Concerning hammocks and privacy/perceived protection: just pick a winter-style tarp. They come with flappy dors that you can close on all 4 sides. If you pitch it low, you have the same privacy you have in a tent. With tents you also see the ground in parts (vestibules) so that shouldn't make any difference. I'd probably also have a gear hammock to hang my gear and my backpack underneath my hammock so those are off the ground and away from mud and critters. However there is no way a hammock setup could ever compete with the lightest tent options. It can be fairly lightweight, but it will never be the lightest option. Obviously, there are Dyneema hammocking tarps (including winter-style tarps) but they'll cost an arm and a leg. I recommend having a look at Hummingbird Hammocks tarps. The Pelican tarp offers doors (like a winter style tarp) while being bonkersly light (about what a lower mid-weight 12' hex-style tarp weighs).
I hammock camp. Buy fully understand that a portion of my pack is utilized by top quilt and underquilt. The sleep is definitely better. Thank you for always sharing my
For an ultralight setup for hammocking, it's hard to beat the superiorgear hammock, where the underquilt is sewn into the hammock. They use ultralight fabrics. I can set mine up in just a few minutes, and the comfort level is incredible. Made in Minnesota!
Mostly a weekend backpacker, here. My wife and I prefer hammock camping. My wife, kid, and dog will use the Lanshan 2 pro we have when we all go together. We even all fit in there on one night when the only option was a clearing in a burn area which was shocking to me for a 2 person tent. Still, the hammock just has so much more liveable volume under the tarp and is way more comfy and dry in the rain.
Plus, you can move your hammock and use your tarp as a work area when you're not sleeping. A hammock and tarp are so much more versatile then a tent alone.
You know I talk about weight and I always hear from other ex military guys saying “ I carried eighty pound rucks for thirty miles !” The answer “so do you do that for fun?” “You have it in your closet now?” “How is your back a knees now?”
@@ferdonandebull my hammock weighs ~2 lbs and my tarp weighs ~ 1 lb. The hammock could be lighter if I weren't so darn fat. My UQ weighs about the same as a Big Agnes Rapide sleeping pad.
It's true that camping with a hammock has a slight learning curve to it, but once you work out a system that works for you, you'll never want to go back to a tent again if you can avoid it. The trick with sleeping in a hammock is to sleep diagonally as it straightens out your back more normally. The trick with setting it up is to get a few things to go with it, such as looped tree straps, a few strong climbing-rated carabiners, and a few strong climbing-rated O-rings. Rather than tying up to the tree with your hammock rope which can hurt the tree and wear that rope faster, you put the tree straps around the tree, a carabiner with 2 of the O-rings gets hooked to one of the attachment points of the strap, then you take the hammock rope and wrap it around and between the rings in a special way that makes the rings pinch the rope to hold it in place without even needing any knots (tho I still add a simple knot just in case, to prevent the rope from slipping thru the rings, though they've not been needed so far). You are right that you want to practice with this setup, and that practice was annoying to me at first, but when you've gotten used to it... wow... making and breaking camp becomes soooooooooo easy and fast! The longest step of breaking camp for me is rolling up the hammock to put it in its storage bag lol.
I have an old umbrella tent. Reach in push open and it done about 18 sec to set then take it down hit button it closes back forth a couple of time throw off all the water . It very light. About. 25 seconds to close it and ready to put in pack. 1 person plus gear the size and 6 foot round My uncle gave it to me in 80s and I can’t find them anymore.
For years as an Infantry paratrooper I slept in a hammock and a bodybag while out in the field. All the newfangled gear of today that weights merely ounces is incredible. It's a miracle my knees aren't blown out from jumps and humping 80+ lbs. of gear the way we did. I will say that some of this new gear is a little pricey but when has comfort taken a back seat
I used a gore-tex bivy for my AT thru-hike and it was perfect. I began on August 1, 1981 at Katahdin and hiked south, reaching Springer on January 1, 1982. Due to the season I hiked, bugs really were never a problem and I'm happy I didn't have the weight and bulk of a tent. I've been working as a guide/outdoor educator full-time since 1988 and we use tarps nearly 90% of the time, even in mid-winter in northern Maine. But of course, you need to know multiple ways to set up a tarp to be effective in all sorts of conditions, including sleeping on the ice on frozen lakes in the 100-mile wilderness in February. The point is, it can be done, just takes skill.
Ok I’ve thought about it and yes, I could live in my 6MD Haven for six months. You’ve seen it, I can adjust it for low or max airflow depending on temps and the dual vestibules mean I’ll never wake up on the wrong side of the bed 🤣🤗❤️
I used a GoreTex bivvy bag for a while on the PCT and saved some weight and packed volume compared to my tent. It's OK in nice weather when you don't really need it, but what you save with a waterproof breathable bivvy compared to a single wall (not breathable) trekking pole tent is so small it's not worth it IMO. Compared to a freestanding or semi freestanding tent the savings with a bivvy is larger and a bivvy can take more high winds than most tents. As an emergency shelter if you plan to stay in shelters on the AT it can make more sense though, but to me a superlight tarp is a better option even if it takes more effort to set up. Particularly when there aren't any trees around.
I recently bought a huge DCF tarp to make my hammock a more "liveable" option. I use a hammock with a separate bug net that I can leave at home when not needed, and a larger bug net from Sierra Madre Designs for truly buggy sections and seasons of different trails. My Hummingbird hammock with the bug net and whoopie slings from the same company is my go-to. I pull a Golite feather-lite bag over the hammock for temperatures down to freezing. I just bought a Superior Gear hammock with sewn-in down insulation for temperatures from freezing to negative 20 farenheit. Stakes: A general rule is that larger shelters require larger stakes because they catch more wind than smaller ones. Aerodynamics are also to be taken into consideration. Tents with fewer poles usually require more stakes, and, lastly, softer ground requires stakes with a larger surface area to keep your tent up than hard-packed and/or rocky mineral soils.
I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a post hog but I keep wanting to comment as your covering a lot of ground. Ground stakes can ruin your hike real fast. Those round blue ones with the cap, I've had those pull the cap right off as they're glued or pressed on. Now you have no way to attach your guy line and are down to whittling sticks. Plastic stake will break in the cold. I suggest MSR Ground hogs. They won't let you down when the wind starts gusting up to 40 or 50 mph during a typical Alabama storm. Pro Tip: Don't make the mistake of leaving your tarp staked out after a soaking rain. As you mention most of the materials used will absorb some water and become looser. Your guy lines will do the same. So you'll need to adjust your guy lines when it starts raining to tighten them up some. (I prefer a trucker's hitch knot for guy lines) But AFTER the rain you need to loosen the guy lines if you leave it hung up. Otherwise, your tarp will dry out in the sun and can become as tight as a drum head. The slightest contact, someone trips over one of your guy lines, and your tarp could rip a giant seam out. I speak from experience. It's sickening to watch a 4'x4' square being torn out of your Multicam tarp in seconds.
Nice video...I hammock camp all the time and it is something you have to learn...All but maybe 10 weekends last year I was in my hammock one to four days at a time...About the privacy...I have a 12 by 10 tarp which I can lower down close to my hammock Ridgeline and the sides will drop within 10 inches of the ground in what I call tent mode...I hang my backpack on the head end and caribeaner the ends together behind it and I walk in the foot end and caribeaner it together behind me and it is total privacy...
Kind of a weekend hiker lately (because I recently moved into a house so that was busy), but I’ve been using a hammock with my 2 dogs and it’s been pretty easy. I do let them sleep in the hammock with me, so it’s a pretty sturdy set up (and the dogs are beagles so 25 lbs each)
I have real bad trouble getting comfortable in camp with heat and lack of air circulation. I tent camped for years and was never quite able to get comfortable. I will say there is something special about tarp camping and cowboy camping, doing that made a world of difference for me.
I hike the AT with my Warbonnet Blackbird XLC and love it. I'm a 300 pound man and sleep is so comfortable. Watch some videos and do it a bit first because the hammock has some interesting quirks, cold butt syndrome is a huge one. But CBS works great for in Florida. Keeps me cool in the summer when my friends are sweltering.
For sure and at first I went with a Thermarest Xlite 20x72 inch model which was too long for me to sleep comfortably in my Chameleon hammock. So like Dixie, I love the NeoAir Xlite 20x47 inch version in which fits perfectly in my hammock.
@@Swearengen1980 "Cool..er". I can remain comfortable with air temps up in the mid 80's while my tent buddies are sweltering. The more the air is moving, the hotter I can tolerate.
@@charleswaters455 Yeah, screw that LOL. I'm a native Floridian and I still hate every second of the weather above 75ish degrees during the day and 65-70 at night. I go camping in the winter when we may have 30 degree nights.
Sometimes I put on only 1/2 of the rain fly (folded over). Recently while kayak camping along a river, I opened my eyes in the middle of the night with the Big Dipper overhead, nice. I can't imagine not having the option of taking off the rain fly.
That's always the dream, but I can count on one hand the nights I've been awake long enough past dark to see stars on a backpacking trip. Plus I think the stars thing must be a western thing... Light pollution is pretty severe along the AT. Also, depending on the bugs if it's nice enough to forgo the fly it's nice enough to cowboy it. Just another data point. I haven't had a tent with a separate fly for a long time and don't miss it, (condensation management is the real issue).
I love to cowboy camp on nights when there’s not rain in the forecast - you get to enjoy all the gorgeous views and have a record quick break down in the morning. A mosquito headnet and permethrin on your sleep clothes help ensure you don’t get pestered by mosquitos.
Hi Dixie. Great video! I am a full hammock guy since 2017 hiking mostly the GSMNP and can tell you STAKES matter for that setup and location. Soft ground and high winds on a tarp require a substantial stake to stay in place. Learned that the hard way. Thanks for sharing and stay safe!
One reason I like the simple common plastic trowel. Digging poop holes is the primary purpose of course, but it makes a great stake for sandy conditions or dirt that just doesn't hold a stake firmly enough. The most simple of bushcraft skills is also useful for making heavy duty stakes, but that varies by conditions. Lots of hikers don't carry even the most basic items for this, but they should.
One slight suggestion, if you have to put your pack outside under a tree with a trash bag UNZIP all your pockets. If a critter smells some old food in there, she can get in and explore without chewing through the fabric......experience talking 🙂
Good advice. In addition, hanging your pack three to four feet above the ground or higher can be a good choice so that rodents don't chew through or on it. Sometimes they go for the accumulated salt left by the hiker's perspiration.
I bikepack/tour with a bike trailer so weight isn’t as critical, but space still is. I like the NatureHike Mongar 2 tent. Sometimes I’ll take the add-on vestibule with me if I expect a lot of rain on my trip. It gives me a larger sheltered area without having to carry an extra rain tarp for cooking and gear storage. The Mongar2 is on par with the Hubba Hubba at a fraction of the cost. Does well in Texas thunderstorms.
For the arid Western mountains, I like a bivy bag and head netting when needed. Interior moisture is mitigated by the fact that you're (hopefully) not exhaling inside. Thick socks and appropriate clothing help keep your bag or quilt from too much compromising moisture.
Love my hammock setup for a few reasons. Number 1 being comfort. I sleep better in my hammocks than i do in my own bed. Two, water. I setup my tarp and then do everything else under the tarp so everything stays dry. And zero issues with condensation. Unless i'm 100% certain it isn't going to be a massive storm i always carry my "winter" tarp. Has doors so i have my privacy but i can also pitch it several other ways depending on conditions or how i feel. Third, i don't have to carry a chair. I live in the southeast so summers are brutal especially with bugs and humidity so i love the overall flexibility of it.
@@viceb7 I just don't go camping or backpacking in the summer. 95 degrees and 80+ percent humidity? Screw that. I'd high to leave Florida and go a good ways north before I found a temperature I'm comfortable sleeping in. Personally, few things are more miserable than trying to sleep (and failing) when you're suffocating on humidity and sweating just laying there.
A bivy would be okay for desert hikes once you are into summer, because out in Escalante Wilderness during Spring Break, there was ice on the puddles in the mornings and it got really cold once the sun went down. Really cold.
Excellent discussion of tentage/hammock/tarp shelter options. My personal preference is a tarp (which was actually designed as a tent extension). But I must admit that I'm pretty much a summer camper, although my tarp has the capability to have its sides either up or down, it would be a little colder than a tent in the winter.
I have a hard time with a hammock because of shoulder issues and no shelter has me being bugged except when there is snow. I like a tent with mosquito netting to keep the bugs out and to offer some privacy when dressing. Thanks Dixie.
I think 3 years ago, you and another thru hiker were using the duplex, so I purchased one, absolutely perfect for me. Im 6ft tall, so with the new duplex xl, it makes sense to me, but another 750 bucks, ouch. Thanks Jessica
Agree on the „no-shelter-people“! They expect others, who carry the weight of their shelter all day, to make room for them! Appaling! Everyone can at least carry a tarp!
Ironically, the lightweight backpacker tents are actually quite a bit lighter than all except for special backpacker tarps, however they are all spendy. Lightweight + affordable in a shelter is next to an impossible find.
How far does that logic extend though? Something I noticed is that ultralighters often opt for a shelter when the weather turns bad, because they know their setup can't cope.
I love tarp + synthetic sleeping bag (rebranded chinese one, no bivy), though it might be just because it's what i grew up with) I even did a 1k km hike with itthis summer (my tarp did cost me like 10 usd, but the seam tape did leak at the end quite a lot, not recommended long term)
You’re the Queen of Trails, Dixie. But I think concluding remarks should advise familiarity with living out of a backpack for a few nights before you decide what you need. The “image” of being a backpacker can captivate people, but if they haven’t ever done it before, they’ve got some experiences ahead of them, like anything else.😊
When my youngest said she wanted to go backpacking, I dug out my ‘70s era “ultralight” tent. At 7 pounds, I’m sure glad it was too dry-rotted to use! We upgraded to a Nemo Hornet 2P and haven’t looked back..!
Do it. I love mine. Taken mine on a 4 day hike here in Indiana and did amazing. It's also my choice for my AT section hike in Sept. Been using it regularly since last Sept. Did great through sleet in January too.
The Lanshan 2 is great! I recommend getting it with the 4-season-inner. In the summer it's not overly hot and you definitely avoid the water splashing through the netting when it's raining a lot.
Hey Dixie I really enjoy watching your videos. Have you ever looked at the Haven Tent Hammock? I know it is a little heavy for backpacking but the ability to setup as lay flat hammock or tent seems versatile. I plan on using bike touring so little more weight is more tolerable.
I'm mostly a weekend backpacker and use an OR Helium bivy on my UL trips. Condensation is definitely a concern. Even with the storm flap open and the bug net in use, my quilt is slightly damp by morning. In rain I use a Sea to Summit poncho tarp to provide some cover for cooking and ventilation of the bivy. For longer trips, I'm wondering if a full tarp and bug net bivy might work better to prevent condensation. My general strategy for 1-3 night trips is to use shelters or huts when possible and rely on the bivy when I have no better option for the night. Modern down quilts/bags use water resistant down and shells that help when condensation is unavoidable and it is not a big deal for short trips. For a thru hike, I'd probably use Evan's (e-Wolf/Reverend) method of tarp and bug net bivy, if I didn't splurge on a DCF treking pole tent.
I lived outside for 7 years in the north west were it rains a lot A tent will last 2 or 3 months I kept everything out of it . They mold you can put a roof Over the tent however it will still mold
18:26 Hi Dixie. In your experience, how resistant are 1.0 weight DCF floors to punctures and tears over the course of 100 to 180 nights in contrast to poly-urethane coated nylon? Good to know that DCF floors are more resistant to punctures and tears than sil-nylon.
Certain parks, like some places in the Adirondacks, require you to use the shelter and forbid tenting. Finding a tent spot can be challenging. If I were to go back there again (unlikely because terrible trail conditions) I would hammock it.
I love/loathe my bivy sacks. I have had models from Outdoor Research and Bibler-Black Diamond over three decades. And they account for nearly a third of my bag nights in The US Mountain West. I definitely would not recommend a bivy for multi-day long distance hikes or thru-hiking. Think them as cowboy camping with an emergency cover. In 2022, the weight savings are pretty slim versus many one-person tents.
A shoulder season trip with a "bivy" -- a taffeta nylon rectangle sewed on three sides to a ripstop nylon rectangle -- ended abruptly when we had to use a safety valve escape route from an approaching storm. Several inches of snow accumulation didn't faze that setup, even though the half inch ensolite pad was pretty difficult to roll up in the morning!
A light weight tent of 3 pounds maximum sounds great, but apart from being expensive, shouldn't you add the weight of the walking sticks to it which adds an extra pound? If so you might as well buy a 4 pound tent for half the price.
I think a trekking pole tent is probably the best option for backpacking. Obviously the weight is a plus but with a traditional tent if you break a tent pole you’re kind of screwed. Even if you break a trekking pole you can always use a stick. If you can’t get a stake in the ground you can always resort to the tried and true little rock big rock method.
I'm finding it difficult to like the Nemo Hornet single.... not much room and the rain fly is a little strange... Wish Eureka made very light tents! I've been on the Pictured Rocks trail one day and it's beautiful. Can't imagine living in ANY tent for 6 Mos!
Hi I absolutely love your videos I’m attending the appliation trail through hike for the first time in 2024 I am an absolute beginner I have just got a Durston tent and was wondering if you use the ground sheet or foot prints at all? Or is that necessary on the trail
The weight/quality/comfort of the tent could be higher if you give up some of the daily mileages, or if you travel with another people and share a bigger tent, or both. Sleeping in an ultralight tent, using ultralight sleeping mat not always worth it. People are not the same. Some is interested in aims and goals, some is interested in being on the “road”, gathering happy memories.
I haven't tried going with a hammock, it just seems like a lot of extra stuff to carry, so extra weight, and extra cost! It'd be cool to try, but I'm a ground dweller due to budget. I like my Durston X-Mid. If I had a higher budget, and space to store more gear 😳 I'd be keen to check out the new X-Mid Pro, but it's a bit too spendy for me. And sadly, I don't get out nearly enough to justify the cost.
I very much prefer the ground, but I was gifted a hammock and found it nicely versatile. It got damaged and I thought that was that until I was at Walmart where I found an amazingly lightweight hammock at a Walmart price. It just came without the suspension system, but l had that. I now carry the hammock for versatility. I frequently like to stop where I feel like versus racing from tourist campsite to tourist campsite. The Hammock gives me more options.
@@musingwithreba9667 It was a huge surprise for me a year ago. Not many items from Walmart meet hiker weight standards. It was also good quality, maybe not for a full time hammock hiker, but good for my purposes.
@@jhosk it all depends on how you hang it and how you lay on it. Many don't stretch it enough at diaphragm height to allow the hammock sag enough at the right height when you lay on it, and never lay diagonally to achieve that straight lay that is why they are having back problems. But once a camper was able to hit the sweet spot, a dirt camper shall never put sleeping on the dirt his or her priority but only a second best option
I find it utterly ridiculous that tarp manufacturers try and put seam sealing on the customer. What a cop out! It's like selling someone a new car and then telling them they have to program the computer. The customer has no idea which sealer to use or how to apply it properly and to seal all of the areas that need to be seam sealed. All your tie out loops are sew through the material and need to be sealed. Any reinforcement patches at the corners also need to be sealed. Why should the customer have to figure this out the hard way? I can seam seal a 10x10 tarp in about 30-60 minutes.
@@Henning_Rech Are you implying that seam seal weighs too much and looks bad? Well so does being soaking wet from a leaking tarp. Warranty? If someone is too afraid to stand behind their work then maybe they should find an easier line of work that doesn't require them to be held accountable. I've made many tarps and not once has anyone complained about them leaking, looking bad, or weighing too much. Every single one was seam sealed before it left my possession. I'm not having such weak excuses for wanting to pass the buck off to the customer. But, like everything in life, you get what you pay for.
@@timdavis6088 I mean it increases weight and cost. If manufacturer A offers an unsealed tarp which looks more lightweight on the paper, and manufacturer B offers a similar product, but seam-sealed, it seems to be worse to gram-wheenies. - Which is the reason why some companies offer seam-sealing as a separate service, and show price and weight of the unsealed products.
@@Henning_Rech I uderstand your point but it is a moot point. I can seal a 10x10 tarp with 1 oz of seam sealer in less than an hour and total weight is 24.5 ozs. My Hammock Pro Ultralight tarp weighs 16.5 ozs. Both are completely seam sealed and water tight. It's nothing but an excuse to be lazy and pass the liability onto the customer. Who in their right mind would rather get dripped on all night in order to save an ounce? Getting wet will add pounds to your gear, not ounces. Does that sound logical? I get the gram nazis. I don't fault them. I want my gear as light as I can get it also. But it HAS TO FUNCTION first. A leaking tarp is a dysfunctional tarp. The way I see it some manufacturers are taking advantage of people's ignorance. I find that disgusting.
Since you have to seam seal products manufactured and sold to you for $$$.99...i can't see the logic behind it weighs more and looks ugly. That seems like a shoddy trick to advertise a lower carry weight and packing mass than it will really be in use. Also seam sealer and tape doesn't weigh much. Seems the factory would do a neater vaccuform job than you with a tube and brush. What really happens is these retired hikers have figured how to cut and sew these $700 tents and tarps for 26cents of labor with automation in China....but seam sealing is still a manual process in their factory.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Anyone needing more ideas about tarps and hammocks check out Blackie. He's a bushcraft from Alabama and he has some great ideas that compliments everything she's sharing with us. Again Great Video. Thanks
Evan's Backpacking Video's successfully used a tarp & bug bivy on his AT Thru-Hike. This video was made just before he commenced his journey. th-cam.com/video/-_KkaW4d6Ek/w-d-xo.html
The biggest mistake people make with hammocks is they hang them too loose and too low. The hammock needs to be taught and about chest high for sleeping. If the hammock is too loose you cannot get it spread correctly so it never flattens out. As a gear maker of hammocks and tarps, my hammock, bug net, and tarp are 3.0 lbs. That includes everything you need to hang bug free and dry. I use 550 cordage instead of tree straps. I can also use the tarp on the ground with my poles. You need a sleeping pad. This also helps to flatten out the hammock when you lay diagonally. Pro Tip: Buy a fleece liner and stuff your sleeping pad inside. Now slip the fleece covered pad into your sleeping bag, zipper down, so you never again wake up with your sleeping pad on the ground freezing your a$$ off. The fleece also helps eliminate moisture while you sleep so you don't wake up sweating from being in contact with a sleeping pad.
Excellent topic! Would you mind doing a video on dispersed camping spots vs designated backcountry sites? I'll be starting to section hike the AT soon and I'm worried about finding a good camping site since my mileage will be a little to low to go from shelter to shelter.
I much prefer to sleep on the ground, but there are now very affordable and lightweight hammocks which are great for a night where suitable ground spots are hard to find. This is why I carry one. I made my own suspension/ridgeline from 550/Paracord both to customize it and to cut weight more. The cordage is a good thing to have with or without a hammock.
Concerning hammocks and privacy/perceived protection: just pick a winter-style tarp. They come with flappy dors that you can close on all 4 sides. If you pitch it low, you have the same privacy you have in a tent. With tents you also see the ground in parts (vestibules) so that shouldn't make any difference. I'd probably also have a gear hammock to hang my gear and my backpack underneath my hammock so those are off the ground and away from mud and critters. However there is no way a hammock setup could ever compete with the lightest tent options. It can be fairly lightweight, but it will never be the lightest option.
Obviously, there are Dyneema hammocking tarps (including winter-style tarps) but they'll cost an arm and a leg. I recommend having a look at Hummingbird Hammocks tarps. The Pelican tarp offers doors (like a winter style tarp) while being bonkersly light (about what a lower mid-weight 12' hex-style tarp weighs).
I hammock camp. Buy fully understand that a portion of my pack is utilized by top quilt and underquilt. The sleep is definitely better. Thank you for always sharing my
For an ultralight setup for hammocking, it's hard to beat the superiorgear hammock, where the underquilt is sewn into the hammock. They use ultralight fabrics. I can set mine up in just a few minutes, and the comfort level is incredible. Made in Minnesota!
Thank you for mentioning this I love hammock hiking and this might be exactly what I'm lookin for
DD Jungle Hammocks are great. Plus you can get a sleeve that goes over the whole thing that makes packing and unpacking considerably quicker.
Mostly a weekend backpacker, here. My wife and I prefer hammock camping. My wife, kid, and dog will use the Lanshan 2 pro we have when we all go together. We even all fit in there on one night when the only option was a clearing in a burn area which was shocking to me for a 2 person tent. Still, the hammock just has so much more liveable volume under the tarp and is way more comfy and dry in the rain.
Plus, you can move your hammock and use your tarp as a work area when you're not sleeping. A hammock and tarp are so much more versatile then a tent alone.
You know I talk about weight and I always hear from other ex military guys saying “ I carried eighty pound rucks for thirty miles !”
The answer “so do you do that for fun?”
“You have it in your closet now?”
“How is your back a knees now?”
@@ferdonandebull my hammock weighs ~2 lbs and my tarp weighs ~ 1 lb. The hammock could be lighter if I weren't so darn fat. My UQ weighs about the same as a Big Agnes Rapide sleeping pad.
It's true that camping with a hammock has a slight learning curve to it, but once you work out a system that works for you, you'll never want to go back to a tent again if you can avoid it. The trick with sleeping in a hammock is to sleep diagonally as it straightens out your back more normally. The trick with setting it up is to get a few things to go with it, such as looped tree straps, a few strong climbing-rated carabiners, and a few strong climbing-rated O-rings. Rather than tying up to the tree with your hammock rope which can hurt the tree and wear that rope faster, you put the tree straps around the tree, a carabiner with 2 of the O-rings gets hooked to one of the attachment points of the strap, then you take the hammock rope and wrap it around and between the rings in a special way that makes the rings pinch the rope to hold it in place without even needing any knots (tho I still add a simple knot just in case, to prevent the rope from slipping thru the rings, though they've not been needed so far). You are right that you want to practice with this setup, and that practice was annoying to me at first, but when you've gotten used to it... wow... making and breaking camp becomes soooooooooo easy and fast! The longest step of breaking camp for me is rolling up the hammock to put it in its storage bag lol.
I have an old umbrella tent. Reach in push open and it done about 18 sec to set then take it down hit button it closes back forth a couple of time throw off all the water . It very light.
About. 25 seconds to close it and ready to put in pack. 1 person plus gear the size and 6 foot round
My uncle gave it to me in 80s and I can’t find them anymore.
The way Dixie says "tight" melts my heart!😍
night, hike, right, site❤
I feel like she’s saying “taut.” Which means tight. But is different.
@@karlk9316 I had a pol sci professor from Mississippi. He had a sign on his door: Beer, Bare, Bear- they all sounded the same when he said them!
@@techguy9023 LOL! Accents are so fun! Trying to imitate them, you can feel your brain change! I agree, Dixie's accent is adorable!
For years as an Infantry paratrooper I slept in a hammock and a bodybag while out in the field. All the newfangled gear of today that weights merely ounces is incredible. It's a miracle my knees aren't blown out from jumps and humping 80+ lbs. of gear the way we did. I will say that some of this new gear is a little pricey but when has comfort taken a back seat
I used a gore-tex bivy for my AT thru-hike and it was perfect. I began on August 1, 1981 at Katahdin and hiked south, reaching Springer on January 1, 1982. Due to the season I hiked, bugs really were never a problem and I'm happy I didn't have the weight and bulk of a tent. I've been working as a guide/outdoor educator full-time since 1988 and we use tarps nearly 90% of the time, even in mid-winter in northern Maine. But of course, you need to know multiple ways to set up a tarp to be effective in all sorts of conditions, including sleeping on the ice on frozen lakes in the 100-mile wilderness in February. The point is, it can be done, just takes skill.
Please, make videos?
I feel bivy is way to warm in summer most of the time.
Ok I’ve thought about it and yes, I could live in my 6MD Haven for six months. You’ve seen it, I can adjust it for low or max airflow depending on temps and the dual vestibules mean I’ll never wake up on the wrong side of the bed 🤣🤗❤️
I used a GoreTex bivvy bag for a while on the PCT and saved some weight and packed volume compared to my tent. It's OK in nice weather when you don't really need it, but what you save with a waterproof breathable bivvy compared to a single wall (not breathable) trekking pole tent is so small it's not worth it IMO. Compared to a freestanding or semi freestanding tent the savings with a bivvy is larger and a bivvy can take more high winds than most tents. As an emergency shelter if you plan to stay in shelters on the AT it can make more sense though, but to me a superlight tarp is a better option even if it takes more effort to set up. Particularly when there aren't any trees around.
I recently bought a huge DCF tarp to make my hammock a more "liveable" option. I use a hammock with a separate bug net that I can leave at home when not needed, and a larger bug net from Sierra Madre Designs for truly buggy sections and seasons of different trails.
My Hummingbird hammock with the bug net and whoopie slings from the same company is my go-to. I pull a Golite feather-lite bag over the hammock for temperatures down to freezing. I just bought a Superior Gear hammock with sewn-in down insulation for temperatures from freezing to negative 20 farenheit.
Stakes: A general rule is that larger shelters require larger stakes because they catch more wind than smaller ones. Aerodynamics are also to be taken into consideration. Tents with fewer poles usually require more stakes, and, lastly, softer ground requires stakes with a larger surface area to keep your tent up than hard-packed and/or rocky mineral soils.
I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a post hog but I keep wanting to comment as your covering a lot of ground.
Ground stakes can ruin your hike real fast. Those round blue ones with the cap, I've had those pull the cap right off as they're glued or pressed on. Now you have no way to attach your guy line and are down to whittling sticks. Plastic stake will break in the cold. I suggest MSR Ground hogs. They won't let you down when the wind starts gusting up to 40 or 50 mph during a typical Alabama storm.
Pro Tip: Don't make the mistake of leaving your tarp staked out after a soaking rain. As you mention most of the materials used will absorb some water and become looser. Your guy lines will do the same. So you'll need to adjust your guy lines when it starts raining to tighten them up some. (I prefer a trucker's hitch knot for guy lines) But AFTER the rain you need to loosen the guy lines if you leave it hung up. Otherwise, your tarp will dry out in the sun and can become as tight as a drum head. The slightest contact, someone trips over one of your guy lines, and your tarp could rip a giant seam out. I speak from experience. It's sickening to watch a 4'x4' square being torn out of your Multicam tarp in seconds.
Nice video...I hammock camp all the time and it is something you have to learn...All but maybe 10 weekends last year I was in my hammock one to four days at a time...About the privacy...I have a 12 by 10 tarp which I can lower down close to my hammock Ridgeline and the sides will drop within 10 inches of the ground in what I call tent mode...I hang my backpack on the head end and caribeaner the ends together behind it and I walk in the foot end and caribeaner it together behind me and it is total privacy...
first time ive ever jumped on one of your films without a thousand beating me too it! I love yo do some of the TA with you
Watch her full hikes mate you’ll love it
Kind of a weekend hiker lately (because I recently moved into a house so that was busy), but I’ve been using a hammock with my 2 dogs and it’s been pretty easy. I do let them sleep in the hammock with me, so it’s a pretty sturdy set up (and the dogs are beagles so 25 lbs each)
I have real bad trouble getting comfortable in camp with heat and lack of air circulation. I tent camped for years and was never quite able to get comfortable. I will say there is something special about tarp camping and cowboy camping, doing that made a world of difference for me.
great video. i know alot of people who really embrace ultralight, but i see no problems to carry just a normal 1 kilo hubba and have all comforts.
I hike the AT with my Warbonnet Blackbird XLC and love it. I'm a 300 pound man and sleep is so comfortable. Watch some videos and do it a bit first because the hammock has some interesting quirks, cold butt syndrome is a huge one. But CBS works great for in Florida. Keeps me cool in the summer when my friends are sweltering.
For sure and at first I went with a Thermarest Xlite 20x72 inch model which was too long for me to sleep comfortably in my Chameleon hammock. So like Dixie, I love the NeoAir Xlite 20x47 inch version in which fits perfectly in my hammock.
There is no such thing as keeping cool in the Florida summer, not even at night.
@@Swearengen1980 "Cool..er". I can remain comfortable with air temps up in the mid 80's while my tent buddies are sweltering. The more the air is moving, the hotter I can tolerate.
@@charleswaters455 Yeah, screw that LOL. I'm a native Floridian and I still hate every second of the weather above 75ish degrees during the day and 65-70 at night. I go camping in the winter when we may have 30 degree nights.
Sometimes I put on only 1/2 of the rain fly (folded over). Recently while kayak camping along a river, I opened my eyes in the middle of the night with the Big Dipper overhead, nice. I can't imagine not having the option of taking off the rain fly.
That's always the dream, but I can count on one hand the nights I've been awake long enough past dark to see stars on a backpacking trip. Plus I think the stars thing must be a western thing... Light pollution is pretty severe along the AT. Also, depending on the bugs if it's nice enough to forgo the fly it's nice enough to cowboy it. Just another data point. I haven't had a tent with a separate fly for a long time and don't miss it, (condensation management is the real issue).
I love to cowboy camp on nights when there’s not rain in the forecast - you get to enjoy all the gorgeous views and have a record quick break down in the morning. A mosquito headnet and permethrin on your sleep clothes help ensure you don’t get pestered by mosquitos.
Hi Dixie. Great video! I am a full hammock guy since 2017 hiking mostly the GSMNP and can tell you STAKES matter for that setup and location. Soft ground and high winds on a tarp require a substantial stake to stay in place. Learned that the hard way. Thanks for sharing and stay safe!
One reason I like the simple common plastic trowel. Digging poop holes is the primary purpose of course, but it makes a great stake for sandy conditions or dirt that just doesn't hold a stake firmly enough.
The most simple of bushcraft skills is also useful for making heavy duty stakes, but that varies by conditions. Lots of hikers don't carry even the most basic items for this, but they should.
Tons of terrific information! Also, your orthodontist did a great job. I’m so glad it worked out!
Good mash-up of advice snippits.
All valid. Practice, practice, practice.
Keep it up!
Cheers.
For a lightweight versatile hammock thst you can use with your already bought sleeping pad and any tarp, check out the crosshammock
One slight suggestion, if you have to put your pack outside under a tree with a trash bag UNZIP all your pockets. If a critter smells some old food in there, she can get in and explore without chewing through the fabric......experience talking 🙂
Great tip
Good advice.
In addition, hanging your pack three to four feet above the ground or higher can be a good choice so that rodents don't chew through or on it. Sometimes they go for the accumulated salt left by the hiker's perspiration.
They'll still chew it. They don't know to look for an opening.
Holy crap. Ima have to take a day off to watch the full video. Keep it up. Proud of ya.
I bikepack/tour with a bike trailer so weight isn’t as critical, but space still is. I like the NatureHike Mongar 2 tent. Sometimes I’ll take the add-on vestibule with me if I expect a lot of rain on my trip. It gives me a larger sheltered area without having to carry an extra rain tarp for cooking and gear storage. The Mongar2 is on par with the Hubba Hubba at a fraction of the cost. Does well in Texas thunderstorms.
For the arid Western mountains, I like a bivy bag and head netting when needed. Interior moisture is mitigated by the fact that you're (hopefully) not exhaling inside. Thick socks and appropriate clothing help keep your bag or quilt from too much compromising moisture.
Love my hammock setup for a few reasons. Number 1 being comfort. I sleep better in my hammocks than i do in my own bed. Two, water. I setup my tarp and then do everything else under the tarp so everything stays dry. And zero issues with condensation. Unless i'm 100% certain it isn't going to be a massive storm i always carry my "winter" tarp. Has doors so i have my privacy but i can also pitch it several other ways depending on conditions or how i feel. Third, i don't have to carry a chair. I live in the southeast so summers are brutal especially with bugs and humidity so i love the overall flexibility of it.
Hey im in Texas and feeling the same about the humidity and comfort. Could you recommend any gear specifically?
@@viceb7 I just don't go camping or backpacking in the summer. 95 degrees and 80+ percent humidity? Screw that. I'd high to leave Florida and go a good ways north before I found a temperature I'm comfortable sleeping in. Personally, few things are more miserable than trying to sleep (and failing) when you're suffocating on humidity and sweating just laying there.
Dixie, thank you for the outstanding detailed information.
Hammock setup gets pretty fast once to do it often, especially if you start using some of Dutch's magical hardware.
Bivy all the way for me! Pinion Bivy from Katabatic Gear... I never went back to tent..
A bivy would be okay for desert hikes once you are into summer, because out in Escalante Wilderness during Spring Break, there was ice on the puddles in the mornings and it got really cold once the sun went down. Really cold.
go to the LA River in Los Angeles there are plenty of people that live in those things for more than 6 months
Excellent discussion of tentage/hammock/tarp shelter options. My personal preference is a tarp (which was actually designed as a tent extension). But I must admit that I'm pretty much a summer camper, although my tarp has the capability to have its sides either up or down, it would be a little colder than a tent in the winter.
I have a hard time with a hammock because of shoulder issues and no shelter has me being bugged except when there is snow. I like a tent with mosquito netting to keep the bugs out and to offer some privacy when dressing. Thanks Dixie.
I think 3 years ago, you and another thru hiker were using the duplex, so I purchased one, absolutely perfect for me. Im 6ft tall, so with the new duplex xl, it makes sense to me, but another 750 bucks, ouch. Thanks Jessica
Agree on the „no-shelter-people“! They expect others, who carry the weight of their shelter all day, to make room for them! Appaling! Everyone can at least carry a tarp!
Ironically, the lightweight backpacker tents are actually quite a bit lighter than all except for special backpacker tarps, however they are all spendy.
Lightweight + affordable in a shelter is next to an impossible find.
How far does that logic extend though? Something I noticed is that ultralighters often opt for a shelter when the weather turns bad, because they know their setup can't cope.
I love tarp + synthetic sleeping bag (rebranded chinese one, no bivy), though it might be just because it's what i grew up with) I even did a 1k km hike with itthis summer (my tarp did cost me like 10 usd, but the seam tape did leak at the end quite a lot, not recommended long term)
Thank you for this excellent overview of current trends and types of gear available.
Wow this was right on time!!
I am currently urban backpacking and looking for a nice tent for October!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Streetcraft, not bushcraft. Different set of survival skills. The bush however is vastly much more safe. Watch your six.
@@paulrevere2379 thank you, will do! 🫡🤝💪🏾
I love your videos! Perfect timing I'm trying to decide what tent to buy now that I'm moving away from car camping!
You’re the Queen of Trails, Dixie. But I think concluding remarks should advise familiarity with living out of a backpack for a few nights before you decide what you need. The “image” of being a backpacker can captivate people, but if they haven’t ever done it before, they’ve got some experiences ahead of them, like anything else.😊
My current tent weighs about 7 lbs.. 😂 Not for hiking/backpacking! I’m asking for a Lanshan 2 for my birthday this month. (BHS class of 83!)
I just bought a Lanshan 2! I can't wait for Texas to not be 110 so I can hit the trail. ☺
When my youngest said she wanted to go backpacking, I dug out my ‘70s era “ultralight” tent. At 7 pounds, I’m sure glad it was too dry-rotted to use! We upgraded to a Nemo Hornet 2P and haven’t looked back..!
@@reyatha3526 right there with you!!! Doing the LST this fall, hopefully won’t be in the 100s😖.
Do it. I love mine. Taken mine on a 4 day hike here in Indiana and did amazing. It's also my choice for my AT section hike in Sept. Been using it regularly since last Sept. Did great through sleet in January too.
The Lanshan 2 is great! I recommend getting it with the 4-season-inner. In the summer it's not overly hot and you definitely avoid the water splashing through the netting when it's raining a lot.
tho im old school hiker,,i always learn somthing even if its just explaining stuff to others good job ...im hooked...
Oooo... I've got to check those gear lists and see if the "grease pot" is (still) there!
Hey Dixie I really enjoy watching your videos. Have you ever looked at the Haven Tent Hammock? I know it is a little heavy for backpacking but the ability to setup as lay flat hammock or tent seems versatile. I plan on using bike touring so little more weight is more tolerable.
Thank for your help planning my A.T hike 2024
I'm mostly a weekend backpacker and use an OR Helium bivy on my UL trips. Condensation is definitely a concern. Even with the storm flap open and the bug net in use, my quilt is slightly damp by morning. In rain I use a Sea to Summit poncho tarp to provide some cover for cooking and ventilation of the bivy. For longer trips, I'm wondering if a full tarp and bug net bivy might work better to prevent condensation. My general strategy for 1-3 night trips is to use shelters or huts when possible and rely on the bivy when I have no better option for the night. Modern down quilts/bags use water resistant down and shells that help when condensation is unavoidable and it is not a big deal for short trips. For a thru hike, I'd probably use Evan's (e-Wolf/Reverend) method of tarp and bug net bivy, if I didn't splurge on a DCF treking pole tent.
When you were speaking of setting up hammocks, you said its not too bad "once you get the hang of it". LOL! I see what you did there.
I am a tenter because of the dog. Love my big Agnes Tiger wall and will be trying a dan Durston X-mid soon.
I lived outside for 7 years in the north west were it rains a lot
A tent will last 2 or 3 months
I kept everything out of it .
They mold you can put a roof
Over the tent however it will still mold
18:26 Hi Dixie.
In your experience, how resistant are 1.0 weight DCF floors to punctures and tears over the course of 100 to 180 nights in contrast to poly-urethane coated nylon? Good to know that DCF floors are more resistant to punctures and tears than sil-nylon.
Certain parks, like some places in the Adirondacks, require you to use the shelter and forbid tenting. Finding a tent spot can be challenging. If I were to go back there again (unlikely because terrible trail conditions) I would hammock it.
I love/loathe my bivy sacks. I have had models from Outdoor Research and Bibler-Black Diamond over three decades. And they account for nearly a third of my bag nights in The US Mountain West. I definitely would not recommend a bivy for multi-day long distance hikes or thru-hiking. Think them as cowboy camping with an emergency cover. In 2022, the weight savings are pretty slim versus many one-person tents.
A shoulder season trip with a "bivy" -- a taffeta nylon rectangle sewed on three sides to a ripstop nylon rectangle -- ended abruptly when we had to use a safety valve escape route from an approaching storm. Several inches of snow accumulation didn't faze that setup, even though the half inch ensolite pad was pretty difficult to roll up in the morning!
I think if you add a piece of shock cord to the end of the guy line it should take up the slack so you don't wake to a dropped tent.
Oh my goodness! Fancy Mae is getting big! I didn't expect that! I thot she was full grown at the begining! Sending her love and a cuddle!
I always like to bring a little emo hammock with me in addition to the tent instead of the chair. Really great on a nice night.
Zpacks duplex will be my next tent. Getting older and weight is crucial
Thanks for having me drink from the fire hose. This was very informative.
I wonder if poncho tarps will ever be the main shelter just bought one played with it a little bit haven't hiked with it yet
A light weight tent of 3 pounds maximum sounds great, but apart from being expensive, shouldn't you add the weight of the walking sticks to it which adds an extra pound? If so you might as well buy a 4 pound tent for half the price.
Not if you're already using trekking poles for the hike and not just a tent pole.
I think a trekking pole tent is probably the best option for backpacking. Obviously the weight is a plus but with a traditional tent if you break a tent pole you’re kind of screwed. Even if you break a trekking pole you can always use a stick. If you can’t get a stake in the ground you can always resort to the tried and true little rock big rock method.
Got to go with a two person tent, just in case things get interesting 😎
I'm finding it difficult to like the Nemo Hornet single.... not much room and the rain fly is a little strange... Wish Eureka made very light tents!
I've been on the Pictured Rocks trail one day and it's beautiful. Can't imagine living in ANY tent for 6 Mos!
Your videos are so excellent. Thank you
Just baught a 35$ cabelas backpacking biker tent lol big storm came thru and It leaked like a mofo lol, love your channel 😄
This is an almost 25 minute program. How much total time goes into a production like this?
Hi I absolutely love your videos I’m attending the appliation trail through hike for the first time in 2024 I am an absolute beginner I have just got a Durston tent and was wondering if you use the ground sheet or foot prints at all? Or is that necessary on the trail
Did you ever find a spoon in Pennsylvania? NPR did a story about this guy, barefoot carver. I heard he lives in Florida now.
Hey Dixie, how do you deal with smellables in your tent and the big critters, not worried about them??
You don’t do it (like she’s shown in lots of videos), you carry a bear bag or canister!
Thank you for sharing your expertise
Super thorough and informative!
Great advice Dixie!
Big agnes copper spur over here! 'Mine is 3.5, but worth it.
My issue with hammocks is that I'm a stomach sleeper. I feel like theres no way to lay fully flat in a hammock.
As always your the Best Love my duplex
Great video very helpful info.
The weight/quality/comfort of the tent could be higher if you give up some of the daily mileages, or if you travel with another people and share a bigger tent, or both. Sleeping in an ultralight tent, using ultralight sleeping mat not always worth it. People are not the same. Some is interested in aims and goals, some is interested in being on the “road”, gathering happy memories.
On the unlimited budget gear list, the link to the neck knife takes you to a razor on Amazon.
I haven't tried going with a hammock, it just seems like a lot of extra stuff to carry, so extra weight, and extra cost! It'd be cool to try, but I'm a ground dweller due to budget. I like my Durston X-Mid. If I had a higher budget, and space to store more gear 😳 I'd be keen to check out the new X-Mid Pro, but it's a bit too spendy for me. And sadly, I don't get out nearly enough to justify the cost.
I very much prefer the ground, but I was gifted a hammock and found it nicely versatile. It got damaged and I thought that was that until I was at Walmart where I found an amazingly lightweight hammock at a Walmart price. It just came without the suspension system, but l had that.
I now carry the hammock for versatility. I frequently like to stop where I feel like versus racing from tourist campsite to tourist campsite. The Hammock gives me more options.
@@paulrevere2379 oh cool! I had no idea Walmart had hammocks. But probably there's more options in the US than here in Canada.
@@musingwithreba9667 It was a huge surprise for me a year ago. Not many items from Walmart meet hiker weight standards. It was also good quality, maybe not for a full time hammock hiker, but good for my purposes.
Your back will either hate or love you with a hammock
@@jhosk it all depends on how you hang it and how you lay on it. Many don't stretch it enough at diaphragm height to allow the hammock sag enough at the right height when you lay on it, and never lay diagonally to achieve that straight lay that is why they are having back problems. But once a camper was able to hit the sweet spot, a dirt camper shall never put sleeping on the dirt his or her priority but only a second best option
Love you Dixie!!!!
Hi 👋how are you doing?
Very informative stuff. Thanks. Liked the blooper, things ya done wrong video to. Be well.
Damn that campsite is crowded af, right?
Ugnhhh. That opening scene. Out in the middle of the woods in the middle of a bunch of people. No thanks.
Maybe tarp+mosquito net will work.
"Like drinking from a fire hose." lol!
@HomemadeWanderlust >>> 👍👍
thanks for the ideas!
I find it utterly ridiculous that tarp manufacturers try and put seam sealing on the customer. What a cop out! It's like selling someone a new car and then telling them they have to program the computer. The customer has no idea which sealer to use or how to apply it properly and to seal all of the areas that need to be seam sealed. All your tie out loops are sew through the material and need to be sealed. Any reinforcement patches at the corners also need to be sealed. Why should the customer have to figure this out the hard way? I can seam seal a 10x10 tarp in about 30-60 minutes.
Work time, warranty, extra weight. The product would look worse than the unsealed competition.
@@Henning_Rech Are you implying that seam seal weighs too much and looks bad? Well so does being soaking wet from a leaking tarp. Warranty? If someone is too afraid to stand behind their work then maybe they should find an easier line of work that doesn't require them to be held accountable. I've made many tarps and not once has anyone complained about them leaking, looking bad, or weighing too much. Every single one was seam sealed before it left my possession. I'm not having such weak excuses for wanting to pass the buck off to the customer. But, like everything in life, you get what you pay for.
@@timdavis6088 I mean it increases weight and cost. If manufacturer A offers an unsealed tarp which looks more lightweight on the paper, and manufacturer B offers a similar product, but seam-sealed, it seems to be worse to gram-wheenies. - Which is the reason why some companies offer seam-sealing as a separate service, and show price and weight of the unsealed products.
@@Henning_Rech I uderstand your point but it is a moot point. I can seal a 10x10 tarp with 1 oz of seam sealer in less than an hour and total weight is 24.5 ozs. My Hammock Pro Ultralight tarp weighs 16.5 ozs. Both are completely seam sealed and water tight. It's nothing but an excuse to be lazy and pass the liability onto the customer. Who in their right mind would rather get dripped on all night in order to save an ounce? Getting wet will add pounds to your gear, not ounces. Does that sound logical? I get the gram nazis. I don't fault them. I want my gear as light as I can get it also. But it HAS TO FUNCTION first. A leaking tarp is a dysfunctional tarp. The way I see it some manufacturers are taking advantage of people's ignorance. I find that disgusting.
Since you have to seam seal products manufactured and sold to you for $$$.99...i can't see the logic behind it weighs more and looks ugly. That seems like a shoddy trick to advertise a lower carry weight and packing mass than it will really be in use.
Also seam sealer and tape doesn't weigh much. Seems the factory would do a neater vaccuform job than you with a tube and brush.
What really happens is these retired hikers have figured how to cut and sew these $700 tents and tarps for 26cents of labor with automation in China....but seam sealing is still a manual process in their factory.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Anyone needing more ideas about tarps and hammocks check out Blackie. He's a bushcraft from Alabama and he has some great ideas that compliments everything she's sharing with us. Again Great Video. Thanks
Evan's Backpacking Video's successfully used a tarp & bug bivy on his AT Thru-Hike. This video was made just before he commenced his journey. th-cam.com/video/-_KkaW4d6Ek/w-d-xo.html
When and we’re is your next throu hike
It is kind of shocking that someone would commit the AT but not prepare enough to master whatever shelter they want to use.
Dixie, I love the cammo pattern of the hammock tarp in the video. Where did you get it and what exact pattern is that? Thanks.
It looks like a Hammock Gear DCf tarp in camouflage. My setup and I love it!
@@brianc1651 Thanks a lot! I will investigate.
I used one on my at hike, and Pct. Well i used nothing in desert.
Great video
The biggest mistake people make with hammocks is they hang them too loose and too low. The hammock needs to be taught and about chest high for sleeping. If the hammock is too loose you cannot get it spread correctly so it never flattens out.
As a gear maker of hammocks and tarps, my hammock, bug net, and tarp are 3.0 lbs. That includes everything you need to hang bug free and dry. I use 550 cordage instead of tree straps. I can also use the tarp on the ground with my poles.
You need a sleeping pad. This also helps to flatten out the hammock when you lay diagonally. Pro Tip: Buy a fleece liner and stuff your sleeping pad inside. Now slip the fleece covered pad into your sleeping bag, zipper down, so you never again wake up with your sleeping pad on the ground freezing your a$$ off. The fleece also helps eliminate moisture while you sleep so you don't wake up sweating from being in contact with a sleeping pad.
Excellent topic! Would you mind doing a video on dispersed camping spots vs designated backcountry sites? I'll be starting to section hike the AT soon and I'm worried about finding a good camping site since my mileage will be a little to low to go from shelter to shelter.
I much prefer to sleep on the ground, but there are now very affordable and lightweight hammocks which are great for a night where suitable ground spots are hard to find.
This is why I carry one. I made my own suspension/ridgeline from 550/Paracord both to customize it and to cut weight more. The cordage is a good thing to have with or without a hammock.