HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS
April
2004
Here you will find the latest
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=============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE FROM SPEER
HAMMOCKS April 2004
=============================================================
1. Hammock
Camping News
2. Feature
Article
Homemade
Hammock Pipe Stand
3. Camping
Hammock Manufacturers
4. Other
Hammocks Suitable for Camping
5. Camping
Hammock Accessories
6. Misc
Online Resources
7. Speer
Hammocks Calendar
8. Upcoming
Feature Articles
1----------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS------------------------
A. DID YOU MISS A PAST ISSUE?
Postings of each newsletter on Yahoo Groups will be left on
the Hammock Camping News home page for subscribers to view any time; go
to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hammock_Camping_News/
Subscribers and non-subscribers can freely view and download
the current issue or any of the back issues at:
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/NEWS.htm
Note: Some of the many web links in the newsletters do not
survive in the email versions--if this happened to yours, you might want to
download the newsletter from the hammockcamping.com site.
B.
Down PeaPods are Here! NEW
Speer Hammocks has introduced down
hammock gear! Our down Peapods and Top Blankets offer the ultimate in
uncomplicated lightweight warmth! PeaPods are insulated bags that completely
surround an occupied top-entry camping hammock. Top Blankets are insulated
quilts for use over a hammock sleeper or they can be used as liners inside
PeaPods. Together they make the best system available for cold weather hammock
comfort. Now warmth at any temperature is possible. Visit us at our March and
April demos (see below). You can learn more at: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DownPeaPods.htm.
Order at: http://speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm
or call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 EST workdays.
C.
HAMMOCK CAMPING BOOK PUBLISHED!
Hammock
Camping: The Complete Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom by Ed
Speer was published in 2003. The book
is based on Ed's many years of hammock camping around the world and his
experience making and designing his own hammocks. In addition to key chapters
on "How To Stay Warm In A Hammock" and "How To Make Your Own
Hammock", the book contains numerous entries from Ed's trail journals that
show just how hammocks can be used in actual wilderness settings. The book is well documented with numerous
photos, drawings and tables of information. For those not inclined to make a
hammock, one chapter presents brief reviews of all the commercially available
camping hammocks. Appendices give valuable information on Ed's hammocking tips,
hammock manufactures, the Leave No Trace organization, and web links to
additional hammock information. This book is sure to become the standard
reference manual on hammock camping.
Autographed copies and free shipping on all orders from Speer Hammocks.
Order online at http://www.HammockCamping.com
or call (828) 724-4444, 9-5 EST workdays--$19.95. Also available at major Internet book sites or a bookstore or
retail outfitter near you.
D.
MAKE-YOUR-OWN HAMMOCK KITS NOW AVAILABLE
It's fun and easy to make your own
camping hammock with the simple kits from Speer Hammocks. Based on a successful
hammock design, the kits come complete with all the fabric, webbing, Velcro,
pull tabs, guidelines, ridgeline, hardware, etc. needed to make a complete
hammock with bug net and rain canopy. Even the thread is included! Making your
own hammock is highly rewarding and each one should give years of satisfactory
use. The only thing needed is a household sewing machine and minimal sewing
skills (only easy edge hems, straight stitches, and one flat felled seam are
required). Check out the kits at: http://www.SpeerHammocks.com
E.
Speer Hammock and PeaPod Demos MARCH & APRIL
See live demos of Speer Hammocks,
PeaPods and Top Blankets throughout March and April at the Rainbow Springs
Campground near Franklin, NC. Try a Speer Hammock for an afternoon nap or even
overnight! Snuggle up in a new down
PeaPod or Top Blanket. Here's your
chance to see what hammock camping is all about before buying an outfit. Demos
will be available beginning March 5th at the new Mountain Crossings
Outpost, a seasonal gear shop operated by the popular outfitter at Neel's Gap,
GA. While the demos will be available
throughout March and April, Ed Speer will be on hand a few days each week to
answer your questions. See feature article below for directions to Rainbow
Springs Campground.
F. SHHA Campout Rainbow Springs Campground, NC 27March
Our 6th SHHA (Southeast
Hammock Hangers Association) Campout
was this past weekend at the Rainbow Springs Campground near Franklin, NC. The
turnout was excellent and we all enjoyed the chance to talk to so many hammock
hangers and see their gear. Hammock
campers included Ed, Karen, Mark, Mike, John, Rick, Bill, Carl, and Doug. Visitors included Coy, Cody, Daniel, and
Thor. Folks came from NC, SC, TN, GA,
AL and OH. Several hammock campers also
got in some hiking on the nearby trails during the weekend.
Mark and Mike arrived first on
Friday and set up their hammocks in the trees--the rest of us used stands. Speer Hammocks provided several homemade and
purchased pipe stands while Rick brought his brand-new homemade stand and Bill
set up his interesting homemade one-tree stand. Rick showed his well-made double bottom hammock, TravelPod shell,
and down quilt--he also briefly showed his bottom quilted cold weather hammock.
Ed and Karen used Speer down PeaPods and Top Blankets. Three Hennessey hammocks
were on hand, while Bill used a homemade one of his own design--the remaining
hammocks were original or modified Speer designs.
Karen's hot dog dinner was the
highlight of the evening--she even provided snacks, soft drinks, slaw, chips,
cake and her own special potato salad!
At breakfast the next morning she provided donuts and more soft drinks
and cake. Thanks Karen--you sure know how to feed ten hungry men!
Hammock stories and gear talk
around the campfire continued well into the night, until, one by one, we turned
in for the comfort of our hammocks.
Clear skies allowed great views of the stars and moon. Most of us were awaken in the wee hours of
the morning by the calls of several nearby owls.
This was our best-attended SEHHA
campout yet--thanks to all those who attended.
Thanks also to campground managers Berry and Terry, who were very
receptive to us and accommodated our every need. Our campout was a great success and we hope to offer another one
later this year at the same location.
G. Florida Trail Association Annual Conference 19-21
March
Speer Hammocks demoed our Hammocks
and PeaPods at this years' Florida Trail Association Annual Conference at the
Spirit of the Suwannee Campground near Live Oak, Florida over the weekend of
March 19-21. The enthusiastic response
was overwhelming! We got the chance to
meet many of the veteran FT hikers, organizers and maintainers as well as
several current thru hikers. The FTA
group is a very active and involved club and the annual gathering is well worth
attending. Many hikers visited our
booth and tried camping hammocks for the first time. Several current hammock hangers came buy to share their
experiences as well. Our thanks to the
kind folks who organized the event and to everyone who made us feel welcome.
H.
HAMMOCK CAMPING WEB SITE
http://www.HammockCamping.com. This site provides a general exchange of
hammock camping news and information. Excerpts from Ed's new book and F-R-E-E copies of these newsletters are featured
here, as well as lots of F-R-E-E hammock
camping reports and handy hammocking tips.
Anyone wishing to post information on this site should contact us at: Ed@SpeerHammocks.com.
I.
HAMMOCK CAMPING-L Discussion Group
Join fellow outdoor enthusiasts in
an open discussion on all aspects of hammock camping. Learn from the experts
before you buy or make your own. Or help others by sharing your knowledge. The
widespread use of camping hammocks is the latest development in wilderness
travel. Be a part of this exciting phenomenon. The Hammock Camping-List is
hosted on Yahoo Groups and works like any other online "list;"
however you do not have to be a member of Yahoo in order to join. All you need
is a valid email address to join the group. NOTE that subscribers to this free
Hammock Camping News e-zine are not automatically signed up for
the bulletin board (you must sign up yourself).
All messages are archived and
searchable by members. Whether you are
a novice or a veteran hammock user, there is much to learn and share on The
Hammock Camping List!
To join, send email to: hammockcamping-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Or sign up online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hammockcamping
J. Follow Leave No Trace!
As hammock campers we have the
duty to not only act responsibly in the backcountry, but to also set a proper
example for others to follow. One of
the great advantages of hammock camping is the ability to reduce our adverse
impact on the environment. Everyone is
encouraged to join and support the worthy Leave No Trace
organization and to follow their outdoor ethics. To learn more, visit: http://www.lnt.org
2-------------------------Feature
Article------------------------------
Homemade Hammock Pipe Stand
Have you ever wished you had a
hammock stand--perhaps for a tree-less backyard, patio, grassy meadow, or
campground site? Now you can hang your
hammock anywhere with the easy to make pipe stand described below. Although a bit pricy, the stand is extremely
sturdy, durable and functional. With
effort it is also portable and serves equally well indoors or outdoors. It accommodates all camping hammocks that
can be hung between 12-foot-wide supports.
The stand is easy to construct
with items straight from the supply store--no cutting, sawing, measuring,
nailing, etc! Assembly time by one
person is less than ten minutes! The
finished 5-foot high stand is rectangular with a 12' horizontal ridgepole and
two upright legs, each with 4-foot long 'feet' perpendicular to the ridgepole.
Construction requires two small-to-medium size pipe wrenches. The stand weighs 90 pounds, thus is very
strong and sturdy. It is the weight and
strength of the pipes that keep the stand from unacceptable wobble or shake
during use. In fact, the stand can
easily support a 200-pound person doing chin-ups!
The stand can be assembled or
disassembled as often as needed with the pipe wrenches. Another great advantage
of the stand over some commercially available ones is the ability to pitch a
separate rain canopy or tarp high enough above the hammock to provide a standup
shelter.
Parts List
I buy my pipe and fittings at
Lowes home improvement store. The costs and Lowes sales numbers are given below
for reference. Note that my locale Home Depot store also had all the parts,
except the large 10' pipe.
All pieces are 1.25" galvanized
steel pipe or fittings with normal water-pipe threads
Lowes# Cost$
24003 20.50 A)
10' pipe, one for horizontal ridgepole
24019 6.64 B)
18" pipe, one to extend horizontal ridgepole
24076 32.32 C)
5' pipe, 2 for uprights
24020 32.72 D)
24" pipe, 4 for foot braces
22000 3.82 E)
90 degree Elbow, 2 to attach uprights to ridgepole
22231 7.94 F)
Tee Junction, 2 to attach foot braces to uprights
22431 4.16 G)
1.25" Union, one to attach 18" & 10' ridgepole pipes
Total cost: $108.10 plus tax, plus
wrenches (?)
Part G is the only unusual item.
It is a 3-part in-line fitting consisting of a large central female nut with
male-to-female adapters on each side. All three pieces can be tightened
independently. The union easily allows the 18" and 10' pipes to be
attached together to create a ridgepole that is about 11.7' long. Note that a regular 1.25" coupling
(Lowes # 22330, $2.10) would also do the job, but assembly or disassemble is a
bit more hassle.
Note that the stand will take down
into the individual parts, the longest being the 10' length of pipe--this might
be a problem fitting into your car (see alternative below)!
Shorter Ridgepole Pipes
If your supply store has 6' long
pipe, you can easily exchange the ridgepole parts A) and B) with two 6' pipe
lengths and thus eliminate the hassle of the 10' long pipe in the ridgepole
described above. Likewise, you could make
the uprights (part C) with 6' lengths instead of the 5' lengths used
above--this would make the stand a bit over 6' high, allowing the rain canopy
to be positioned even higher for a stand-up shelter!
End caps, either metal or PVC (my
preference), can be added to the four threaded ends of the perpendicular
feet. This adds a finished look and
helps protect floors and bare toes.
Link to Rick's Stand
A less-expensive alternative
hammock stand, built by Rick Allnut, can be found at: http://www.imrisk.com/hammockstand/hammockstand.htm
Other Portable Stands
Several
portable hammock stands can be found on the market. A short review of some is provided in the February 2003 issue of
Hammock Camping News at:
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Newsletters/Feb2003.htm. Also
see the listing at the end of each Hammock Camping News issue under: Camping
Hammock Accessories--Portable Hammock Stands for links to more information.
Use
of a hammock stand can certainly expand your hammocking options. Whether homemade or purchased, a suitable
hammock stand can be worth its' weight in gold!
Safe
Hammocking ....Ed
"Not To Worry" Speer
Take a hammock on your next
outdoor trip
and experience the wonder
of nature all over again
3------------------------------Tip
of the Month---------------------------------
The
following handy tips recently came to our attention
·
Exped's new Downmat may offer superior warmth
in a hammock. At 3" thick, the
Downmat 7 Short is 48" x 20.5" and weighs 18 ozs. The 4.5 oz pump/storage sack is required for
proper inflation--for a total weight of 22.5 oz. See at: http://www.backcountry-equipment.com/sleeping_pads/exped_downairmattress.html. Full length and thicker down airmatts also
available.
·
The Hammock Netting Cover, a bug net offered
by MPI Outdoors, completely encircles a hammock and is suspended by a ridgeline
above the hammock. Check it out at: http://mpioutdoors.com/netting5.htm
4-----------------Camping
Hammock Manufacturers---------------------
The
following is a list of manufacturers that make and sell camping hammocks. Only
secure, comfortable and complete hammocks with bug net and rain canopy are
included. Manufacturers of some other hammocks that might be modified for
camping use can be found in the next section.
Speer Hammocks, Inc.
34 Clear
Creek Road--Marion, NC 28752-6407
828-724-4444
http://www.speerhammocks.com/ Email: info@speerhammocks.com
Hennessy Hammock Co.
637
Southwind Road--Galiano Island, BC--Canada, V0N 1P0 888-539-2930
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/ Email: info@hennessyhammock.com
Clark Outdoor Products
4637 South 300 West--Salt Lake City, UT 84107 800-468-4635
http://www.junglehammock.com/ Email: info@junglehammock.com
Lawson Hammock Co.
PO Box 12602--Raleigh, NC 27605
919-829-7076
http://www.lawsonhammockco.com/
http://www.tbcinc.com/hammocks/hamindex.html
Crazy Creek Products
PO Box 1050--1401 South Broadway--Red Lodge, MT 59068 800-331-0304
http://www.crazycreek.com/ Email: chairs@crazycreek.com
Terrelogic, Inc.
477 Brunswick Ave.--Toronto, Ontario--Canada, M5R 2Z6 888-693-7923
http://www.terrelogic.com/ Email: mdj@terrelogic.com
Laid Back Designs, Ltd.
Suite 160, Unit 3--304 Stone Road--Guelph, Ontario--Canada N1G 4W4
800-465-7519 http://www.travelsource.com/travelstore/lbd/lbd.html
Email: sammyd@mgl.ca
New Tribe, Inc.
5517 Riverbanks Road--Grants Pass, OR 97527 866-223-3371 or 541-476-5804
Email: newtribe@cdsnet.net
Four Season Hammocks
1236 Oxborough Lane--Fort Collins, CO 80525 877-282-7145
http://www.mrhammock.com/ Email: mrhammock@verinet.com
Siam Hammock
Tawatchai Jaranai (Eff)--80/2 Prachachuen Road 33--Ladyao Jatujak
Bangkok 10900 Thailand
+66-1869-8988
http://www.siamhammock.com/ Email: f_goodfeeling@yahoo.com
Tammock Trading + Marketing
Rolf + Thomas Schneeberger--Steinenvorstadt 79/4--CH-4051 Basel,
Switzerland
+41 61 281 73 33 http://www.tammock.com Email: info@tammock.com
The Trease™
Trease.Biz--PO Box 234--Colchester, VT 05446
http://members.aol.com/treasebiz/ Email: mailto:treasebiz@aol.com
SleepCatcher new!
(805) 705-6937
5---------------Other
Hammocks Suitable for Camping-----------------
Some
hammocks that do not come with a bug net or rain canopy may be modified for
hammock camping. While many hammocks
offer this potential, the following ones may be promising. Note that a proper bug net and rain canopy
must be added to these hammocks in order to make them suitable for serious
camping use.
· Bliss
Hammock lightweight solid
nylon bottom http://www.hammockbliss.com/
·
Byer of Maine
solid fabric hammocks; several models http://www.byerofmaine.com/
·
Exped Expedition
Equipment Scout
Hammock; ripstop nylon bottom
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf?OpenDatabase&Language=E
· Nomad Travel Tropical
Hammock (search Sleeping Essentials), double bottom
http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/#
· Paradise Hammock parachute silk http://www.paradisehammocks.co.uk/
· Sportsman's
Guide Guide Gear®
Camp Hammock, solid nylon bottom
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?p=WX2&i=70415
·
Ticket To The Moon solid nylon bottom
hammocks http://www.ticketothemoon.com/
·
Suspended Sleeping System by Center of Gravity,
Inc new!
Unique backpack-hammock-sleeping
bag-mattress system; not available yet?; see review at: http://www.backpacking.net/gear-reviews/sss
· Cedar Tree StrapoLounger Unique Sleeping Pad-Backpack-Hammock
combination new!
http://www.thepacka.com/strappack/page2.html
· Hammock
Universe See the camping
hammock section new!
http://www.hammockuniverse.com
6----------------------Camping
Hammock Accessories-------------------
This list includes useful
but often hard to find camping hammock accessories. Web searches and/or eBay
auctions may turn up these and other suitable accessories. This list will be expanded over time.
Sleeping
Pads
· Exped
Expedition Equipment Down-filled
air mattress
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/bc533c91605f6841c12566e6006e0c82/abe00eea82521552c1256ae2002374a4!OpenDocument See also: http://www.backcountry-equipment.com/sleeping_pads/exped_downairmattress.html
·
High Country Outdoor Products Mt Washington Pad closed-cell foam; 7 oz;
20"X60"X0.6"
· Knox
Foam closed cell foam,
3/8"X73", buy by linear foot; other styles available
http://www.knoxfoam.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/closedcellfoam/CCR02.htm?L+scstore+nigf9039+1062576884
· Oware closed-cell foam,
1/4"X60"X40"; 7oz http://www.owareusa.com/sleep.html
·
Quest Outfitters Thin, extra-wide closed-cell foam; must be cut to size
http://www.questoutfitters.com/Foam%20Page.htm
· Target Stores 27" wide closed-cell blue foam http://www.target.com
·
The Coleman Co
24" wide closed-cell foam; various thicknesses
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/subcategory.asp?CategoryID=9060
·
Therm-A-Rest
wide selection of various self-inflating & closed-cell foam
pads http://www.cascadedesigns.com/thermarest/
· Seattle Fabrics,
Inc Thin, extra-wide closed-cell
foam; must be cut to size
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/
· Slumberjack
Products covered and
uncovered closed-cell foam and inflatable pads
http://www.slumberjack.com/category_list.asp?category_name=Sleeping+Mats
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc extra wide,
1/4"-thick closed-cell foam & reflectix pads
· Sportsman's
Guide closed-cell foam
w/ reflective bottom coating
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=77344
· Stearns,
Inc Inflatable, various models
· Stevenson's
Warmlite Down-filled
air mattress D.A.M. http://www.warmlite.com
· Wal-Mart Ozark Trail Egg Crate Camp Pad, 24"
wide closed-cell foam http://www.walmart.com/
Bug Nets
· Nomad
Travel several models
(search Mosquito Nets) http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/
· MPI
Outdoors Hammock
Netting Cover http://mpioutdoors.com/netting5.htm
Insulation
Around Hammock
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc PeaPod sleeping bag
fits completely around hammock! Now in down!
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/DownPeaPods.htm
Rain
Canopies
· Campmor Ultralight Backpacking Tarp, 8X10, silicone,
ripstop
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=226&prrfnbr=88643
· GoLite Sheet Tarp, silicone ripstop
http://www.golitestore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=SH6007&variation=&aitem=4&mitem=12
· Integral
Designs various size silnylon tarps
http://www.integraldesigns.com/tarps-frame.htm
· Oware silicone-treated nylon tarps http://www.owareusa.com/tarps.html
·
Speer Hammocks, Inc 8X10 silicone 1.1 oz ripstop complete w/ guidelines; 13 oz