Q&A / Episode 3 / How to store your pack and gear when hammock camping
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ค. 2024
- A question that I have been asked a lot, is how do I store my pack and gear while hammock camping. Over the years. I have used three different ways that have worked well for me. Besides sharing those three different ways or methods. Also, some tricks and tips that may help you become a little more successful when uses your hammock overnight.
Hang my stuff on a tree with cordage, stick for a toggle, and marlin spike knot. Usually hang it under the tree straps/tarp Ridgeline.
Thank you for sharing that Jerw75. Good info.
Good morning Marine, I bought a Dutch Ware Gear "Netless Hammock Chair" in CLOUD 71 fabric. It's about 65" long and 56" wide, rated to hold 200 lbs. It's cost, $38. I use it as a gear hammock. I made up a 42 inch dog bone using red 7/64 Amsteel for the head end, feeding one end of the dog bone through one gathered end, larks heading it, essentially making a continuous loop. For the foot end I made a whoopie sling (blue 7/64" Amsteel), feeding the fixed end loop of the whoopie through the gathered end, again creating a continuous loop with a larks head. It weighs 3.5 oz. (100g) on my kitchen scale. It attaches to the hammock continuous loops on each end (inside the drip loops). The whoopie sling allows adjustment for pack weight and volume variations. It works real well holding my back pack, shoes, water bottle, etc. In the morning I swing my legs over the side and put on my camp shoes that are now within reach without having to step on the ground first...now that' luxury living!
Those are some great ideas George. Thank you for sharing them. Good stuff!
I position my pack beneath my hammock and slip the pack into a huge trash compactor bag. The trash bag is over-sized enough to make it easy to access the contents of the pack. My shoes are sitting on top of my pack to help keep the trash bag closed. This method has worked well keeping my pack/shoes dry during major downpours/flooding. On the downside, I had a raccoon enter under my tarp area and try to break into my pack (pretty unsettling to have an animal that large just a foot from my face). Great info Marine, looking forward to your next video.
I have never had a raccoon come underneath. They are like little bandits. But I do worry about mice. Those varmints can do some real damage. Thank you P Arnold-Mora for sharing that.
@@AdventureswiththeMarineProbably wasn't the best idea for me to peer over the side of my hammock to see what kind of critter was visiting. My face was literally just inches from the raccoon's face. We scared the bejebbers out of one another.
@@parnold-mora8924 That's a great story.
Great suggestions! Thank you! I don’t have enough experience to have techniques of my own yet, so I’m taking it all in.
I really appreciate you watching Chris.
Thanks Marine, always informative and useful info.
That is very king of you. thank you for watching Jerry.
Ha, ha, ha...I love that "cover" Marine! Eagles were awesome too :D
That eagle was from McCarthy Beach. You, Kim Camron and Kelly were standing next to me.
I use the pack hang tool from Dutch. One small Dutch hook and zing it. Great to wrap around a tree, then make a loop and clip the Dutch hook back to the zing it. Stays UL, and can use it during the day to hang up and dry clothes etc.
Great tip! Thank you Brandon for sharing that.
if the weather is bad i will use a small tarp or Tyvek on the ground and use small logs or branches around the edges so water can pass under not over my ground tarp, in good weather i just hang on a tree with a small rope and a toggle great stuff Brother :)
I love how you put small logs or sticks under the tarp. Great idea! Thank you for sharing that Stone Wolf Outdoors. I really appreciate it.
I liked that wooden hook on the tree. I usually put my backpack on one of the carabiners that attaches the hammock to the tree.
Using a carabiner makes it a lot quicker. But it is fun to play around in the woods. Thank you Camp Sweden for watching. I always appreciate it.
Great tips! I usually take the hit on the weight and bring a flexlite chair and set my pack on that at night. During that day I hang it on a tree trunk. However, I'm liking that tarp idea as it also gives you a clean place to stand when you get out of the hammock. Thanks for the tips!
The chair is a good idea. Thank you Signal Outdoors for sharing and watching. I really appreciate it.
I usually just pull everything out of my pack and throw it on the ground so I can see it and grab what I want when I need it. Then, when I'm ready to leave, I just put it all back in the pack
Thank you for sharing that Lost Beagle. Good stuff.
I never realized we were so close. I'm near the Willow River. Huzzah! Maybe see you out hiking sometime.👍
That would be cool! My wife and I ( and also Henry ). Try to go for a walk everyday if possible. In Willow River State Park. And also kayaking up to the falls. Thank you Super64heavy for watching. I always appreciate it.
Mice. Well established campsites around here have mice. If you don't hang it they'll eat holes looking for crumbs or nest material. I keep a carabiner on the carry loop to connect to the continuous loop on the end of the hammock. Down wind to keep the rain off it.
I am not afraid of the bears, wolves or moose ( except during the rut ). But those mice are the most vicious critters on earth. They can cost you an arm and leg, in replacing chewed gear. Thank you OldPacMule for sharing. I always appreciate it.
Thanks for the video Marine. I do a combination of hanging my pack at the head end on the tree along with a small piece of Tyvek under my hammock. I also have a gear loft and small pouch on my ridgeline.
Thank you for sharing that Warren. Good stuff.
I keep my pack hung in the tree at my foot end usually. Food bag in tree high up further away.
How do you hang the pack on the tree?
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I'll do anything from using the loop on the top of pack (if it's not to heavy) to using a branch(from the ground) thru the shoulder straps and over a branch on the tree. I've also used #36 bank tarred bank line or paracord with a toggle or stick to hang it from. Again hanging food bag higher up in a tree away from where I'm sleeping. Most everything I need thru the night is in my ridgeline pouch.
Thanks Marine, I always learn nw things from your videos. Great imagery with the bald eagle. Such magnificent birds at the apex of the food chain. Last week I did a 7 day canoe trip on the French River running west ending at Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. On one day we say 4 eagles. A few other days had some individual sightings. I have no data but anecdotally they seems to be making a come back. Some really good pickerel fishing as well trolling behind the canoe as we paddled downstream!.
Back in the 60's, when they where using DDT. It almost wiped them. They are definitely back. I live a few blocks from the St. Croix River. ( which runs between Minnesota and Wisconsin ) I see them every day. We also have a nesting Osprey that has been coming back every year.
I knew an old timer named Len Hartman. Who was a great musky fisherman, that would catch huge muskies in the Georgian Bay. Did you catch any big pickerels?
Good stuff. I hang my pack on the foot end of the suspension and my shoes at the head and have a ridge-line organizer and a loft.
Good stuff! Thank you James for sharing that.
great tips Marine. I usually use a small silnylon tarp underneath but have been looking into a gear sling underneath because of hard storm rains etc. to get the gear off the ground completely and still within easy reach. A thing I have used in the past and still do at times in my yard when hanging out back is a small thin closed cell pad under the hammock. That has always worked well weight-wise and for sitting on the ground but can be cumbersome on a hike and blows around easily if not weighted or tied down.
Thank you for sharing that Ken. Good stuff.
I always bring a small chair and set my bag in the chair, shoes on top of everything. All within reach from my hammock under the rain fly. Although I may start thinking of hanging my shoes under my bug net from the ridge line so a fox doesn't take them.
Watch out for those foxes. They do prefer Altra trail runners. Thank you for sharing that bucky716. Good stuff.
In the UK, in the summer and autumn we suffer from Slugs. Hate those things. The number of times I find them on gear. I therefore hate leaving on the ground, but a gear sling is another idea, hanging under or to the side of your hammock. Only used once recently after getting it.
Thank you Badger W for sharing that. I really appreciate it.
I have sacrificed a few grams to carry an industrial trash bag to store my pack in during rainy weather. It gives full wrap around protection and peace of mind.
Follow up to further explain my decision. One trip I hung my pack on the tree with the pack cover on, but after 15 hours of rain, my pack had a puddle in it. While that is likely an extreme case, I have reacted by packing the extra trash bag.
Thank you Timothy for sharing that. Good info.
Great tips on all your videos and thank you for using metric system as well! 🙌
Glad it was helpful! Thank you Riken's Life for watching. I really appreciate it.
Great tips Marine! I have a couple peak and ridge line lofts where I put most of the gear I want to access throughout the night. I hang my backpack from my continuous loop. For my shoes I keep them right on the ground because I don’t bring camp shoes. But I do put a stick in the ground like a post and wrap my laces around them so critters don’t take my shoes in the middle of the night. If o think it will storm I’ll hang themas well.
Thank you for sharing that Backpacking Adventures. Good stuff.
The trash compactor bag serves double duty as a ground sheet for my bag and I hang my shoes. However my week trip tomorrow I'm going to test hanging my empty pack on the ridgeline from a carabiner and also clipping the waist belt around the amsteel. With the open end facing me, my shoes (in plastic bag) go into my horizontally hung dry pack. My worn clothes get aired out on shock cord from the tarp doors.
Thank you for sharing that Glen. Have a great trip. And please let me know how it went.
When I bring my helinox chair zero (most of the time) right under my head end, hat is my BP, waterbottle and stuff holder. Off the ground and easy to grab!
Great idea. Thank you for sharing that Tom. I really appreciate it.
Found this super helpful thank you
Thank you Oldrew Anson for watching. I really appreciate it.
I just found your channel, good stuff. I did 8 years in the Marines, Oorah. I look forward to seeing more from you. Thanks
I am so glad you found my channel. Thank you LFD offroad for watching. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much for answering my question from a few weeks back! Very informative and interesting video!
I'm still pretty new to hammock camping and haven't spent a night in one yet, but I've been on multiple daytrips. I live pretty far north (Norway) and even the summers rarely get very hot here, so there's a certain cost barrier before I can get into overnight camping with needing some quilts and such, but I'm looking forward to when I get that far into it.
So far, I've kept my bags either just on the ground beside the hammock if I'm relaxing in a park (gotta keep it close so other people don't run off with it), or on the suspension when in the woods, to keep my stuff away from spiders, vipers, and mice. I do bring the important items with me into the hammock though, hanging off of the Ridgeline. I don't have a tarp yet, so I haven't actually been in a flood situation, but I'm also the type of person that want to be well prepared before I am ever in that situation, hence the question. (I also only started hanging my bag on the suspension after having asked the question to you.)
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us!
You can use a mat, sheepskin rug or a wool blanket underneath you. But living in Norway. Where the temperatures can be cold. I would save for a under quilt. But use those other, inexpensive, types of insulation. First start out sleeping in your backyard or some where close to home where you would feel comfortable. Experiment with different things to see what works for you. Before you know it. you will be taking it out into the wilderness. Thank you Cea for sharing that and watching. I always appreciate it.
Hello there Marine. I’ve been using a 55 gal. drum liner as a ground mat to lay flat under the hammock. And at night I simply open the end and put whatever I want in it and fold the opening under to close it all in. It’s light, multi-purpose, water proof and large. And loose clothing won’t blow away. Alway love your videos!!
Thanks for sharing! Good stuff. I could of used that on my last trip.
Only thing I have used different from mentioned was the Grand Trunk bug net with bathtub floor. Summer canoe camping.
I thought about getting one. To put the dog underneath me. Maybe someday. Thank you for watching Ol Hiker.
I always use 2 ridge lines for my tarp. One has Prussic knots to secure the tarp and I use the other to hang all my gear. All I use are a couple small carabiners to hang boots, backpack. The weight of my gear pulls the one line down, but the tarp (and hammock) remain unaffected.
That is a great idea Tim. Thank you for sharing that.
Thank you for the great tips. I just purchased the ground cloth from Hamic gear. Now they’re made out of dyneema . Be blessed my friend. John
Hammock
I generally Stowe it under my hammock on the ground, or the end of my hammock. Depends on the weather.
Thank you for sharing treywilly431. Good stuff.
I have another method for you, but it's kinda hammock-specific. I have a Haven XL and there's enough room toward my feet that I just keep the backpack inside there with me. It can also help insulate my feet a bit.
Thank you John for sharing that. Good stuff!
And here I would have thought your No. 3 would have been one of those gear slings to hang the gear below the quilt off the ground.
You got me on that one. I have yet to hang a gear sling underneath me yet. I need to give that a try.
A gear hammock/gear sling (basically that ground sheet tied underneath or parallel to the hammock) can be an interesting option too.
My next piece of gear is going to be the Gear Sling. What are your thoughts on them?
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Nice, it will be interesting to hear about your experience with it afterwards.
At the moment I am using a waterproof one (1,5m x 1m, 170g from amazonas called the hammock floor) which is strong enough to support my whole backback. Since I use a D&D superlight jungle hammock (kind of similiar to the Clark NX 270, so no big tarp above it) it doubles as a rain- and windshield for the bottom of the hammock. I am still working on the positioning though. Since I use it underneath I need to put my hammock up a little higher; thinking about moving it further to the feet though to mitigate this. Since my hammock has no structural ridgeline it also has quite an impact on the sag of the main hammock if you store heavy stuff in it. Access from within the hammock is okay and it is a good place to store the camp shoes also. At the moment I think it is an upgrade to my hammock setup and it makes me feel safer to have my stuff closer at night.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I really like them, it's a great perk to have your gear beneath you, off the ground, and within reach.
I'd recommend using a hammock chair as your gear hammock- takes a little more weight, a little bigger, and if you go for a day hike you can bring it with you as a lounging chair.
I have been hanging my pack on the tree closest to the head end. I do have a piece of Tyvek under my hammock, place shoes on it and put water bottles in shoes. Changing for bed has been my biggest challenge since hammock camping and of course getting up several times a night to pee. Thanks for the video.
I always will change into my clothes that I will be sleeping in. And put other clothes that I will be wearing over them. So when it is time to go to bed. Alls I have to do is slip off the outer clothes. Than just slide into the hammock. Merry Christmas.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Thanks and Merry Christmas
Semper Fi, nice video.
Thank you D Axt for watching. Semper Fi my brother!
Dew/condensation
& Ants
/Scorpions etc
There where times, were I would be in the desert for weeks. Sleeping in a shelter half. During the night time. The desert would come alive. In the morning. You would have to check your boots, to make sure no critter moved in. Thank you danceswithcarsdc. I really appreciate it.
I run a separate Ridgeline to hang my tarp over my hammock and that's what I hang my stuff on and it holds cuz it's blood tight when I'm done the Ridgeline
Thank you for sharing that Steven. I really appreciate it.
Your content is very good Sir! I use a 4ft square piece of window insulation film for a ground sheet. I think its also called polycro. Cost about $8 at Walmart, cut in half. It's tough enough I get maybe 6 or more trips out of each piece. Weighs 74g. Most of my trips are in the Smoky mountains or Monongahela. Even though I hang my food elsewhere, I never keep my pack near my hammock while sleeping for fear it attracts animals to residual food smells. No data or personal experiences to support that practice, but i sleep better :-).
Thank you Tim for sharing that. Good info.
Semper Fi!
Thank you Dueth so much for watching. I really appreciate it. Semper Fi.
Option 3
Thank you Gmoney for sharing that and watching. I really appreciate it.
Who like to store as much as possible inside the Hamic
You can never have enough gadgets next to you. Thank you for watching mads olsen. I really appreciate it
I tried hanging from the suspension but it seems to pull down too hard but I was thru hiking with full food I was at 30 pounds. I use a under sling basically a baby hammock underneath. To me the only downside is I need the hammock a bit higher to allow this to be there if there is no rain I can hang it by itself I just dont like the pack on the ground at all.
Thank you VetRuski Travels for sharing that. Good info!
Thanks for tips! But what worries me more is how to protect my stuff from thieves in an urban environment. I plan to go on my next long term travel only with a hammock and, of course, sometimes I will have to sleep in places where there can be a lot of people (parks, public rest areas etc.).
It is sad that we live in a world where we have to guard on equipment from thieves. I guess you just have to keep you gear close by. Thank you for watching Andis. I really appreciate it.
You can purchase or build a tripwire system to alert you
Thanks, there's always more to learn and I appreciate your continuous stream of content. I enjoyed the fox story. I didn't see the variety of gear hammocks available, have you had the opportunity to try any of these?
Glad you enjoyed it I have yet to try out a Hammock Gear hammock. They are a great cottage company. Thank you for watching Scott. I always appreciate it.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I was referring to a hammock gear sling that most, but ironically not HG, cottage vendors carry. They look like a mini-hammock and can be strung underneath, adjacent to, or at the ends externally to any hammock. HG is a great company though :).
The one that I will be buying from is made by Dream Hammock. I can't wait to try it out. Have a great day Scott.
Shoes on the top of two sticks stabbed into the floor, bagpack in a closed garbage bag and waterbottle under the hammock
Thank you for sharing that Le Coachon Sporctif. Good stuff.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine And thank you for all your videos, it's thanks to you if i'm a proud hammock user without making too much mistakes ;)
@@lecoachonsporctif That is very kind of you. Thank you.
Hi Marine! Great tips as always- after watching your videos, I hung a hammock for the first time this weekend! It was very simple, thanks for sharing your experience and making something new so approachable. I had some questions- how do you like to pack your hammock during multi-night trips? Is it ok to pack the hammock up with the bugnet, underquilt, and ridgeline-organizer all together for quicker set up, or should they be packed separate? Sorry if this has been asked before.
Good question. I like to have the Under quilt separated. Just in case it is damp. If so. I will drape it over the ridgeline when I get to the next camp. But you should always keep the Hammock with the ridge line and ridgeline organizer attached to it . With the bug net all together. I like to separate the suspension from the hammock. I don't want anything that could become wet next to the hammock. Thank you Stint for watching. I really appreciate it.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine Very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to answer.
Greetings again marine. I’m looking for lightweight hammock suspensions. Do you have any recommendations? I have cinch buckles right now that feel like small bricks. Appreciate any help.
The lightest suspension would more than likely be some type of a light weight straps and using a becket knot. But tying knots and adjusting can be a pain. For me. The best lightest weight suspension that is also very packable. Is a woopie sling with a light weight tree hugger on the end. Superior Gear sells a good one called the Elite Suspension Sling that weighs 3 ounces. A issue with the woopie sling is on those short hangs ( where the trees are too close ). You may have to wrap the tree huggers around the tree a couple of times. But I always had them work. Plus. They are the best on the long hangs. The amsteel has a breaking strength of 1600lbs. And little if any stretch. I hope this helps.
Have you ever had a problem with mice? I've heard they make holes in backpacks if you leave them on the ground.
The area where I live. We have wolves, bears, and moose. The only creature that I worry about is mice. Never leave food in your pack at night. Or have any food touch your pack that will leave a smell on it. Because those little varmints will chew your pack. If you take those precautions. You will be fine. But one time they chewed my felt windscreen that was in my cook kit. But that was the only incident so far.
I like how the hatchet is strategically positioned. What the heck are you doing a t night?
Good eye. I have to be prepared when camping with Runner. Thank you for watching aikirunner. I always appreciate it.
Hey have you tried any of the ultralight fabrics? Like the Cloud 71.
do you have to use a ridgeline with hammocks?
I will always use a Amsteel ridgeline on my hammock when using it for camping. I believe all hammocks should come with one. They are inexpensive. But priceless. Thank you Jill for watching. I always appreciate it.
I hook my pack on to my suspension because in the middle of the night I can go pee right out of the hammock without getting out of it and not having to worry about getting it wet
I never peed out of the hammock. I would be too afraid of missing. Not being a good shot. You are a braver man then I. Thank you Clayton for watching. I always appreciate it.
Keep making the great videos man trust me going to the bathroom out of the hammock when it’s 35 degrees in the BWCA is worth the risk
I use a twin ridgline to hang my tarp. one above to hang the rainfly, the other is under the tarp to hang loose gear, jacket, wet towel, etc. A stick to seperate these lines is good if the trees are small. My boots go upside down on two tall steaks driven in beside my hammock.
Thank you for sharing that John. Good info!
Have someone ever stolen your backpack while you were sleeping?
No. I am a light sleeper. It would be pretty sad if someone were to do that. Thank you Balint so much for watching. I really appreciate it.
What knife is that?
It is the Adventure Sworn Mountaineer. It is a custom knife that I had them make for me. It took a year and a half to get it. But I finally got it. I t is a great knife, but expensive. Thank you for watching Drew. I always appreciate it.
I just hang it like the hammock enough not to hit the ground or hammock
Thank you Marko for sharing that. Good stuff!