actually hard for me to wake up early in my hammock. But I know it's not for everyone. So Jim has a good point, see if you can try one out first. Any cottage vendor is going to have a good product. Dutchware is a good one. If your gonna start with the pad, I would get a double layer hammock. When I first tried sleeping in my hammock I used a pad, and it slides all over the place. A double layer hammock will give you a spot to slide it in between the two layers and help lock it in place. I went with an Underquilt almost immediately and it's awesome. Noting like being cocooned in down! If you decide to buy a tarp, I would recommend one with doors. They are nice to have when the rain is coming in side ways. If you need more in depth Info check out HammockForums.net pretty much the birthplace of hammock camping.

I agree with Trailchief in that it’s hard to want to get up in the morning when in a good hammock. I’ve heard very good things about the Chameleon. I use a Warbonnet Blackbird and it’s great. I first used a pad in a slot under me but believe me, when I got a full size underquilt it really made a difference in comfort. Have fun shopping!

pastorjsackett: "
I am in the market for a first hammock/tarp combo for camping. Really interested in this because I can't remember the last good sleep I had on the ground in the BWCA.

Looking at a Dutchward Chameleon for a starter. I know there will be lots of thoughts out there....glad to hear any input.

I guess I'd like to pick something up so I can try my pad in it, or get an underquilt.

It looks like some places are not making and delivering gear at this time. My trip in May 31.

Thanks all.
"

email sent to you.

Not a bad starter set up.
But would need an underquilt also.

I read the suggested HG offer includes the UQ . Heck of a deal!

Great information and suggestions above, and leaving the ground has been a game changer for me as well. It's a real rabbit hole, this hammock camping, and places like hammockforums.net will provide a lot of excellent information. Be sure to check out Shug's videos. Once you decide to take the plunge, my recommendation would be to buy once and cry once. There are a ton of cheap products out there to get one into hammocking, but if you have the money and demand quality I would stick with the made in USA cottage vendors that really know the needs of their customers and put out an excellent product. You mention the Chameleon so I know you are researching, but if you haven't yet, check out Hammock Gear , Enlightened Equipment , Underground Quilts , Dutchware Gear as well as others.
My personal current favorite setup:
Dutchware Chameleon hammock with spider/poly straps
Warbonnet Superfly 20d sil-poly tarp on a zing-it continuous ridgeline
Hammock Gear Incubator 20 degree underquilt
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 30 degree top quilt
and Dutch bling throughout to make setup easy and quick.
But there are endless possibilities......

I started with a $20 hammock from woot.com, put my pad in it, stretched a $20 Coleman bug net over it and slept under my CCS 12x12 tarp.

After deciding that it worked for me, I bought a Dutchwear Chameleon, 20 degree Economy top and bottom quilt from Hammock Gear, and the Journey tarp from Hammock Gear. Love it. About 6 pounds for the whole setup.

All such good and wise comments. Thanks.

I actually talked to "solo" today on the phone about some gear he is wanting to part with. Might be just the ticket....

I just purchased my first hammock after many hours of "research." Went with a WBBB 1.1 double layer (for pad option and mosquito protection).

Main reasons over the Dutch Cham was the shelf and the tie outs that pull the net farther away from your face. New model can also setup for reverse lay. It's a thoughtful design, super comfy and yes, it looks very cool.

Have a 20 degree underquilt and Winterdream tarp coming from UGQ.

Best price on a quality underquilt cover is from 2QZQ.

I'm currently hanging in the basement, it's my new nap space and I'm digging it. Can't wait to get between some trees.

It sounds like you're off to a good start here with lots of great info. One thing I didn't see yet is that there are two distinct types of hammock. The gathered end which is by far the most common and the bridge setup. A bridge is different in that there are spread bars pushing the hammock open at both ends which also pulls UP the middle for less of a sag. It's not for everyone, but I've been very happy with the Warbonnet Ridge Runner. It has a built in net and the option of using a built in sleeping pad sleeve or using an underquilt. It requires a little wider tarp, but that's a small price to pay.

If you're interested in trying setups out, this is a great time of year to do it with cool nights still in the 30's. I'd be happy to lend mine out for a few days if you're around the TC area so you can get a feel for it. I haven't used it since last fall so it should be CV-19 free.

Good point Vaderstorm. Another design that seems relatively new is the AMOK Draumr. Flat lay and a recliner mode for day sitting.

I started with a Clark NX-150 quite a few years ago and then two years ago upgraded to the NX-270.
If there's a better hammock out there it's been kept a secret to me.
Mr. Clark retired about a year ago and took the business into retirement with him. He didn't want them being produced without his direct participation.
But!!! He was very impressed by the folks at Dutch Wear and sold the rights to them.
This was quite a relief to the countless Clark Hammock fans.
These are not the Cadillacs of the hammock world - they're Limousines.
Clark Hammocks - simply the best.

KarlBAndersen1: "I started with a Clark NX-150 quite a few years ago and then two years ago upgraded to the NX-270.
If there's a better hammock out there it's been kept a secret to me.
Mr. Clark retired about a year ago and took the business into retirement with him. He didn't want them being produced without his direct participation.
But!!! He was very impressed by the folks at Dutch Wear and sold the rights to them.
This was quite a relief to the countless Clark Hammock fans.
These are not the Cadillacs of the hammock world - they're Limousines.
Clark Hammocks - simply the best. "

Hey Karl. We should do a weekend swap sometime because I feel the exact same about my spread bar WB RidgeRunner.