HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS
February
2004
Here you will find the latest
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=============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE
FROM SPEER HAMMOCKS February 2004
=============================================================
1. Hammock
Camping News
2. Feature
Article
Hammock
Hangers Laugh at the Cold!
Down PeaPods and Top Blankets are Here
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
However, 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.
HAMMOCK CAMPING BOOK PUBLISHED!
Speer
Hammocks published Hammock Camping: The
Complete Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom
by Ed Speer in 2003. Everyone's initial
reaction has been positive and early sales are off to a good start.
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 workdays--$19.95.
Also available at major Internet book sites or a bookstore or retail
outfitter near you.
C.
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.
D.
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
E.
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
F. 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------------------------------
Hammock Hangers Laugh at the Cold!
Down PeaPods and Top Blankets
are Here
Speer
Hammocks has just introduced our much anticipated down hammock gear! Down Peapods and Top Blankets offer
uncomplicated lightweight warmth and together make the best system available
for cold weather hammock comfort. They
provide great warmth with low weight and bulk.
For instance, the down PeaPod is twice as thick while shaving a
half-pound off the earlier synthetic-fill model! Hammock campers are no longer restricted to three-season
use--they can now take their comfortable bed and convenient shelter on
cold-weather trips!
PeaPods
are 2.5-inch loft insulated bags that surround an occupied camping
hammock. Designed by Ed Speer from many
years of wilderness use, the PeaPods contain several unique features, such as
extra girth and length, drawstring closures at each end and full-length hook and
loop closure along the top centerline.
The end and centerline closures allow easy setup around the hammock as
well as convenient access and exit for the hammock sleeper. In addition, the user can adjust the amount
of centerline closure as needed--open full length for warm temperatures, or
completely close around the hammock for very cold temperatures. PeaPods can even be worn as warm robes in
camp, eliminating the need for hikers to carry extra gear!
Top
Blankets are 1.5-inch thick insulated quilts designed for use over a hammock
sleeper or as liners inside PeaPods.
When used as a quilt over a hammock user, the length and width are
sufficient to cover the body without excessive weight and bulk. A hook-and-loop-closed foot box on the quilt
and the sides of the hammock keep the Top Blanket correctly positioned over the
body even as the sleeper moves during the night. When used this way as a top quilt with a PeaPod, the total
thickness of down insulation over one's body is 2.5".
The
Top Blanket is also designed for use as a liner inside a PeaPod where it adds
significant bottom warmth. As a liner,
it can be used as a full size 6' X 3.5' single layer giving 1.5"
additional insulation, or doubled end-to-end or lengthwise for 3"
additional insulation! When doubled
end-to-end, it covers an area 3.5' long and 36" wide; when doubled
lengthwise, it covers an area 6' long and 21" wide.
While
retaining the unique features of the earlier models, the down PeaPods and Top
Blankets are designed to function together over a broad range of
temperatures. Use the down PeaPod alone
for 70-50F, or add the down Top Blanket as a quilt inside the hammock for
50-35F. As the temperature drops even
more, add a second down Top Blanket as a liner inside the PeaPod for a total of
3" of bottom insulation, good to 25F!
The Top Blanket used as liner can also be doubled end-to-end or
lengthwise to give a total 4.5" of bottom insulation!
At
even lower temperatures, replace the upper Top Blanket with a sleeping bag and
use both Top Blankets as liners inside the PeaPod for a total 4.5" to
7.5" of bottom insulation! That's
right, the total bottom thickness can be varied as needed by as much as three
inches! It only depends on how the two
Top Blankets are positioned inside the PeaPod--i.e. As single layers or one or
both doubled in half. In this manner,
the cold-weather camper can adjust his/her gear to match a very wide range of
temperatures without having to carry excessive weight or bulk.
For
ideas on how to extend the temperature range even more, see later discussions
in this article or the free reports at: http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/PeaPod03.htm
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/SpeerSleepPads.htm
The
new PeaPods are filled with +700 cu in/oz Prime Northern Goose Down and quilted
with sewn-thru construction. Shells are
breathable 1.1oz/sq yd ripstop nylon.
The bottom three-foot-wide panel is 1.5" thick, while the sides and
top panels are 1" thick, for a total loft of 2.5". These thicknesses reflect the need for more
bottom insulation at any given temperature and the fact that a blanket or
quilt, such as a Top Blanket or sleeping bag, will generally be used over the
top of the hammock sleeper. In this
manner, unnecessary weight and bulk are eliminated from the PeaPod--the regular
size weighs only 1 lb 12 oz!
Peapods
should be attached to top-entry hammocks like the Speer Hammock by positioning
the drawstring ends just inside the end knots on the hammock itself--do not
enclose the hammock end knots with the PeaPod.
Tying the loose drawstrings securely around the hammock end knots
prevents the PeaPod ends from sliding toward the hammock user. However, when extra insulations, such as Top
Blanket liners, are used inside the PeaPod, additional space may be needed to
accommodate the insulation without compressing it. In this case, the drawstring ends of the PeaPod should be moved a
few inches toward the hammock center before tying off the loose drawstrings
around the hammock end knots. This
allows the PeaPod to sag even more than usual below the occupied hammock and
gives the required extra space.
Remember that a PeaPod, with or without extra insulation, should be
adjusted close to the hammock bottom for maximum warmth--but not so tight that
it compresses the insulation and reduces its loft. Modifying the position of the PeaPod ends relative to the hammock
end knots easily performs this adjustment.
The
new Top Blankets are also filled with +700 cu in/oz Prime Northern Goose Down
and quilted with sewn-thru construction.
Shells are breathable 1.1oz/sq yd ripstop nylon. The cold spots common to sewn-thru
construction are eliminated when Top Blankets are used inside PeaPods since the
quilting lines on each are designed to offset the other. The 3.5' X 6' Top Blankets weigh only 16 oz
and are rated to 45F. When used as
single-layer bottom liners, Top Blankets should be pinned to the inside of the
PeaPod--use eight medium size safety pins (1.5" ea; total 0.2 oz). When used as doubled bottom liners, Top
Blankets remain in place beneath one's body without the need for pinning.
Some
simple procedures can greatly extend the warm comfort range of any camping
hammock, including those using PeaPods and Top Blankets. The free reports linked elsewhere in this
article give a good summary. However,
the following thoughts should give you some ideas.
Adding
a vapor barrier to the hammock system probably gives the greatest increase in
warmth without adding undue weight or bulk.
A suitable vapor barrier can be a thin 2-3 oz sheet of plastic, Mylar,
silnylon, Tyvex, etc. placed beneath the hammock as a liner inside the
PeaPod. The purpose of this vapor
barrier is to stop the convective heat loss due to the circulation of warmed
air rising around you and being replaced with cooler air from the insulation
beneath you. A small sheet placed
beneath the body is sufficient--be sure not to completely enclose your body or
unwanted condensation will result. Also
be sure and place the vapor barrier sheet between your body and the insulation
in the PeaPod--this will help keep unwanted condensation from getting into the
bottom insulation.
To
hold them in place, vapor barrier sheets should be pinned to the inside bottom
of the PeaPod--using the same safety pins mentioned above for Top Blanket
liners. Expect as much as 5 to 10
degrees (F) of additional warmth!
Ground sheets, tarps, ponchos, pack covers, etc can double as suitable
vapor barriers for hammock camping.
Regular
sleeping pads also make effective vapor barriers--in addition, they add
critical insulating thickness. Closed
cell foam or inflatable pads filled with down or open cell foam are
suitable. Appropriate closed cell pads
vary from 1/4" to 1", and inflatables vary from 1" to 3". Pads can be used singly or two or more in
combination. While sleeping pads are
warmest when placed inside the hammock directly beneath the sleeper, they also
work fine placed inside the PeaPod where they do not interfere with the comfort
of the hammock. Expect 10 to 50 degrees
(F) of additional warmth! Yes, as much
as 50 degrees extra warmth, depending on the thickness of the pad or pads! When used with a PeaPod/Top blanket system,
a thin closed cell foam pad (i.e., 1/4") is effective for extreme cold
conditions. For a detailed discussion
on using sleeping pads in hammocks, see:
http://www.hammockcamping.com/Free%20Reports/SpeerSleepPads.htm
Other
items to be considered for increasing the bottom insulation in the PeaPod
system include: wool or fleece blankets, sleeping bags, quilts, extra clothes,
rain gear, jackets, sweaters, wind pants, carry sacks, pack covers, and even
the backpack itself! It's amazing how
much extra warmth these items can provide!
Even
dry leaves collected from the forest floor make excellent insulation without
adding weight or bulk to one's backpack!
Imagine adding 3" to 5" extra insulation without having to
carry it!
The
possibilities are endless and now you too can laugh at the cold!
Safe
Hammocking ....Ed "Not To Worry" Speer
Take a hammock on your next
wilderness trip
and experience the wonder
of nature all over again
3------------------------------Tip
of the Month---------------------------------
The
following handy tip recently came to our attention
·
It's hunting
season! Hikers and campers should dress
to be seen. This means wearing bright
flame orange gear, such as hats, gloves, shirts, vests, jackets and/or pack
rain covers. Remember to hang your
flame orange gear above and around your set-up hammock so stealth-walking
hunters will not mistake it for their target!
·
Avoid sparks from
campfires! Even the smallest air-borne
sparks from a campfire easily melts the nylon fabrics used in camping hammocks,
tarps, and sleeping bags. The damage
can happen without you even noticing it, until it's too late. Resist the temptation to hang your hammock
near a campfire and do NOT build a campfire beneath your hammock!
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
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
·
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/
Insulation
Around Hammock
· Speer
Hammocks, Inc PeaPod sleeping bag
fits completely around hammock
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.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
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/PRODUCTLINK2.htm
· Equinox,
Ltd The One Pound
Tarp
http://www.equinoxltd.com/Cart/description.php?II=1989&UID=2003090311484863.90.39.154
Portable
Hammock Stands
· Campmor Search Hammock Stand http://www.campmor.com
· Google Search
Hammock Stands--Generates many retailers
http://www.google.com
· Hammocks
America.Com good listing of
stands
http://www.hammocksamerica.com/store/standall.html
· Hammocks.Com Many stands, second tree stands, also
hanging gear
http://www.hammocks.com/hammock_stands/index.cfm
· Hangouts.Com Many stands and online services
http://hangouts.com/hammocks/hammock_stand.html
· Magic Hammock.Com Portable hammock w/ AL tubular frame
· WrightStuff.Net Heavy duty tubular steel, w/ hanging rack