BWCA Hammock -vs- Tent Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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      Hammock -vs- Tent     

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02/06/2013 04:48AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Taking a survey,

I would like to what your preference is Tent or Hammock and why,

I would also like to know what is your worst experience in your tent or hammock.
 
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02/06/2013 07:08AM  
I know how much some people love their hammocks but I'm a tent guy. I like to room. I have difficulty sleeping in a hammock. I don't know why but I just don't sleep very well if at all. That plus the room that allows me to spread out my gear and not wake up to get dressed in the rain/snow/cold/insect cloud (pick one). If you like hammocks by all means have at it. The things I do like about a hammock is the weight you save and the space that is saved in the pack.

As for the worst experience a friend and I were on Agnes when a huge T-Storm blew up overnight. The tent was a two man Ted Williams backpack model with external poles and tie outs. The %&$#ing thing came down three times that night no matter how we tried to keep it standing. It leaked like a screen door and there was a puddle an inch deep in the center. The air mattress deflated because I kept moving it around to avoid the water and hit something that caused a slow leak. This was in the days of the old time sleeping bags with a batten filling. It was all I could afford so the cheap &%$#ing bag soaked up water like a sponge. We took two extra days at the campsite just to dry out.

Now it's one of those camping stories that I use to justify a new gear purchase. :)
 
02/06/2013 08:01AM  
Tent guy like the extra room, getting dress in the rain. I've never slept in a hammock so i can't comment on them.

Worst tent experience once we had a little water from rain on the floor, but that was more from bad tent placement, never had one fall down in the wind, just good things to say about tents.
 
02/06/2013 08:54AM  
Hammock guy since 2009.

Worst experience was water inside the tent but also just discomfort in the joints when waking up. There also was the time when sharing a tent with my snoring Dad for a week. Not good. The smells arent the greatest either.

Worst in a hammock was last Sept. when it got down to the mid 20's with wind and my under insulation was inadeqate. Operator error on this one. I actually like getting dressed when I use the hammock because it doubles as a chair. Really nice to put on socks and boots this way.



 
removedmember1
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02/06/2013 03:09PM  
Since you are posting in the Solo Tripping forum I have to say hammock when I'm solo. The comfort and light weight are hard to beat. Tent when travelling with my wife.

Worst experience in a tent: Leakage

Worst experienece in a hammock: Getting stung by an Asian tiger mosquito (in the midwest) through the bottom fabric into the head and feeling feverish for several days.
 
OBX2Kayak
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02/06/2013 07:16PM  
Hammock for four years. Never slept better.

Many sleepless nights in the tent.
 
02/06/2013 07:36PM  
I use them both.
Hammock whenever I can - on solos and some group trips.
Tent when needing to share space. Usually tripping with family or spouse.

Only problem in tent has been leaking.
No problems with hammock.
 
ZaraSp00k
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02/06/2013 08:18PM  
I prefer a hammock, but since mine is open with no fly or bug screen, I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, perhaps it is just because the conditions have to be a perfect night to use my hammock that I enjoy it more, the conditions are simply better

but I also like my tent, I often sleep without the rain fly, I guess i like to see the sky and stars
 
02/06/2013 08:20PM  
Currently a tent guy but looking to make the switch. I have lost count on the number of times in the last 30-40 yrs I have had water in the tent. Had water coming in a tent about a foot wide and 2-3 inchs deep and out the other end many years ago in Backbone State Part Ia. Major flooding that weekend.
 
bwcasolo
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02/10/2013 10:09AM  
i take both, together they weigh under 6 lbs. i have an exped mira 1 solo tent at 2# 14 oz, and my hennessy, around 2 lbs. it is nice to have both options.
i have not had a bad time in either, so sorry i can't comment on that. i use an innie in my tent which has saved my butt during heavy rain periods.
i sleep real well in a hammock, better than a tent, even with an exped pad. if it is too cold i will set up the tent. if it is warmer i will string up the hennessy. i like having both options.
 
sunnybear09
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02/10/2013 11:16AM  
I like a tent, I think it provides a sense of security, and I only put up a tarp if it is raining. I moved to a high-grade BA one man last season, for the weight reduction, and although it is a bit of a tight fit, I can still get myself and all my weather-sensitive gear inside. Also it is nice to dump gear in when I am away from camp and have it dry and still there when I get back. I am comfortable in a tight enclosure so the claustraphobic response is not there for me. I have not had problems with water inside, use an out-tie, and pitch it well. I think I'm too old to change, anyway. Long habits die hard. Camp routine is half the fun!
 
SourisMan
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02/10/2013 12:39PM  
I enjoyed tenting when I was younger. I've used a hammock for about 7 years, and my back and joints appreciate the move. I do agree with the tent guys though, it is nice to spread gear out a bit under cover and out of the elements.

Speaking of water leakage, I was on Clove Lake once and experienced one heck of a miday down pour. I'm not sure I've ever seen it rain that hard. Every tent spot in that site had 2 to 3 inches of standing water when the rain stopped. I doubt it would have made much difference if a tent had actually been in those spots. I was high and dry in my hammock!
 
SevenofNine
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02/10/2013 04:12PM  
A tent because there are too many trade offs in a hammock.
 
PortageKeeper
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02/10/2013 06:59PM  
I've preferred my hammock for over ten years now. Light weight, more comfort, takes less pack space, can bushwhack in anywhere and don't need a tent pad. Not the first choice for every situation though.
 
OBX2Kayak
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02/10/2013 11:02PM  
quote SevenofNine: "A tent because there are too many trade offs in a hammock."


Hmmm. To each their own. I feel as if I've only gained by switching to the hammock.
 
02/11/2013 08:41AM  
We've all been in a tent but how many have experience sleeping in a quality hammock? It took me until age 49 to buy one and use it for a week in the BW.

It's a new paradigm and a little scary to make the switch. Takes a few nights to get the setup just right, but after using both methods I'm sold on the hammock. Besides, it's way damn fun and I know I will stay dry and have the same lay no matter what. You just can't say that about using a tent.



All that said - I wouldn't use a hammock if I wanted cuddle time with a significant other or if I had my young kids along. Those are THE ONLY drawbacks that I see about using a hammock.

After reading some other comments someone mentioned having to get dressed in "an insect cloud". That is very valid. I only go in Late Aug. or Sept. so don't have experience with that. Yes, that might suck.



 
RainGearRight
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02/11/2013 09:00AM  
With the guys or solo it's always a hammock. With the wife we have been hammock ing the last few trips but might rent it this spring. She likes the privacy of a tent and having me at arms reach which isn't always an option with two hammocks.

With the improvement of tents over the last twenty years, I haven't had any problems with them, other than waking up every hour with some part of my body sore.
I sleep incredibly well in my hammock and find I need less sleep than in a tent.
 
amhacker22
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02/11/2013 09:34AM  
I became a hammock guy this year. I slept better and felt better waking up than I have in years, including at home. Pairing a hammock w/a dedicated tarp & another tarp to hang out under & spread gear out makes the perfect camp in my opinion. As far as I can tell the only drawback is pets or partners. I can appreciate the "bug cloud changing" issue, but I keep my pants and shirt w/in reach and am typically dressed long before its ever a real issue.
 
Mort
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02/11/2013 11:53AM  
I use a bug net that surrounds the entire hammock which solves the worry of getting bitten by mosquitos while changing clothes. For me at least, it works slick!
 
02/11/2013 01:29PM  

I bought a Hennessy Hammock "Expedition" several years ago, but I've only used it for an "emergency" shelter, or for having a bug free hammock while lounging in camp.

Definition of "emergency"

1.) I'm forced to camp in less than ideal terrain that does not support a tent.

2.) All of the "legal" campsites are occupied in the BWCAW, the sun is setting, and it's too late, or unsafe to press on. (As a general rule, this is a last resort situation. But, by using a hammock, a stove, and no campfire, it's minimizes the impact on an "un-designated" BWCAW campsite as much as possible.)

On a Kayak Touring trip to Isle Royale in 2011, my nephew and I were essentially "shut down" by dangerously large waves on the North Shore and forced to take shelter in a small protected cove for the night. It's doubtful that any human had ever stepped foot in this area of Isle Royale before and the tent pitching conditions were limited at best.





The Hennessy Hammock was just the ticket. (My Nephew somehow flattened a small area for his MSR tent, but his set-up left something to be desired.) Although the Hennessy provided a great night's sleep, it still wasn't enough to convince me to use it as everyday sleep solution.

At the time of purchase, the "Expedition" model was the largest Hennessy Hammock available, and was rated for users up to 6' tall, and was rated for a 250 pound capacity. At 6' 4", and 219 pounds, it's a bit tight for me, but serviceable.

I now see Hennessy offers a "Expedition Deluxe", rated for users up to 7' tall. (Obviously, this is also the model they market to NBA players!) The "DeLuxe" version might be a better fit for me, pun intended.

Also, my Hennessy is the "bottom closure", what Hennessy has now deemed the "Classic" model. The side zip option was also not available at the time. (The side zip option allows your Hammock to be used as a chair, as pictured in "TomT's" photo.) The bottom closure, not so much.

Maybe with these new features, I may eventually become a "Hammock Guy". Then again, it may also be my sleeping style that's restricting me from becoming a Hammock "convert".

Hans Solo

Are Hammocks good for you?

 
02/14/2013 06:46PM  
I like my tents but prefer my hammock if I can use it.
 
02/15/2013 07:06AM  
Tent guy, feels like a home away from home.


Worst experience was 20 some years ago when we had a zipper fail on a eureka, rigged it as best we could but still had skeeters dive bombing all night, can still hear the buzzing in my ear
 
02/15/2013 08:20AM  
quote Ragged: Worst experience was 20 some years ago when we had a zipper fail on a eureka, rigged it as best we could but still had skeeters dive bombing all night, can still hear the buzzing in my ear"


That reminds me of a terrible experience in a hammock. Me and my brother decided to sleep in our day "string" hammocks because we rolled into a site very late one evening in Quetico.

It was June but we had down 20 degree bags and wore headnets. The skeeters were relentless as they tried to find a way inside our defenses. They buzzed 2 inches away from our faces as we sweated our asses off inside our down cocoons. That was probably the worst night I have ever experienced in the BW.

 
TheBrownLeader
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02/19/2013 10:33AM  
My best hammock experience was in September of 2010, on Darky lake during an all night storm with thunder lightning, and wind, and cold. My Clark NX250, and the manufacturers tarp, kept me dry all night. Although, the hammock did swing a bit from the wind, I was warm and comfortable.

My worst hammock experience was on a trip in 2009. It was my first hammock trip, and I didn't understand about how hammocks are cold if you don't have an underquilt. I froze. And, late in the trip I had a hammock malfunction and I spent some time on the ground under a tarp. But EVEN STILL, I knew I was never going back to a tent...
 
slipbobber
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02/20/2013 04:48AM  
After a BWCA trip in 2003 with a group of 6 and having 2 tents I looked for other options. Didn't sleep well the entire week do to several factors, sore when I awoke, normal amount of snoring, tight quarters or maybe age had something to do with it. That for sure was my worst trip ever! Prior to the 2004 trip I purchased a hammock, tried it out before the trip thought what do I have to lose, I could always go back to the ground if it didn't work out. The first night was good but still better than the best night in the tent a year prior. After tweaking the hammock the next morning the remaining week was great. I never thought I would sleep that sound. There is a little learning curve for hammock sleeping. It does take a night or so to get use to the idea of sleeping in a hammock after decades of tent dwelling. Used the hammock every year and have not had a issue with getting wet. Best experience, any night laying in the hammock while it's raining knowing I won't wake-up in a puddle of water. As for the bug issue, I normally go in September not many bugs then, except for this year I'm going in June and September. Little concerned on that issue.
My canoe partner that has been on every trip is totally opposite, he loves his tent. So, I guess mileage varies with users.
 
03/12/2013 07:36PM  
Hammock mostly. I'll tent on a tandem trip, say with my son, though I'm just a little gear short of being able to hang him too.

The hammock is just hands down more comfortable when sized and outfitted properly. I also like not crawling in/out. Much better in the rain, and with a tarp in porch mode you have a sheltered area to hang out it.

 
ZaraSp00k
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03/15/2013 11:15PM  
I carry both and sleep in whichever is most appropiate that night. I much prefer the hammock, I sleep much better in it. Can't figure out why people can't sleep in them, I can't lay in one without going to sleep. They also make great chairs when you sit in them sideways.

Worst night was when it was 25-30 below, it was the tent, wouldn't have been any better in the hammock :)
 
CanvasAndSteel
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03/17/2013 08:58AM  
Agree with the hammockers that the hammock is just drier, more comfortable and more flexible re pitching. It does take more pre trip work to dial everything in, but once it's set it's set (especially with my system that sets up tarp first and then the hammock clips in with biners under a dry tarp). I'm 54, switched to hammock for a four week trip last year. Will go back to tenting only on trips with my wife. I'm also not a larger person, so getting dressed / changing clothes in my hammock is not an issue.

Worst tent experience would just be the numerous times packing/pitching a soaked tent or trying to sleep on rocks and roots or looking for a way to situate myself so that my head is higher than my feet. Only bad hammocking experience was tripping with a friend who had not spent the requisite time setting up his system before the trip. There are certainly things you don't want to figure out on the fly.
 
04/08/2013 09:59PM  
I love hammocking, but not in cold weather; damn shoulders freeze!
 
Majohnson73
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04/08/2013 10:03PM  
Hammock all the way! Since I bought a hennessey hammock my tents have been left at home. I've spent around 160 nights dangling between trees and never slept better. The worst was spent on crooked lake in June of 2011; six days of pouring rain and 50-60 mph winds. I spent 22 straight hours in my hammock sleeping and reading and never felt a single rain drop, a true testament to a quality piece of gear!
 
outsidej
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04/18/2013 01:29PM  
I've been hammocking since 2002. That being said, I'll still use a tent if my wife is along or if it's October or April and the weather is too cold (sometimes you need the ground to retain your heat). I don't get good sleep on the ground, and in a hammock, the sleep is incredible. A few years ago, I got my hands on an ENO hammock, which I like very much, mainly because of the enclosed bug net. It also packs very well and small. Before that, I used a Byer's Brazilian hammock, which was probably a little bit more comfortable, but not really designed for camping. I used a CCS tarp as a rain fly and bug netting that I would tuck under my sleeping bag (this would alway be a chore) and still allowed the buggers to buzz near my head, as well as typically letting a few in over the course of a night. I understand the desire to be able to spread out, but hammock camping just encourages me to keep a neat camp, as I put anything I don't want covered in morning dew in my Sealine bag at night. At the end of a long day, I sleep so much better in a hammock. That's really the deciding factor.
 
markaroberts
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05/05/2013 09:09AM  
We have used hammocks and tents. i have a Hennessy and a Clark hammock as well as a mid to high end solo tent.

the hammock seems quicker to set up. . .I use carbiners and rings with tree staps. cold i handled with under quilts, top covers and using sleeping bags as top quilts. cold shoulders are due to not having bottom insulation that wraps completely around you to shoulder height.

altough it is easier to dress in a tent, I often pull my clothes on while still in the hammock, then just step out into my boots. Another things that helps is I use a very large hex fly. . .offers plenty of room under the hammock/fly to dress, cook, stay dry in the rain.

We have been in some strong thunderstorms in the BWCA. I can tell you that I did much better in the hammock then the tent. (my hammocks do not swing free. .I guy them out).

Lastly, with my tent it was packing the tent, the pad, stakes, ground cloth, etc. And when it rained, the tent ended up muddy from the rain splashing off the ground.

the hammock packs into a bag the size of a football, and the bottom quilt even smaller then that. I use snake skins so take down is quick and neither I nor the gear gets wet.
 
05/05/2013 10:11AM  
If there will be trees I will take my hammock, otherwise the tent. If weather requires a CCS tarp provides cover for gear, moving around and if opportunity presented itself enjoy lighting a fire, etc. I sleep much better in the hammock and after reading Hansolo's link on health benefits I am better prepared to defend the practice. Oh, and yes I snore so companions appreciate the ability to sleep at some distance.
 
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